It has been 48 years since England were crowned World Champions, since then the three lions despite of boasting numerous talented squads have failed to challenge for the top honor.
England’s golden generation of 2002 and 2006 managed to salvage some pride for the three lions after reaching the Quarter-Final stage of the competition on both occasions. However the squads which were to follow despite of boasting some very talented players have failed to do their country proud. After being knocked out in the Round of 16 stage last time out when the World Cup was held in South Africa, this time England failed to make it through from the first round. Their dismal campaign will surely have an effect on the new English Premier League season which is set to kick off on the 16th of August.
England’s early exit from the World Cup is a timely reminder for the English Football Association that there is simply not enough quality in the squad to compete in a tournament as big as the World Cup. This is something which FA chairman Greg Dyke has already recognized and the former BBC director general further claimed that England will not be able to challenge for major honors in the coming years and should target the 2022 world Cup to be held in Qatar.
"The problem is serious, very serious," Dyke warned of the trend of fewer and fewer homegrown players playing in the top flight.
"English football is a tanker that needs turning," said Dyke in his first major speech.
"I want to set the whole of English football two targets. The first is for the England team to at least reach the semi-finals of the Euro Championship in 2020 and the second is for us to win the World Cup in 2022."
Dyke revealed some alarming statistics according to which the number of English players in the starting lineup of the top flight clubs in England has fallen from 69% to 32% in 20 years. Furthermore the FA chairman also claimed that in the most recent summer transfer window, only 25% of the transfers made by English Premier League clubs included players which were qualified to play for England. This number was 37% only two years back.
The 67 year old expressed his concern over the lack of grooming English players are receiving in their own nation and claimed that this is something which he would be looking to address. The English Premier League represents everything that is wrong with the English squad. The players are simply not good enough to rub shoulders with the best in the world, because they are simply not groomed like players from other top nations are.
Top clubs in England have been majorly relying on foreign players to produce the goods for their respective clubs and the introduction of oil rich owners has further aggravated the problem with clubs willing to spend unrealistic amounts to bring in world class players from abroad instead of promoting promising players from youth levels to the first team.
For England to enjoy any kind of success on the international stage, this is one thing which will have to change. The Football Association will have to take a step to promote its own players rather than providing a platform to nurture foreign talents. For England to experience any kind of success in the coming years, the Premier League will have to do its job of producing top class local talents and it will not come as a surprise if the Football Association take major steps next season to address a very serious issue.
