England qualify for World Cup - and there are some reasons for optimism
Hype and haplessness normally follow qualification but England has some bright emerging talents, writes Sky's Nick Powell.
Friday 6 October 2017 01:58, UK
England have qualified for the World Cup Finals. Hold the back page? Hold the bunting, more like.
It's what England always do for major championships, and it's followed by a limp letdown on the big stage.
Hype followed by haplessness.
Except it's happened so often now that even the hype isn't what it used to be.
Watching the late, laboured, fortunate victory over Slovenia (world ranking 55) that confirmed England's passage to Russia next summer, one yearned for counter-arguments to the prevalent world-weary cynicism about our national team in our national sport.
Few were forthcoming.
So who can blame the football fan if he/she is more excited about the Premier League meeting of Liverpool and Manchester United on Saturday week, or Tottenham's trip to Real Madrid in the Champions League three days later.
Are there reasons for optimism despite all this? Some.
Manager Gareth Southgate at least acknowledges there is a problem, and is in tune with his boss.
Reflecting on England's ignominious exit at the hands of Iceland in last year's European Championships, FA chief executive Martin Glenn said: "England players do not travel well. We know there is a brittleness in unfamiliar circumstances we have to deal with."
Brushing aside the argument that professional footballers ought not to faint at the prospect of playing significant matches in not-very-distant France, one could instead focus on England's bright emerging talents, coveted not just in this country but abroad too.
There were occasional signs last night too that Tottenham's Harry Kane - who scored the very late match-winner at Wembley - might grow into a proper captain and leader.
But a reminder that he is no Bobby Moore came this week when one of the surviving members of Moore's 1966 World Cup winners visited Southgate's men in training.
Sir Bobby Charlton told them: "I know that the manager has the ability and I do hope that you can give me one of the greatest memories of my life [by winning the trophy again]".
Current international Marcus Rashford described Sir Bobby's visit as "the biggest inspiration we can have as players".
At Wembley last night, perspiration was much more in evidence. Southgate is under no illusions.
"This team has potential," the manager said, "but we have a hell of a lot of work to do."
At least England will be in Russia next summer. Countries not yet certain to join them include the Netherlands, Portugal and Italy.
And we can be reasonably confident that England fans will not cause the mayhem that an ugly minority wreaked in France last year.
Russia's security forces will see to that.