ENGLAND NEED TO PERFORM

The England national team has not performed well in any major tournament in recent decades. In fact, they have been unable to get past the quarter-final stage of major tournaments in recent times.

This, however, will be brought to an end at the next major tournament according to Liverpool and England defender Glen Johnson. After being criticised for his inept defending during his Chelsea days, the former Chelsea and Portsmouth defender has emerged as a first choice right back for the country in the last few years.

The attacking threat that he provides from the back is also extremely crucial for the style of play for both England and Liverpool. Johnson has said that one of the major reasons for England’s failure to get past the quarter-final stage has been the lack of a break at just the right stage in the tournament, which he believes the nation will get at the next major tournament. England are certainly not one of the favourites to win the FIFA World Cup 2014, which will be held in Brazil. In fact, they are not outright favourites to qualify as the winners from their group since they are in a fight with Montenegro at the top of the table.

Other top teams like Germany are way out in front in their respective groups.
“With the squad we have got we can definitely do better in a major tournament. In each game there are tiny little elements that decide each game. A matter of inches can determine if you win, but ratio-wise we have been generally going out around the quarter-final stages so you certainly do want to improve on that. I would say Brazil are the most romantic of teams, purely for variety,” said Johnson ahead of the friendly match with Brazil in Rio de Janeiro.