21/06/2006, 05:55 PM
|
| زعيــم مميــز | | تاريخ التسجيل: 11/07/2005 المكان: Anfield road
مشاركات: 4,466
| |
عمود روبي فاولر في ليفربول ايكو هذا اليوم
والموجود ايضا في موقع الفريق الرسمي حاجه روعه
STEVIE HAS TO BE THE KEY FOR SVEN
Robbie Fowler 21 June 2006
In his weekly World Cup column in the Liverpool Echo, Robbie Fowler talks about Steven Gerrard, Craig Bellamy, Michael Owen and also predicts the team who will be celebrating glory in Berlin on July 9. 
From the moment Steven Gerrard first stepped onto the training pitch at Melwood and proceeded to clatter into Paul Ince, he always had the swagger of a player who would develop into a world beater.
Hopefully Sven-Goran Eriksson has now realised that if England's bid for glory is not going hit the rocks like it is threatening to, he will finally build his team around our skipper and give him the licence to wreak havoc.
A lot has been written about Wayne Rooney's return from injury and the impact he can have on the team, but games against Trinidad & Tobago and Sweden have shown that Stevie - given his superior fitness - will be England's talisman this summer.
That is not belittling Wayne's role. Far from it. I said at the beginning of the tournament that he was one of the players whom I was most looking forward to seeing, and I am delighted he has recovered from breaking his foot.
You could see against Sweden last night, though, that he is still finding his way back after being laid up for the best part of seven weeks and it will take time for him to get that extra bit of energy that comes with match fitness.
Stevie, on the other hand, has been on the go for the best part of a year but still looks fresh. It shouldn't come as surprise. He does all the right things off the pitch, keeps himself fit and when you add that to his God-given talent, the results are awesome.
Look at the way he broke loose to rattle in that drive against Trinidad then look at the impact he had when coming off the bench last night. One off the line, then a superbly taken goal confirmed what we've known all along. He's at the peak of his powers.
If only we could say the same about some of the others in last night's starting line-up. Although England topped their group - something you crave before every major tournament - performances haven't, to put it kindly, been great.
Michael Owen's injury may force Eriksson's hand to play a different way and if it does - say he switches to a five-man mid-field - then Stevie has got to be handed the role that Rafa Benitez has given to him for Liverpool.
Owen Hargreaves might have his critics but he impressed me last night, particularly in the first 45 minutes. I know from being in squads with him that he loves doing the dirty work, making tackles and closing down space to benefit others.
A central midfield axis of him mopping up behind Stevie and Frank Lampard will give England options going forward that they have missed to date. Starting against Ecuador on Sunday, they need to find the elusive ingredient before it's too late.
Bellamy could be Reds hit
The Liverpool players who haven't been selected for World Cup duty head back to training in a couple of weeks and I can't wait to get back to Melwood. I'm counting down the days and have been keeping myself ticking over.
From all reports, it appears that Craig Bellamy will be joining us and that is excellent news. He's an excellent player who will give an extra dimension to the squad and will be welcomed by us all should everything go to plan.
He's quick, a nightmare for defenders to mark, never gives anything up and knows how to score goal. If we are going to overhaul Chelsea, we need plenty of competition for places and Craig's arrival will keep us all on our toes.
Michael's injury a stunner
I felt sick to the stomach last night when Michael Owen crumpled to the ground with what appeared to be a bad knee injury.
Some people have suggested that he has done something severe to his ligaments and I know from bitter experience the pain associated with that type of injury.
The worst moment of my career came when my left knee exploded in an Anfield derby in February 1998, ruling me out of the World Cup in France and it left me wondering if I'd ever play again.
Apart from being an exceptional player, Michael's a good friend and he's had enough bad luck with injuries this year alone. I just wish him a speedy recovery.
Argentina magic
My tip for the tournament are back in action tonight and I can't wait to see Argentina play again after their demolition of Serbia & Montenegro. The meeting with Holland to decide Group C is one to savour.
Few would disagree that they have been the team of the tournament so far. That goal they scored wasn't bad either, was it? |
الوضع العادي
