England yesterday celebrated their continued presence in the European Championship by beating Belgium 2-1 at the Stadium of Light in Sunderland. However, the uneven performance of Kevin Keegan's team made it hard to tell whether they had been granted a reprieve or merely won a stay of execution.
But at least, following Sweden's 2-0 defeat of Poland on Saturday, England are in the play-offs for a place in the Low Countries next summer. Clearly, in a previous life, Keegan was neither a Swede-basher nor a Pole-swatter and it is to be hoped that his earlier incarnations did not shoot Turks at Gallipoli, slice pieces off William Wallace or inform a Cossack that he danced like Lionel Blair.
Wednesday's play-off draw in Aachen could ask England to beat Turkey, Scotland or Ukraine over two legs in a month's time to appear in Euro 2000. They could also get Denmark, which would be tricky, Slovenia, which would be a stroke of luck, or the Republic of Ireland, which would be bad news for the Garda Siochana.
At least Keegan and his players are in a position to consider likely opponents, a situation which appeared increasingly unlikely in Stockholm on Saturday until Sweden abandoned their laid-back approach to the Polish question and thought of England. Keegan must have been having kittens until Kennet Andersson scored Sweden's opening goal.
To nobody's great surprise, Keegan immediately declared that England had been thrown a lifeline. The principal question now concerns whether or not his players are going to throw it back.
Yesterday, as Belgium dominated the first half once Branko Strupar had brought the scores level following Alan Shearer's early goal, his 28th in 54 internationals, England did not look like a team that had wanted to be saved. Keegan revealed how he lost his temper with his England stars for the first time at the break when he turned Mr Angry in a bid to shake his players out of their first-half lethargy. Jamie Redknapp and debut boy Frank Lampard bore the brunt of Keegan's tongue-lashing.
"It was the first time I have had to get angry with the players," admitted Keegan. "And I think they responded very well. Maybe I should get angry with them more often. They were trying to play the continental way again, instead of getting after them."
The introduction of Michael Owen's extra pace finally changed the complexion of the game and eventually Jamie Redknapp won it with a long shot.
"With the talent we've got we should never have been in the situation of relying on others," declared the England coach stoutly. But any talent is only as good as the use to which it is put and for much of the qualifying competition, first under Glenn Hoddle and latterly under Keegan, England have underachieved.
Between now and the first leg of the play-offs on November 13th, England must rediscover the organisation and resilience, mixed with the occasional bursts of flair, which enabled them to qualify for the 1998 World Cup so impressively. At the moment the team is an Allegro which, after frequent breakdowns, has been given a tow by a Volvo and now needs a push start.
If sheer optimism can get England to the tournament, Keegan will surely lead them to Holland and Belgium. "This has happened for a reason," he announced after the final whistle blew in the Rasunda Stadium. "I feel we've bottomed out and the only way to go from here is upwards.
"People may ask how we can expect to win the European Championship if we haven't qualified under our own steam, but look at Denmark in 1992. They came off the beach to win the tournament after Yugoslavia had been thrown out (following a United Nations resolution on Bosnia)." Well, maybe Denmark had better players, but Keegan is right to point out that the way finalists qualify often has little bearing on how well, or how badly, they perform in the competition itself. All of which, however, is a mite premature.
The play-offs are going to be an anxious business. England are not used to scrapping among the group silver medallists in a repechage.
Nevertheless, in retrospect, the draws Keegan's team achieved in Bulgaria and Poland this time, though slated by the critics, turned out to be the crucial points which have given them a second chance, courtesy of the Swedes.
"We may be back-door Charlies,' said Keegan defiantly "but who is to say we cannot come out of the front door in the end." Keegan's faith in the ability of his more experienced players to blend with any youthful talent coming through and put England among the Euro 2000 favourites is admirable. But for the moment it is difficult to look beyond the play-offs and so much will depend on luck with injuries and the coach being able to select what he believes is his strongest side, which would include David Beckham, Sol Campbell and Paul Scholes, who stayed on the bench yesterday.
This may well turn out to be Hoddle's old team in thin disguise, with David Seaman, Tony Adams, Paul Ince, impending hernia operation permitting, and Alan Shearer forming the backbone and trusting that the spinal column will stand the strain. It is thanks to Sweden that England are able to walk at all towards Euro 2000.
England: Seaman (Martyn 46), Dyer (Neville 58), Southgate, Adams, Keown, Guppy, Lampard (Wise 76), Ince, Redknapp, Shearer (Heskey 86), Phillips (Owen 58). Subs Not Used: Le Saux, Scholes. Booked: Owen. Goals: Shearer 6, Redknapp 66.
Belgium: De Vlieger (Gaspercic 46), Deflandre, Peeters, Van Meir, Oyen, Tanghe (Walem 46), Van De Haeghe, Wilmots, Van Kerckhoven, De Bilde, Strupar (Brogno 74). Subs Not Used: Pierre, Brocken, Goor, Clement. Booked: Van De Haeghe. Goal: Strupar 14.
Referee: Anders Frisk (Sweden).
