This was the Theo Walcott of four years ago, the one who plundered a glorious hat-trick in Croatia as England appeared to mark their resurgence under Fabio Capello and stood afterwards to talk of the impact he wanted to make in international football and the long career he wanted to enjoy in his country’s colors.
Last night, Walcott was merely among the substitutes having – in truth – lost his way in the intervening years to such an extent that his involvement in this tournament was at risk and he has sparked debate after debate over his maddening inconsistency.
Capello had dumped him long ago, complaining about his lack of focus and confidence, berating him on the training ground and famously threatening to “kill him” if he continued to ignore orders and not play as he was told to.
Indeed Walcott didn’t go to the last World Cup despite those goals against the Croats having helped England qualify and although Capello’s replacement Roy Hodgson included him in his squad, it wasn’t an inclusion suffused with faith. He is yet to start.
Walcott, who has been suffering from a sore hamstring, had spoken bravely about how once he was fit he would be in the reckoning but the truth is that as he warmed up in Kiev last night he had become a bit-part player and one threatened to be overtaken by his younger, more confident Arsenal team-mate Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
No-one had argued that Walcott should have been in the team ahead of the 18-year-old or James Milner who made the starting line-up but who, like Ashley Young, struggled to impose himself and whose involvement in England’s final group match must be under threat.
But what an impact, what a game-changer - what a resurgence from Walcott. Even when Walcott lay on the turf, clearly in pain, a smile flickered on his face. By then the winger, still just 23, had turned a contest in which England appeared to lose their heads on its head.
Walcott barely touched the ball – but it didn’t matter. His contributions were clinical; incisive. Simply wonderful. The official stats were this: one goal, one assist, two key passes, 100 per cent pass completion rate, one interception, one clearance and a consistent ability to out-pace an opponent.
He replaced Milner in the 64th minute and barely 60 seconds later the ball broke out to him. Walcott struck a dipping shot from far outside the penalty that caught Andreas Isaksson off-guard with the Swedish goalkeeper staggering back into the net as the ball beat him. Isaksson was probably unsighted, Walcott was probably lucky and appeared as stunned as the supporters as he scored his first goal since that night in Zagreb but there was no fortune in his next contribution.
Confidence was now surging back and consequently he surged into the Swedish penalty area with a directness that he has so often lacked in an England shirt (and some would argue an Arsenal one also). There was calmness, this time, as he chose his moment – and then there was incision as he selected the right option to deliver crisply for Danny Welbeck’s extraordinarily deft finish which won the match.
So often Walcott has been maligned for shooting when he should pass and passing when he should have shot but here he did the right thing. For a player accused of lacking a footballing brain, here he used that grey matter and he turned game-winner. Olof Mellberg was awarded the official man-of-the-match prize but it was Walcott who walked off with the honours.
"I've obviously been disappointed that I haven't played, but I've been training hard and it's not about the starting line-up, it's a whole squad thing,” Walcott said afterwards. "I was sharp warming up and you need to be sharp on the pitch because at this level it's really, really tough. To make my first appearance in such a high-profile arena means so much because it's been a long time waiting."
Now he has set a conundrum for Hodgson, who has evidently been as unconvinced by him as Capello. Can he be more than an impact substitute? Hodgson may be tempted to confine him to this role again but Walcott for his belief and development and youthful exuberance should be unleashed against Ukraine.
With the tournament evolving, and Wayne Rooney returning, England can suddenly evolve also. Walcott can be a part of that at last.
Last night, Hodgson said: "Theo's contribution was enormous today to come on as a sub and score a goal and set up the winner. It was a special night for him."
Hodgson added: "I believe in him and think he's a good player and has good qualities which is why I selected him in my original 23."
source [Telegraph]
Capello had dumped him long ago, complaining about his lack of focus and confidence, berating him on the training ground and famously threatening to “kill him” if he continued to ignore orders and not play as he was told to.
Indeed Walcott didn’t go to the last World Cup despite those goals against the Croats having helped England qualify and although Capello’s replacement Roy Hodgson included him in his squad, it wasn’t an inclusion suffused with faith. He is yet to start.
Walcott, who has been suffering from a sore hamstring, had spoken bravely about how once he was fit he would be in the reckoning but the truth is that as he warmed up in Kiev last night he had become a bit-part player and one threatened to be overtaken by his younger, more confident Arsenal team-mate Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
No-one had argued that Walcott should have been in the team ahead of the 18-year-old or James Milner who made the starting line-up but who, like Ashley Young, struggled to impose himself and whose involvement in England’s final group match must be under threat.
But what an impact, what a game-changer - what a resurgence from Walcott. Even when Walcott lay on the turf, clearly in pain, a smile flickered on his face. By then the winger, still just 23, had turned a contest in which England appeared to lose their heads on its head.
Walcott barely touched the ball – but it didn’t matter. His contributions were clinical; incisive. Simply wonderful. The official stats were this: one goal, one assist, two key passes, 100 per cent pass completion rate, one interception, one clearance and a consistent ability to out-pace an opponent.
He replaced Milner in the 64th minute and barely 60 seconds later the ball broke out to him. Walcott struck a dipping shot from far outside the penalty that caught Andreas Isaksson off-guard with the Swedish goalkeeper staggering back into the net as the ball beat him. Isaksson was probably unsighted, Walcott was probably lucky and appeared as stunned as the supporters as he scored his first goal since that night in Zagreb but there was no fortune in his next contribution.
Confidence was now surging back and consequently he surged into the Swedish penalty area with a directness that he has so often lacked in an England shirt (and some would argue an Arsenal one also). There was calmness, this time, as he chose his moment – and then there was incision as he selected the right option to deliver crisply for Danny Welbeck’s extraordinarily deft finish which won the match.
So often Walcott has been maligned for shooting when he should pass and passing when he should have shot but here he did the right thing. For a player accused of lacking a footballing brain, here he used that grey matter and he turned game-winner. Olof Mellberg was awarded the official man-of-the-match prize but it was Walcott who walked off with the honours.
"I've obviously been disappointed that I haven't played, but I've been training hard and it's not about the starting line-up, it's a whole squad thing,” Walcott said afterwards. "I was sharp warming up and you need to be sharp on the pitch because at this level it's really, really tough. To make my first appearance in such a high-profile arena means so much because it's been a long time waiting."
Now he has set a conundrum for Hodgson, who has evidently been as unconvinced by him as Capello. Can he be more than an impact substitute? Hodgson may be tempted to confine him to this role again but Walcott for his belief and development and youthful exuberance should be unleashed against Ukraine.
With the tournament evolving, and Wayne Rooney returning, England can suddenly evolve also. Walcott can be a part of that at last.
Last night, Hodgson said: "Theo's contribution was enormous today to come on as a sub and score a goal and set up the winner. It was a special night for him."
Hodgson added: "I believe in him and think he's a good player and has good qualities which is why I selected him in my original 23."
source [Telegraph]
No comments:
Post a Comment