Iain,
Going back to yur post about England and Hargreaves, here's an interesting article. Someone else had the same thoughts as you.
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=370679&root=worldcup&lpos=spotlight&lid=tab1pos2&cc=5901Old habits die hard. Just when Sven-Goran Eriksson appeared to have reinvented himself as a demob-happy gambler, England reverted to type.
Throughout the Swede's five-and-a-half years in charge, there have been several common denominators.
'First half good, second half not so good' (to quote Sir Alex Ferguson)? Check. Negative substitutions (often involving Owen Hargreaves)? Check. Defending his automatic selections, regardless of their form? Check. An overriding feeling that the team is rather less than the sum of its parts? Check.
A 1-0 victory over Paraguay was both satisfactory and deflatory. Three points were garnered as excessive optimism, epitomised by the flag-bearing masses who have turned England into a mosaic of Union Jacks, was fuelled further by the ideal start given them by a combination of David Beckham and Carlos Gamarra.
So far, so good. But, as is their wont under Eriksson, England made decidedly fallible opponents appear threatening.
A second goal could have been scored - though, while the Germans excelled at long-range shooting with the much-debated World Cup ball, England surpassed themselves at lifting it into the Frankfurt orbit - but it would have been undeserved.
Instead England retreated to their own penalty box, inviting a previously unambitious Paraguayan side forward, and provided them with hope of an equaliser.
To those accustomed to Eriksson's cautious instincts, there was little new in this. England, seemingly intent on sitting on one-goal leads, were comfortably outscored in qualifying by a Poland side whose pondering approach and fundamental mediocrity was exploited by Ecuador the previous day.
Defensive midfielders, long guaranteed a place on Eriksson's bench, have become a feature of second halves.
The appearance of Owen Hargreaves, who has assumed a symbolic value as the metaphorical punchbag for the Swede's critics, had a certain inevitability.
And, opponents of the Anglo-German Canadian may feel, a certain futility. It is perhaps cruel to suggest Hargreaves' cameo was epitomised by a mis-kick on the edge of his own box; nonetheless it is an abiding memory.
Greater tests than Paraguay await, and England's lack of conviction is already a concern. Attempting to temper the gung-ho instincts of Kevin Keegan's sides has produced a team with a reluctance to carry on attacking.
Though Paul Robinson was largely untroubled, the verve with which the inventive Nelson Valdez attacked showed that the defence is not yet watertight.
And though the first-half offered some cause for encouragement, this was not a performance to justify a billing among the favourites.
Recent England campaigns have been bedevilled by excuses, some more justified than others. The supposed determination to eschew them this time, however, has been swiftly discarded.
Blaming the heat - as Beckham, who plies his trade in one of Europe's hottest cities - did for the second-half decline, is a smokescreen. Given that the entire tournament will be played in the German summer, it is also likely to be a constant throughout the World Cup.
Only Joe Cole, the unquestioned star, located his best form and, with his ability to glide past defenders, also provided a different option during his brief spell as an auxiliary second striker.
The contrast with his predecessor as Peter Crouch's partner, once renowned for doing just that, was stark.
Michael Owen is only 26 and yet is unrecognisable from the tormentor of Argentina eight years ago. Injury is a contributing factor and, for all the statistics about the squad's supposed fitness, he looks no sharper than Beckham was four years ago.
BenRadford/GettyImages
Owen Hargreaves struggled to impose himself on the Paraguay midfield.
Listless and off the pace, his performance made a mockery of the first half of Eriksson's assessment ('I think Michael Owen did well and will get better and better'), though it is hard to dispute the latter, if only because it must rank among the poorest displays in his 78 caps.
This was a reminder that, however much his recovery from a metatarsal injury impeded him, Owen is not the complete striker; he never has been and never will be.
As his scintillating pace becomes a memory, his faulty touch becomes a greater problem. Sheer speed is no longer his escape route.
Three games into his comeback, Owen should not shoulder all the blame. Eriksson's excessive backing for his favourites contributes to his popularity with the established players.
The Newcastle forward, protected by a manager who considers him undroppable and supported by some high-profile sycophants among the ranks of the ex-players, was assured of his place long ago.
And as match fitness proves elusive for Owen, Eriksson's faith is starting to look blind. Alternatives, briefly tested and swiftly discarded, languish at home.
The bench contains a sole striking option - Eriksson's wild card, Theo Walcott, which he is reluctant to play.
Crouch, his willingness and limitations on display in equal measure, foraged gamely in attack, but his was a lone effort. Only Cole offered a hint of inspiration and Owen's impotence may only serve to tempt Eriksson further to rush Wayne Rooney's return.
Instead, with England crying out for the sharpness of Jermain Defoe, Eriksson's options came from a squad overloaded with midfielders. Which brings us, once again, to Owen Hargreaves. Old habits, and all that.
