Why Sven's England Should Have Won The World Cup

[@HHHBFResurrected]

Watching England's 2002 WC games in the school hall. Oh the nostalgia kick I got hearing that lol

[@ymca4547]

Same. Reminder we're getting old!

[@jekanyika]

I remember watching a game in a science classroom on the same tv we normally watched science videos made in the 80s.

[@tristanwhite3472]

So was I.

[@rikachu571]

Let’s hope the lessons are learnt and today’s England aren’t afraid to prioritise playing a balanced team over fitting in the stars.

[@thierryhenry674]

The best teams in football history are 09-12 Barcelona and 17-20 Man City. England need to pick their most tiki taka capable eleven, not their star eleven. Carsley seems to have done it quite right. It will hurt in the short run, but once the players have adapted to the system, they will win in the long run.

[@NkosanaMakhubele]

​@@thierryhenry674 Man City😂😂😂😂

[@HappyBob701]

@@thierryhenry674 This take shows what kind of person you are unfortunately. Anyone who knows anything you are are wrong, but better luck best time buddy.

[@QazwerDave]

Yes. Italy and Spain did this. And won

[@SanxBile]

@@HappyBob701 Just take some random Xavi, Iniesta and Busquets type of players. Put some sort of once-in-a-lifetime trio up front, make sure one is considered "best of all time"-caliber. Let them play together daily for a couple of years and voilá! You've got a trophy or two. It's not that difficult!

[@ac1dP1nk]

It's an England review but not the one we expected

[@gxdxr]

Review is today's England: it's coming home. 😊

[@Klinsmann1985]

I remember Sheringham hit the bar against Argentina, an incredible volley after a 40 odd pass build up. Ian Wright said in the analysis "if that was Brazil you'd be creaming" and Linekar had to chime in and say "thanks Ian but this is a lunchtime show" 😂

[@pistonnerd]

This move is still etched in my mind. If this has gone in, it would have been the greatest goal scored by England.

[@Klinsmann1985]

@@pistonnerd same here, England played brilliant football that day

[@paul-lh3ge]

I thought that line was for a different team (and different year) and Lineker reacted very adeptly by immediately responding 'yes we would all be dreaming'

[@SE-zl5he]

It didn't hit the bar, keeper saved it.

[@BelfastManUtdTherapy]

ahh man i forgot that lol owen cheated for the penalty he wasnt touched.

[@kieranbennett7453]

20:45 Ironically the pokemon tangent perfectly fits this analysis. Those pokemon are all great and flashy at their individual strengths, but at a competitive level they don't synergise that well together. The core of that team is the equivalent of turning up to an international tournament with Gerrard and Lampard in midfield

[@FourFourTwo]

I needed a Psychic type like 2006 needed Michael Carrick

[@kunimitsune177]

Not really. Scyther, Articuno and arguably Starmie are all trash. Jolteon is only good for exploiting gen 1 crit mechanics and is trash outside of that. That's a weak team and its only merits are type diversity and niche usability (sorry Adam); it's basically the opposite of what you're saying.

[@kieranbennett7453]

@@kunimitsune177 4 of his team are RBY OU, which is pretty elite company considering how lopsided the game is balanced. Articuno is the weakest of those four but has 90% accurate blizzards which have a permanent freeze chance (no thaw in gen 1). Starmie is one of the most used gen 1 pokemon because its a bulky Psychic type with recover and thunder wave. Jolteon is the best electric type in the game for the stated reasons and Gengar’s normal immunity was the most valuable defensive resist in the game, and only it had it. Its the other two that drag the team down in terms of ability and their shared weaknesses with existing team members. To overdo the footballing analogy. Its a bit more like playing 4 midfielders who are really good at their own clubs for different reasons, and completing the front line by adding another 2 midfielders and playing them against Greece, but no manager would do that obviously

[@matthewdoyle3877]

@@FourFourTwoget a life

[@CretienOsmondHughes]

Sheringham would have been a great fit for Owen. Sheringham was a provider. Though agreed Heskey (criminally underrated) was a genius move.

[@ScottMansfield]

"Keegan thought they were wide open" That sentence alone should scare anyone. Especially Newcastle fans.

[@Enzoblueblood]

I still believe Sven dropped it against Portugal 2004 when, instead of Heskey, he went with Vassel for the injured Rooney. Up to the point where he got injured, England were dominating the Portuguese because of Rooney’s hold up play. With Vassel and Owen up front Sven went for stretching the pitch which allowed Ronaldo and Figo (later on, Simao) to cheat the FBs forcing England to just hit long balls to the two smallest players on the pitch. That was a long night and one tournament that got away imo.

[@sieteocho]

They'd still have had to get past the Netherlands, and then Greece. Even if they did manage to squeak past Portugal, their chances were 50-50 at best.

[@Enzoblueblood]

@@sieteocho fair point but I thought England were stronger than the Dutch in that tournament and had they’d beaten Portugal would more than likely be full of enough confidence, even w/o Rooney to shade a potential semi against them. I really believed England were one of the best teams that tournament based on their performances against France to whom they were unlucky to lose to because of *drum roll_ Heskey’s brain dead foul on Makele, and Steven Gerard’s error, and after the 3-0 stroll against Switzerland and the beat down of Croatia (one of Sven’s- may he rest in peace, games) England were looking strong and had enough quality to make it to the final. Greece is a sore topic right now so I’ll leave it at that.

[@SE-zl5he]

Portugal were dominating. England scored an opportune goal as a result of a mistake from Portugal. I don't know what world you're living in where England were dominating. The midfield was getting completely overrun. Same story against France in the group stage.

[@Enzoblueblood]

@@SE-zl5he Ok, I’m not gonna argue with you about what planet either of us watched game or a visa versus definition of dominance but in the first 15min and up to point (23 minute)when Rooney was injured the key actions of the game were: Owen scores 3rd minute; Portugal first attempt on goal came from Maniche 8th minute. Rooney attempt on target, Ricardo save in 13th minute. Owen close miss lob on to roof of net in 19th minute 22th minute- corner from Beckham and Neville cross, Campbell with close header over the bar. Portugal had half moments with Deco and Maniche that were usually deflected wide and even though Ronaldo and Figo had plenty of the ball, Neville and Cole defended them pretty well. Portugal might’ve had more of the ball in midfield but they weren’t gonna hurt score from there. Hope that clarifies.

[@tristanwhite3472]

Yes all true.

[@Alexand3ry]

If England had beaten Brazil then they maybe could have won the rest of it, in the same way that Southgate's team maybe could have won in 2018, 2020, or 2024... but football is rarely that straightforward, so who knows. Once Brazil shut up shop, England had no way to break through; if Turkey had gone defensive in the semis, we could have had the same problem there, and lost it. Germany lost to us badly in the qualifiers, but came good in the World Cup, and could easily have beaten us. We would have dared to dream, but we would still have had two more coin-flip matches and no guarantee of success. I agree it was a good team that could have gone further, but the cruel reality of football is they didn't.

[@nicholastaylor9687]

Low block Turkey and Low Block Brazil (even 10 Man Brazil) are completely different beasts.

[@userunknown3761]

@@nicholastaylor9687Knockout football is knockout football. 2 completely different england teams too with different managers and a million other changes. Turkey were playing exceptionally all tournament so the point still stands

[@bonglesnodkins329]

England simply could not cope with the heat and humidity.

[@vietnamesefisheatbananas8607]

I'd argue Leicester was 442's last hurrah. But other than that, great video!

[@stevendchu]

I'd say 2016 was when the 442 had its last hurrah. Leicester winning the Prem. Atletico making it all the way to the CL final, knocking off MSN Barcelona and Guardiola's Bayern and only losing via penalties to Real Madrid. Portugal won the Euros playing a sort of diamond 4-4-2. Despite having Roy Hodgson (probably the most 4-4-2 man to ever exist) England refused to play it and instead had a striker in Sturridge as a winger when they lost to Iceland..... who were themselves playing a 4-4-2.

[@daveseville7394]

It was a narrow 442 same as Athleti

[@Zahrul3]

Pep tried a strikerless 4-4-2 but lost that game

[@Best_game59]

This video explains why it is important to get the balance right as opposed to cramming all the 'best' players in. I for one think only one out of the trio of Palmer, Foden and Bellingham need to be in the first 11 and if Kane is playing, have wingers who spread play like Madueke and Gordon or even Watkins who was a winger before he became a striker...

[@lenrichardson7349]

I woud put Palamer and Bellingham both in, they are differant enough for it to work. They just need to understand each other better. So two but never three.

[@RandomWombleP]

@@lenrichardson7349 I agree its possible to play 2 of the 3 but if you are going to do so then in my view you must have a more defensively solid RB than TAA which with currently fit players means Walker but would be one of him and Reece James if both are fully fit both of whom are still capable offensively. If you want Trent you need to play a second midfielder alongside Rice who can also help cover TAAs defensive deficiencies or even just provide cover against counters which means dropping another of Bellingham, Palmer and Foden. If Palmer is playing and we have the ball he will tend to want to occupy the same spaces as TAA anyway.

[@RandomWombleP]

Just to add while Palmer can play on the right wing he is less effective there than more centrally and both Saka and Madueke offer more playing as the right winger so dropping one of them for a second midfield and moving Palmer out right would be a worse option which is why in the previous post I said it has to be either another of those 3 or TAA that is sacrificed.

[@shmiwe1986]

I personally think it should be Saka, Gordon, Palmer with Kane. Dropping Bellingham sounds insane (not Foden because his record is so bad it justifies dropping), no manager will ever drop Bellingham while he's starting for Madrid

[@qwertyutopia4667]

I don’t watch every England game, but I feel like Bellingham needs to play the 8 for England is Kane is on. Have Palmer be the 10. Play saka and grealish on the sides. Foden doesn’t work with either Bellingham or Kane.

[@urienrheged7614]

This is so much more entertaining than the tripe they serve up as analysis on TV

[@lukemoy5630]

I've been critical of this channel in the past so I feel obligated to say this was a good video

[@Jessie_Pinkman_]

Watching this in 2042 and it still waiting for the analysis video on why Thomas Tuchels 2026 World Cup England campaign was the greatest display of international football talent ever seen.

[@stevendchu]

"Guardiola's England played mesmerizing football all the way to the final, where they were cruelly undone by Kyle Walker's failure to track a runner at the back post in stoppage time, and then went on to lose via penalties"

[@garyreynolds5733]

@@stevendchu Yeah - his legs may have been fast but I'm not sure his football brain ever was.

[@Tesmond256]

@@garyreynolds5733watching Antonio breeze past him was not a good look though

[@dondamon4669]

What just passing and passing

[@nigelee]

For a brief moment, Emile Heskey looked like he was going to be a mainstay for Liverpool and England, then his confidence just evaporated and never came back.

[@maurodriguesxr]

Darwin Nuñez is better and has much more to offer than Emile Heskey, but he is following the same path.

[@Anchises]

The Heskey memers will never understand how terrifyingly quick and powerful 21 year old Emile Heskey was to play against.

[@konzza]

​@@maurodriguesxr Different player profile. If we really need to drag Nunez and English Liverpool attackers into the conversation, Fowler would be more similar to Nunez than Heskey.

[@stevepirie8130]

Heskey would tie up 2-3 defenders and they’d bounce off him most of the time leaving Owen free.

[@NeilLewis77]

@@konzza fowler isnt anything like either of them. robbie fowler was a genuine ice cold deadly finisher whos a club icon. something nunez and heskey could only dream of being.

[@urienrheged7614]

Looking back at that Keegan formation is fascinating. Quite forward thinking in its positioning and fluidity. Intriguing.

[@ChristopherRMoore]

20:18 the change of fonts to represent the change of generations is a really neat touch

[@link090909]

I respect your lineup for sure! My Red Version starting VI was Charizard, Kadabra, Zapdos, Vileplume, Gyarados, and Snorlax. Shout out to Butterfree and Dugtrio being early and midgame mainstays. And if I somehow got a Pikachu early on, Snorlax would swap out for a flying like Pidgeot or even Articuno

[@robwalters2537]

Venusaur, arcanine, poliwrath, lapras, zapdos, dragonite

[@FourFourTwo]

@@robwalters2537 Lapras is such a shout. You’re in serious trouble against a good electric type though.

[@Anthony_1867]

This video is absolutely brilliant. A really well articulated narrative on an interesting time in our history - and on reflection maybe you're right we could have won it! Gen I starters: - Venusaur - Gengar - Lapras - Raichu - Arcanine - Articuno

[@pichew]

played pokemon red for the first time last year with a team of Blastoise. Flareon, Mr Mime, Victreebel, Marowak and Alakazam i love seeing tactics from before my time and seeing how everything evolved, it'll treat me well if i do sports data at university ❤

[@FourFourTwo]

Mr Mime!? Get that out of there! You're an electric-type away from really doing something!

[@gm006b4]

Yes enjoyed that Adam. Dont normally look back but you made it worthwhile 🙂👍

[@chrisheal9629]

This is a really good take on a team that were one of the best yet most frustrating Engalnd teams. My main memory was that Beckham injured his metatarsel in tue run up & the country went into meltdown because we were utterly dependent upon him & owen for goals. In that game my memory is that he jumped out of a 50/50 with ronaldinho (which you would usually expect him to go for) & ronaldinho then danced through the rest of our team to set up rivaldo. As you say, Brazil scored a bit of a lucky goal & proceeded to shut it down. A manager with more tactical adaptability may have got more out of that team but it was a far better iteration than the shambles it became. Would tend to agree that Nicky Butt was a key member of that team & dropping him to accommodate gerrard & lampard meant we lost that balance.

[@KevCraven]

Love it! A proper analysis of my childhood England. Amazing!

[@MQZ17]

That England was one of my favorites in that WC (I was so happy they beat Argentina) but nobody was gonna beat that Brazil.

[@Kay100Jay]

Really enjoyed that. Certainly changed my perception of that era a little. Would have liked a bit more on why the latter team didn't gel. Unlucky Hargreaves had the potential to resolve the issue. Would like more of these modern takes on classic matches. So many posibilities. Brazil v England 1970, 1970s Holland v Germany, Platini era France, Taylors early 90s England!... etc.

[@IEPerez1994]

I’d say the main reason was the personalities. There were severe issues with discipline from almost every player mentioned, and that same carelessness transferred on the field. Brazil had the same issue, but scolari was able tonset himself above it all, and despite all the stars, make the system focus. Sven could’ve been the man, but he also undermined himself with scandal, and folded to the media

[@poiu77]

I remember that Argentina game, England was brilliant that day

[@aidanmason2498]

Adam, during your next retro tactics I would love to see a video detailing the tactical evolution of Guardiola from his time at Barca B to Mancity. I feel like it would be cool because he has been at the forefront of tactical evolution for the past 15 years! Love the content, favorite football tactics channel on KZbin.

[@TheillMadeKnght]

Oh the memories of yore with my old friends Feraligatr, Houndoom, Gengar, Graveler, Espeon, Snorlax

[@paulshort1027]

I thought that was the Brazilian team for a minute. lol

[@ymca4547]

Like names from Pro Evolution Soccer 2.

[@FourFourTwo]

I'm sorry I'm like 20 years too late but if you want to trade your Graveler with me so you can get Golem let me know! No evolution left behind!

[@TheillMadeKnght]

@@FourFourTwo so long since ive played i forgot that Graveler wasn't the final form XD

[@craigchampagne7797]

Waiting for Chrissy Powell to be mentioned here. Sven's biggest signal that he was picking for what you gave the England team, not what team you play for.

[@paulberry6926]

I mostly remember our inability to break down Brazil, who were very good. Never remembered it would have been Turkey and Germany … ah the ifs buts and maybes

[@liamhartley2300]

You almost had me convinced Adam!

[@tristanwhite3472]

We looked tired against Brazil and we couldn’t keep the ball giving the ball away and giving the Brazilians easy possession couldn’t hold on to possession giving the ball away.

[@rspjfrost1400]

Great video. Never thought about the Brazil to 10 men working against us but its a really thoughtful point. My memory of the match was the game shut down after the sending off. We just didnt have enough off the bench. Beckham wasnt fit either. He dodged a tackle for Brazil's 1st goal that he normally would make which gets overlooked. He was at his peak around then but never looked fully fit in the tournament. If we got in 1-0 half time i think we win. Brazil were a brilliant team and at the time it felt like whoever won that qf would win the tournament.

[@jeremyhill3837]

Great video Adam! You’ve got me convinced 🤔😃

[@mattheendpod2659]

Love it! Great trip down memory lane.

[@alfredoarevalo725]

Gerrard not getting injured before the World Cup is a great What If.

[@Pinkybum]

England didn't beat Brazil in 2002 because of Danny Mills. Brazil made the correct determination that Danny Mills was England's least talented footballer so they let him have the ball. I will never forget the sight of Danny Mills carrying the ball forward into the opposition half and not having a fucking clue what to do with it. I even remember him getting to their box and haplessly booting it in the general vicinity of some England players. It was pitiful. Why Sven persisted with him is the even bigger mystery.

[@cedarstuff]

As bad as he was as a player, he is somehow even worse as a pundit

[@gmadblock6002]

It's because Scholes was worse.

[@jamesreynolds4811]

@@cedarstuff and as bad as he is as a football pundit, he’s even worse when he has a stab at talking about politics or social issues.

[@bens4602]

Sinclair was the worst player in that run. Only one without a significant achievement, for good reason. Might as well have injured Barmby.

[@ainslieberrafella]

Sure, that's why Ronaldinho got sent off trying to break his ankle in a tackle, because they always let him have the ball

[@RollForever88]

Those names are unreal. So much talent it’s crazy.

[@Asphodel123456]

The 2002 WC was the overall lowest quality one I can remember. So being one of the better teams during that WC still doesn't say much.

[@charliedewirtz8579]

Great video Adam. The second half of that match was so tame from an England perspective. But I'm sure Brazil would have found a way to beat us without having to bolster up the defence following the sending off. They had plenty enough to get past England IMHO, whatever it would have taken. Your view is based on if the game had continued in the same vein as the first half - but surely it wouldn't have done, as Scolari would have adjusted things if England had got on top or retaken the lead. England's mistake in that tournament was not making sure they won the group - if they had, they'd have had an excellent chance of going one more round and meeting Brazil in the semis instead, with a later kick-off time and cooler temperatures.

[@SteveThePster]

Great video - my friends and I have had this conversation so many times - 02 was the best England team for aaaages (2021 was prob the next one that came close). So much cohesion, and great partnerships. Altho I notice you didn't mention that performance against Greece...

[@FPLSpidey]

Fantastic video FFT 🙌🏻

[@mattmckeon1688]

England's early 2000s game script under Sven always seemed to be: score early to go up 1-0. Keep it there until midway through the second half, then concede after all the defensive subs have been made, and then try to switch back to attack mode when the players have exhausted themselves. Game goes to extra time, no goals, England loses on penalties.

[@BaggyCreature49]

Love this idea of retro tactics. So boring watching people try and break down the modern day tactics.

[@tristanwhite3472]

How can he say Brazil were not better than us they were better than us.

[@socialistcynic]

Great vid, this deserves a lot more views!

[@LeeKyle]

Really enjoy the videos but, have to say, that wasn’t the formation Keegan put out against Germany. Southgate was actually in midfield, with a back four. It was a much talked about choice at the time and Keegan goes some way to justifying the decision in his autobiography while admitting it didn’t work.

[@roolaing]

Love your stuff, Adam. Really top notch. But there’s absolutely no way England should have beaten that Brazil team. The 3 R’s were enough, but then there’s Cafu, Lucio, Roberto Carlos, a (very) young Kaka. Nope

[@EmpressTouch]

They'd turned a corner in 1994. The art of hat you do WITHOUT the ball, something the French Rugby Union team have also learned many brutal lessons in, in the distant past...

[@1980redkremlin]

I appreciate the font you used for the player names. And that you changed it for 2006! I wonder if other non nerds noticed it 🤔

[@pb6813]

Trevor Sinclair and Danny Mills both had great tournaments considering they were chucked in at the deep end I agree that was our best chance to win the world cup since 90. Great video

[@markhaffenden6849]

Brilliant videos every time

[@alperozcan4384]

I remember that team very well and I've watched every single English national team match between 96 and '06. However I would argue that Brazil was much better and they were also without Emerson who got injured due to training antics pre tournament, he was the best 6 at that time in the world. Scolari got ronaldinho and rivaldo work together, they had the best right and left backs ever and the main man was of course coming back from a nightmare to haunt us all. Brazil would have matched and beaten England every time (let's say 95 out of 100). On the other hand, since we (Turkey) finished third, I would argue that we were the last great 442. Shoutout to Sven, great guy and great manager, rip, always loved him, he deserved the best.

[@Samson-h6l]

The best left and right back ever is a bit of a stretch, maybe going forward, but they were both wonderful players.

[@SE-zl5he]

Italy won the next world cup with a 4-4-2.

[@alperozcan4384]

@@SE-zl5he I'm pretty sure that it was a 4231/4222 hybrid with Totti as a second striker. But I see your point.

[@jivan8188]

Alright Adam Clery where’s the Pokémon U-9 tournament analysis of your Team the people are yearning for the battles!

[@FourFourTwo]

Lost to time, sadly. They ever have a Gen 2, Z-List Celebrity Invititaonal Tournament I'm 100% free that day.

[@ctwoolley1974]

Hi Adam. Appreciate the posting, thank you. As someone who lived through this period, it was probably one of the most frustrating times to be an England supporter, only surpassed by the Southgate era. We really should have won something. If only we’d had a truly left-sided equivalent to DB. Ho hum . . .

[@peterburry2531]

Bollox

[@EmpressTouch]

You can't have Ryan [you-know-who] Cymru Am Byth.

[@Samson-h6l]

McManaman.....

[@ctwoolley1974]

@@Samson-h6l Terry Venables played him on the right, with Darren Anderton on the left. Not sure how your comment resolves the long-standing issue I highlighted

[@ctwoolley1974]

@@peterburry2531 classy response, Peter

[@tristanwhite3472]

I remember watching the Argentina game with my Mum & Dad. Great game!

[@Nefariousbig]

Always thought the Scholes Gerrard Lampard conundrum could have been fixed with a diamond midfield and a DM. Give Gerrard a freeish role at the 10 to use his legs, Scholes as a metronome, Lampard to make late runs. Beckham to take the place of either Gerrard or Lampard as and when it makes sense, either to ping it from deep or take up a mezzala type role. What an England side that could have been.

[@juancarlosgallegos3902]

Selecting players based on profile is what England needs nowadays, I reckon. It seems unthinkable to choose only one or two of Bellingham, Foden, and Palmer, for example, but making big calls like that might be the key to unlock England's talent.

[@IEPerez1994]

Worst for me, it shouldn’t really be a hard decision. Foden simply is not on the level of the other two, and he’s a poor fit for the system. Should be an easy choice

[@juancarlosgallegos3902]

@@IEPerez1994 Isn't he? PFA Player of the Year?

[@IEPerez1994]

@@juancarlosgallegos3902 he’s a great player, but his production is inferior to his competition and he’s easily more expendable for both his club and country. He should be competing for other roles, and he hasn’t proven himself capable of adapting.

[@shmiwe1986]

Massive fan of this kind of content, nice one! I remember feeling like we could have won it. To be honest though, I struggle watching games from this era now because I feel like teams are so tactically and technically (arguably physically) better in modern football. Would love to see a video on the difference between now, 15 years ago, and 30 years ago and hear your thoughts on this. If you teleported modern day Scotland to WC2002, do they win it or would they still be rubbish?

[@roberthudson3386]

I don't know about players being technically better now than 15 years ago. Consider for example a player like Ryan Giggs who was a top player in the 90s, remained so into the 2000s, and even continued to play at a high level into the 2010s. I would not say the game has advanced technically or even physically that much. Tactically possibly, but that's as much coaching as player ability. It's a vastly different story when compared to the 1950s or whatever where the professionalism was much less. Personally believe a team such as Scotland would achieve more or less the same results in 2004 as in 2024.

[@shmiwe1986]

@roberthudson3386 You make a good argument. Perhaps it's only tactically that it's changed. No doubt though that there was more 'iconic individuals' 20 years ago, but I just feel that teams are much smarter today

[@CretienOsmondHughes]

Slightly rose tinted. That Brazil team had Ronaldo, Ronaldinho and Rivaldo up front with Gilberto Silva in the middle and Cafu, Roque Junior and Roberto Carlos at the back. It was miles better than England. Yes England should have utilised its man advantage but when have we been good at moving the ball about patiently to utilise space? (Well in those days we couldn't. We could do it under Robson, Hoddle and Venables)

[@johntgw]

And Lucio, Juninho, too

[@Chengyuan79]

If I remembered correctly, one Dunga was their Roy Keane, right? This Brazil was way ahead of everyone. And stressing that the original Ronaldo was the one-man army who really can beat defences on his own. And defenders in the past are nowhere as "soft" (relatively) as those nowadays. You get me. 😅

[@oldskoolmusicnostalgia]

@@Chengyuan79 To be fair England coped quite well with Ronaldo that day, and he was carrying an injury as well. But even if you shut him out, there still was Rivaldo and Ronaldinho to deal with... which England just couldn't.

[@Chengyuan79]

@oldskoolmusicnostalgia doubt any team can. And that is just the front 3. Cafu and Roberto Carlos as flying WBs. Lucio is a goal scoring DC (loved the underdog Leverkusen. They finally won last season). Cannot even remember the ... Arsenal MC Gilberto Silva and Dunga? And, the freaking bench. That big guy Adrianano or something? An upcoming Kaka? Man ...

[@IEPerez1994]

The difference really, is that brazil was able to break from its own restraints. Scolari changed their system and took a lot of flack for playing a back three. It worked wonder for the players

[@walterblanc9708]

I remember Brazil were lucky not be down to 9 for some very high tackle on Beckham that luckily/unluckily did not connect. I remember at the time people thinking if we beat Brazil nobody could stop us, for the only time I can remember we were absolutely not in the least worried about Germany. I have a recording of the 5:1 win and occasionally watch it if United have a crap game ...... Nearly worn out the dvd now these last 2 years..

[@robertrowles5450]

Agreed. I think 2002 is the closest England have come to winning the world cup in my lifetime (since 1968). They had some bloody good players and (unlike under Southgate) played good football. But for Beckham jumping out of a tackle on the touchline they'd have got to half-time winning 1-0 against Brazil in Shizuoka. And I don't blame Beckham for thinking about his injured foot. I don't think the Brazilians were significantly better than England that tournament. Still can't believe the same Germans, we had deservedly thrashed a few months earlier, made it all the way to the final. At the time I was really annoyed.

[@peterburry2531]

Brazil were leagues ahead of us... I remember watching it and feeling the futility. We were nowhere near good enough

[@robertrowles5450]

@@peterburry2531 I politely disagree. Sure, they had Ronaldo and Ronaldino. But Owen and Ferdinand and Scholes were also world class, we were 1-0 up, and not unduly troubled until the stroke of half-time. Also, the weather that day was particularly punishing - incredibly hot and humid. Big reason our second half performance was so tepid.

[@ainslieberrafella]

One of my biggest memories of England at the 2002 WC is David Beckham, who had suffered a broken metatarsal just a few months previously, pulling out of tackles he previously would have gone into without hesitation. Also, England WERE better than that utterly fantastic Brazil team, but they weren't better than Ronaldinho.

[@wtdreadOldskool]

Great video Adam 👍 isn't this how Spain beat us? By selecting players that fit into their structure? I'm sure they picked players from other teams other than Real or Barca? Hopefully our new manager will take a similar approach "round pegs for round holes"

[@EmpressTouch]

You could also argue how the French won the 2000 Euros without any left-footed players.

[@oliverwhite712]

There's a lot you can say about the Argentina group stage match. The man of the match that day was Nicky Butt. He was impossible to play against. Pele himself singled him out for praise, and it was no exaggeration. He was a machine and did everything right. I would remind you we had dreary draws against Sweden and Nigeria, hardly the stuff that filled you with expectation. You're right about the Brazil game being open right until Ronaldinho got sent off. But still, that Brazil side did what champions do and won on their off day. The point about balance and assigned roles vs. raw talent and reputation is pretty interesting. You wonder which must-have payer will have to be sacrificed by whoever gets the England job for the 2026 world cup.

[@dreadful_name2924]

2002 World Cup side is definitely not talked about enough. It used to be the Euro 2004 squad that was underrated but that’s being redressed now. But yeah, had they beaten Brazil I’d have bet on them to win the whole thing. Weird the way history rhymes.

[@gmadblock6002]

But England NEVER beat the top teams at tournaments in knock-out matches - it took from West Germany in 1966 to Germany in 2021 for England to beat ANY top team in a knockout match. It's a DISGRACEFUL record.

[@dreadful_name2924]

@@gmadblock6002 Spain in Euro 96. Also Belgium at Italia 90 even if they weren’t as good

[@19jez89]

@@dreadful_name2924 Funny how people can be so adamant about something when they're wrong. I suppose it did take a penalty shootout but at the end of the day we did beat Spain in a knockout game like you say, so it counts. Smashing Holland in the last group game before that was arguably a knockout game as I'm fairly sure there was a scenario where losing could have seen us go out. I think it would have required us losing heavily and Switzerland hammering Scotland for that to happen but still. Belgium is an interesting shout. Probably not a top, top side, but they did have some decent players if you go through the lineup. Champions League winners, Cup Winners Cup winners, UEFA Super Cup winners, Ballon Dor nominees, players who were still around from the side that lost the EURO 80 final to Germany...

[@philipjohn1254]

I always felt that Euro 2004 was the one that got away from this England team. So many things went wrong in the Portugal quarter final: Rooney off injured, Campbell's 'winner' ruled out, Beckham's penalty-taking mojo going walkabout. If they had got through that game, they would have won I think. You would certainly fancy them against Greece in the final.

[@YashMezzala]

Respect Greece. They played as a unit. Did their research and were clinical

[@SE-zl5he]

I'm sure every team fancied themselves against Greece, yet they all failed to beat them.

[@philipjohn1254]

@@SE-zl5he Someone did in the group stage, Spain I think.

[@michaelrobinson2687]

Football Analysis and a Pokemon reference. If it wasn't October I'd say this was Christmas. Although I wasn't really into either football or Pokemon back in 2000 - 2002. I was Primary School age at the time. (Love the football statistics and tactics analysis era and didn't get to Pokemon until Gen IV). If you're interested I used three slightly different teams in my Gen IV playthroughs (Diamond: Breloom, Togekiss, Infernape, Milotic, Gardevoir and Garchomp with a guest appearance from Staravis/Staraptor and Houndoom in the Gyms - At one point I had the England problem: 36 Level 60 Pokemon capable of facing the Champion, but there are only 6 slots in a team which meant that I had to drop (put in the box, not released) a massive 30 Pokemon. Pearl 1: Empoleon, Gardevoir, Staraptor, Infernape, Torterra and Garchomp. Pearl 2: basically Pearl 1 but swap out Infernape for Torkoal. Yes I traded over the other 2 starters from another game.) but largely like to adapt my line-up to deal with what I predicted my opponent would do.

[@RickSymons-d4g]

Great video Adam. I think we would have won this World Cup had we got past Brazil. I agree with you. Ronaldinho getting sent off cost us. If Rooney hadn't got injured we would have won Euro 2004. |The worlfd just didn't know what the hell to do with Rooney at that time. Rampant and fearless. In the past we have just been unlucky.

[@thegreathadoken6808]

I like that "dog & cat centre-back pairing" analogy. I've heard it called "silk & steel" before, but I like dog & cat much better.

[@tristanwhite3472]

If we did manage to beat Portugal in 2006 we still wouldn’t of won the World Cup.

[@realdjoffski]

Sven Lives Forever Mate Cuz Hez Grate ⚽

[@shaharm2898]

I appreciate you using the same typeface as the England shirt for the graphics

[@RedFez]

I always felt what cost England the game was Beckham dipping out of a tackle that led to Brazil's equalizer. Beckham had only recently come back form injury and that appeared to have made him very cautious.

[@noodle845]

Ronaldinho said he knew Seaman came off his line often, so he tried that, and it wasn't luck. If Ronaldinho says it, i believe him. I've seen him do things no one should be able to do. He was a freak

[@AdamPalomino]

I'm glad you talked about the Brazil game. But I believe we lost that game for a reason, that being there was just too much world class talent within their squad. I am talking 20% chance or less of victory looking back, Brazil were so well prepared, drilled and could likely rival their counterparts from the 70s. And having seen what Ronaldinho is capable of, I am positive his free kick was not 'jammy', please don't be like that silly commentator. What that man meant to do with a ball on the pitch, he always meant it, arguably the greatest ball technician to have done it.

[@dominicmeredith]

I had an A Level exam (Economics, module 5) immediately after that quarter final. In my previous four modules I'd got three As and a B, including full marks on module 3. I'd piled up so many points that I could afford to get two Ds in my remaining modules and I'd still get an A overall. Straight after the game we filed into the exam room and sat the paper. I got a U. I hold Ronaldinho SOLELY responsible for my ensuing failure to get a A in A-level Economics.

[@alexmair4904]

I dunno re Brazil, man. I remember that match. They toyed with us most of that game...

[@gmadblock6002]

Correct - delusional to think poor technique England-coached players were as good as these Brazilians who were to reach 3 WORLD CUP FINALS IN A ROW !

[@oldskoolmusicnostalgia]

Spot on. Once Brazil equalised, there was no contest at all. They got better throughout the game while England couldn't switch gears.

[@athosgomesfonseca]

What’s dekcuf England internationally is also what’s made England great: the domestic scene. The clubs and their players used to outright hate each other making domestic football god tier but the national selection… well, divided. No manager could have helped. This was seen in Spain, too, when Mourinho came thru but thankfully, he was sacked because the players were greater than to be dragged down by his antics. It ultimately cost Casillas his Madrid career and while I’m a Barcelonista, Casillas is still my favorite goalkeeper to date, so I’m sad for Iker.

[@simontravers2715]

@FourFourTwo Brazil would’ve been fine with 11 men against us. Worth pointing out that Cafu himself was a reinvention at that WC, initially just a RB, he was called up to that 23-man squad as cover on the condition he played RCB. That’s what made 2002 Brazil outstanding! Talking of reinvention, look up Ze Roberto’s transition from LW to CDM, quite remarkable!

[@carlaspinall7418]

Erickson team had some great players in it⚽

[@tinnguyen2031]

still same issue today: fitting in all the stars...

[@martinhanlon7199]

It would be interesting to know what you think the best system would be with the players that they had. It was always at the time that you can't play gerrard and lampard in the same team and that scholes was wasted on the left but what might the system have been and which players would have played where was an answer that was often not forthcoming at the time. We were bereft of ideas against Brazil in the second half - we created nothing. It was only recently that you can see the lack of talent beyond that starting 11 when you see who the subs were.

[@gmadblock6002]

Ah the great Scholes on the left MYTH. Scholes was in the centre in 2002 as he was in 1998 and he was USELESS because he couldn't control the ball properly under tight marking and failed to create anything. 27 years-old in the 2002 quarters and he STUNK the place up giving the ball away for the first goal and the foul for the second. Four years later the GREAT Pirlo was also then 27 and MOTM for both semi and final. That's the difference - The PLAYERS WERE NOT GOOD ENOUGH.

[@SpecialHeinrich]

Brilliant content as per. Only bone is G. Neville was an absolute donkey, he did 'love to bomb forward' but when he got there f all happened, ever. We were 1 world class full back away from realising the dream. chapeaux as always good sir

[@johnferguson4869]

Gary Neville picked himself for years. There was no-one else. Maybe that says more about the competition, but who else would you put in?

[@SpecialHeinrich]

@johnferguson4869 what you say is true, I was lamenting that he was our best option. If we are looking at why England don't win, the quality of player comes into the equation. That Gary was a shoe-in for so long is case in point.

[@JoeyKneecap]

Simeone's Atletico Madrid just as great at its peak in a 442.

[@stevendchu]

I'd argue even better, they were up against the famous BBC and MSN trios in their prime

[@joshd171294]

Scholes and Gerrard with Hargreaves behind would have been a tournament winning combo

[@EmpressTouch]

That Peter Crouch opportunity when he just stood still vs Portugal, 2006, like Midge Ure & co. in 1981. Do you remember the press stating recalling Emile Heskey before even considering Crouch. Peter Crouch the only striker making the most of his first opportunity (2-1 Uruguay equalizer) since Owen & Heskey (1-5 Berlin). As many may suggest, there were many other factors, such as selecting the best eleven players available, as opposed to the best team (1984 Alison Moyet NOT selecting Jimmy Greaves in that 1966 Final a classic example of getting this right). Hamstring injuries to key players in the gruelling Premier League schedule can never be rued out too. These videos, like many sports videos on You-[know-where] brilliantly offer the in-depth you'll never get on quick-fix TV broadcasting summary. Whenever there's nothing on TV, do yourselves a favour and scratch the surface.

[@nicholastaylor9687]

Blastoise, Raticate, Nidoking, Alakazam, Jolteon, Snorlax Loved my gen 1 boys

[@FourFourTwo]

That Raticate / Nidoking pairing absoltuely smacks of two early game catches that just never, ever let you down. Pretty sure you could have got the Abra by the 2nd gym as well...

[@roberthudson3386]

Personally I always adopted a strategy of using my favourite Pokémon in Silver and this meant using Double Team with Togetic and spamming Swift as my main strategy, with mixed results. Probably more analagous in a football context to Greece's Euro 2024 win, where a middling team wins the tournament by rolling good dice repeatedly, whereas England teams of the era suffered from poor synergy. Now as a Welshman, our recent football history is more like evolving from Magikarp into Gyarados.

[@jamesbaxter4920]

Nicky Butt played incredibly well at the 2002 world cup. Pele said he was England's best player, which everyone laughed at, but go back and watch it, and maybe he was right.

[@Nickelodeon81]

They laughed because Pele said he liked butt.

[@roberthudson3386]

@@Nickelodeon81 Nicky must have been the Butt of many jokes.

[@bobbypukes605]

I’m sorry, but you’ll never convince me that Heskey was ever good enough for that level. He got way too many caps. Also, if that 442 was so indestructible, he’d have carried on with it and we’d have dominated world football. It was just a very bad day at the office for Germany, and England had a great day at the office. Nothing more deep than that, IMO.

[@mattball8622]

Leaving a like for the recognition of Charizard clearly being the best OG starter. Football analysis was canny too.

[@danielalonso6223]

you’re remembering the team very well with the exception of the uncomfortable truth that Beckham was maybe 50% fit and shouldn’t have gone to the 2002 WC. Jumping over an easy tackle directly leading to Brazil’s equaliser was him protecting an unhealed injury. Meanwhile, although his overall career was middling, Lee Bowyer had just had three great seasons on the bounce for that young Leeds team and would have been an equally tireless replacement.

[@tristanwhite3472]

Might have been different if Steven Gerrard and Gary Neville were not injured for World Cup 2002. Especially Gerrard.

[@bennetts5331]

Definitely would have been a different game, the Brazil one. I think England did well considering.

[@tristanwhite3472]

@@bennetts5331 yes

[@GreenReason]

Seeing this topic come up, I came up with a fun thought experiment: Let's look at each teams players individually, who would you rather pick of the two starting elevens? Yes I'm aware that this video is all about how England wasn't the best individually, but was great as a team, buuuuuuut: Marcos < Seaman Roberto Carlos > Cole Lucio = Ferdinand (I can't pick between them) Roque Junior < Campbell Cafu > Mills Gilberto Silva > Sinclair Edmilson > Butt Kléberson < Beckham Ronaldinho < Scholes Ronaldo > Owen Rivaldo > Heskey Goalkeeper: Brazil 0-1 England Defence : Brazil 2.5-1.5 England Midfield: : Brazil 3-1 England Attack: : Brazil 2-0 England Total: Brazil 7.5-3.5 England. Perhaps Brazil were worthy winners after all? Naaah, I probably just rated the players all wrong! Please correct me so England can retroactivly win the World Cup!

[@loon20061984]

Remember how stacked that Brazil Squad was too: R9, Rivaldo, Ronaldinho, Roberto Carlos and on and on. Against what was essentially an England B team and they only just beat us. For sure we could've won that tournament

[@satyb]

I remember Brazil's first goal was down to mistakes by two English players. The ball was heading out to Beckham on the touchline off a Brazilian player, he decides to jump up and let the ball go out but a Brazilian defender is behind him and keeps the ball in play, passing it forward for a Brazilian midfielder to chase into the England half. Scholes easily gets to the ball first with the Brazilian racing in at him and instead of a simple sidefoot to an England player to his right decides he's going to attempt one of his biggest weaknesses of keeping possession of the ball when a tackle is coming in. The tackle comes in, Scholes loses the ball, two passes later the ball is in the England net.

[@jacobatkinson6312]

9:37 no wonder we lost … we didn’t have a keeper

[@chrisbirch4150]

Yeah that absence of keeper cost us on Ronaldinho's free kick

[@Algi632]

"You want to know how much synergy those two player had ? go ask Anton." LMAO 😂😂 19:59

[@owentanner27]

Are you able to do this full time mate because creating these videos seems like a dream job to me