English soccer loses its dazzle
By Arif Suryobuwono
JAKARTA (JP): Whatever predatory England has always been when playing on home soil, its chance of winning the European Soccer Championship final on June 30 seems as dim as the future of its scandal-happy monarchy.
The most glorious moment English soccer ever enjoyed was when it won the eighth World Cup -- on home soil -- after beating Germany 4-2 in 1966. But that was 20 years ago, with no other great victories to follow. That makes the victory look just like a jolt in an oscillating readout.
This is apparent in England's European Championship record: taking third place once (1968) and reaching quarterfinals once (1972); having to exit first round four times (1964, 1980, 1988, 1992); and failing to qualify twice (1976, 1984).
Manchester City manager Alan Ball, who was a 21-year-old winger in the England's 1966 World Cup winning team, points out that it is professionalism that differentiates English soccer in 1966 from that in 1996.
"When I played in the 1966 World Cup, England had five world- class players (Gordon Banks, Bobby Charlton, Bobby Moore, Raymond Wilson, Jimmy Greaves). Today I can't say that," Ball told The Jakarta Post recently.
Hence, it is not surprising that Ball favors France and Holland in Euro '96, which kicked off yesterday. Ball has been here since Tuesday, at the invitation of the British International School, to attend a student soccer tournament at Bintaro, Tangerang, West Java, due to end today.
Another difference that 20 years has wrought on English soccer, Ball noted, is that today's players rely much more on strength and power.
"This adds to the pace of the game," he said.
Ball declined to go into details as to what happened to English soccer since the 1966 World Cup triumph that charted its disappointing record despite England's good talent scouting system.
Talent scouting in England begins right at the grassroots level, said Ball.
English football clubs, such as Ball's club, receive members from school boys aged 10. They go to school as usual in the morning but train with professional coaches in the evening.
Those who perform well are entitled to the government-run Youth Development Training Scheme for two years after they leave school. "The two-year period is a selection period in which they play nothing but soccer," Ball said. "If they perform well, they can stay in the club (to become professional players), if not, out."
Ball, born in Farnsworth on May 12, 1945, was one of England's finest midfielders in the 1960s and 1970s.
Ball started his career as an amateur with Bolton Wanderers, where he played alongside Francis Lee, before joining Blackpool as an apprentice in 1961.
Five years later Ball signed with Everton for the then record transfer fee of 110,000 (US$167,200), gaining a League Championship medal in the 1969/1970 season.
Arsenal also paid him a record amount -- 220,000 -- in 1971. He spent five years with the Gunners before embarking on stints with Southampton, Blackpool and Bristol Rovers.
Ball's managerial career began in 1984, when he occupied the hot seat at Portsmouth. He then joined Colchester United as assistant manager to Jock Wallace before heading north to Stoke City, taking over the reins after the sacking of Mick Mills. In 1991, Ball became manager of Exeter City.
Three years later he moved to Premiership side Southampton to replace Ian Branfoot. Francis Lee, now Manchester City chairman, invited him to take the vacant manager's job at Maine Road in July 1995.
Alan regarded England's 1966 World Cup triumph, nailed by his team, as the most impressive moment during his career as a player. The most disappointing time he has ever had was when his team, after leading 2-0, lost 3-2 to Germany in the 1970 World Cup's quarterfinals in Mexico.
As manager, Alan took pride in his success of jacking up Portsmouth from English second division to first division.
"That was the first time Portsmouth was able to move to the first division after being 36 years in the second division," Alan said.
That was his success story in 1984. Early this month, however, his team, Manchester City, was relegated following a 1-3 defeat to Arsenal in a decisive English premier league match at Highbury on March 5.
Ball, however, remains confident that his team will improve as the new season goes on. "We were far stronger at the end than in the beginning of the season," Ball said.
"We started badly," the new Manchester City manager said, "because we started everything anew. I am new and some of our players are also new."
Toward the end of the season, which ended last month, Ball said, his team performed better and better. But that was too late ("we have drifted too far in the bottom") to save it from relegation as his team had never won in the first 12 games.
To improve the situation, Ball said he and his boss have been discussing, on a day-to-day basis, recruiting an international player. "His name? I can't say it yet," Ball said.