Money does change people, sure

Some will lose their edge: but then, the loss of form that results for their club should mean they don't get near the national team anyway. Others might well look forward to England games with dread: the pressure from the media is frightening, and if the manager's clearly not up to it, it only adds to their doubts and further undermines the most important commodity in football (or in life): confidence.

I'm convinced that they give their all, though. Look at it this way: many England rugby players looked like they weren't playing with passion and drive when South Africa beat us 36-0 - but they absolutely were. The problem was a total lack of any tactical plan, and any confidence in the manager. Once a completely new plan had been devised, they suddenly looked like trojeans - but their effort was no different in the knockout stages than against the US and SA at the start.

Posted By: thebigfeller, Nov 22, 11:42:14