Reality Czech – 3-0 to the Czech Republic

I’m going to start this post-game commentary with a quote from the Warrior Chief, because it expresses – succinctly – what I’m shortly going to get rather long winded about:

“My players are not used to this way of football, to football they especially play here in Europe. It’s much faster and much more physical than they’re normally used in their clubs,” Beenhakker said. “I prefer to have the problems now … I prefer that (my players) are surprised now instead of next week after the Sweden match.”

And so, we lost – 3-0 to the team that is ranked behind Brazil and ahead of everyone else.

Is that really that bad?

Yes:

- Because we were utterly outplayed in the first half. The opening minutes of the game set the tone for rest – this was fast, physical football, and the Warriors barely kept up, with the possible exception of Collin Samuel. The second half was better, although the fact that we scarcely made a single purposeful shot on goal therein reflects just how useful Edwards and Birchall – both of whom were substituted – are as playmakers.

- We made a couple of egregious defensive errors, over and above the calamity that is our defence. Two stunning examples: Marvin Andrews heading the ball toward the goal (and laughing as it edged just over the crossbar) and Kelvin Jack abandoning his post and running of the penalty box to collect (and miskick) a loose ball. Jack stresses me out: watching him play is exceedingly bad for my blood pressure. As a shot-stopper, I must concede that he is very good indeed – and that he rescued us from a 6-0 scoreline (à la England v Jamaica). Nonetheless, I’m backing Shaka Hislop for our starting keeper. Shaka might be slower and less physically dominant, but he is much less prone to the fits of madness that afflict Jack.

- There’s a saying in Trinidad that “pressure does buss pipe.” In the last 30 minutes or so of the game, the Warriors began to panic, and their playing became erratic, to say the least. Facing Nedved and Baros (and Kolle) with do that to you, of course – but we are in a group with Owen and Gerrard and Ljungberg.

- For someone of Yorke’s experience, I’m surprised at how weak his corner kicks are.

- Alright, our defence wasn’t completely catastrophic – but it was frustratingly inconsistent. Marvin Andrews rescued us less than two minutes in when he headed away a ball that Jack had mistimed, and Dennis Lawrence showed flashes of the brilliance. Cyd Grey however – not convincing. It also appears that we have completely forgotten how to mark.

- Set-pieces. Have we ever heard of them? Creativity in midfield? Intelligent passing? Anyone? This is why Latapy (who didn’t play) is so good for the team, because he is a creative, dynamic and extremely intelligent player, one who reads the flow of the game better than anyone else on the squad.

No:

- We didn’t concede any goals in the second half. This does not quite compensate for the drubbing of the first, but it does bode well for our games next week. Why does it take us 45 minutes to wake up?

- When we’re bad, we very very bad – but when we’re good we’re quality. This latest game, as well as the one against Wales, demonstrates that it is neither a miracle nor a fluke that we qualified for the World Cup. There is a lot of talent in the T&T squad. We might not yet be world beaters, but we’re not just the “token comedy team.”

Ergo:

I’m disappointed, but I’m not devastated.

Onward to Germany.