da dobrowin： On a sweltering summer evening in south London – Brixton, to be precise – I took to the pub to watch England’s Group B showdown with Slovakia. Witnessing the Three Lions fail to score against theoretically weaker opposition is always a gruelling experience, one we’ve all become almost desensitised to, but Monday’s was glossed over by my company for the evening – the indisputable king of England cult heroes, Emile Heskey.
da roleta： Once overcoming the disappointment of England failing to convert dominance into goals, the former Leicester City, Liverpool, Aston Villa and Wigan Athletic striker found a few minutes to have a chat with us at Football FanCast – and revealed he’s got a soft spot for one of Manchester United’s all-time greats!
So it wasn’t the greatest performance tonight but I suppose you can’t complain about getting through to the next round.
Yeah that’s the main thing, getting through to the next round. The result wasn’t what we wanted but it doesn’t always go to plan when you’re playing international football.
What disappointed you most about tonight’s performance?
Probably not creating as many chances and moving the ball as quickly as we could have and should have. Players were dwelling on it too much and using up too much time, so then the next player doesn’t have enough time on the ball. Especially when you’re playing international football, it’s about breaking and breaking at speed. When I was playing for Liverpool, Manchester United used to do it all the time – break and then within five or ten seconds, the ball’s in the back of your net. That’s the sort of football you want to see, just breaking and going at players. Thierry Henry, when he was playing with the Invincibles, was fabulous at it. England have the players to do it, albeit maybe not as good as Henry, so I don’t know why they couldn’t produce it tonight.
Pre-match build-up was dominated by rumours of Roy Hodgson making six changes to the starting Xi that beat Wales last week – rumours that proved to be true and changes that have reportedly landed the England gaffer in hot water with the FA.
Did the wholesale changes disrupt the team’s rhythm?
It might have, but you’ve got to look at it differently. You’ve got to look at it as if it’s your chance to actually shine – not personally but as a group – to stamp your authority on an opposition you’re capable of doing that to. I didn’t quite see that any of the players who came in are going to dislodge those who Roy Hodgson picked before. Maybe the front two actually, I thought the movement and play between Sturridge and Vardy was good. The others, though, really didn’t do enough for me.
Not since the 1990s have England boasted such a diverse, talented and exciting strike-force. Daniel Sturridge, Jamie Vardy, Harry Kane and Marcus Rashford bagged 62 Premier League goals between them last season, but goals have been harder to come by at Euro 2016. As England succumbed to a scoreless draw with Slovakia, one thought crossed my mind – if there’s one thing the strike-force is missing, it’s an old fashioned target man of the Heskey variety.
Do you think Hodgson’s missed a trick there?
We’ll you’ve got Andy Carroll, someone like that. You see some of the crosses going in and you think he would’ve bagged at least one goal at the tournament by now. But in all fairness, did he play enough last season? Towards the end he had a good run but you’d want him to play a full season and you’ve got these other lads who’ve played full seasons scoring a lot of goals – so they’re the options you’re eventually going to choose.
What’s Hodgson’s next step to prepare for the knockout rounds?
I think the manager is going to be looking back at the videos and really analysing where we can actually progress and do better. Because you’re inevitably going to come up against a team, especially being England, that are just going to sit back. They watch the Premier League, they watch these players week-in-week-out and know what they’re about, so they just sit back and defend.
So could facing a bigger team in the next round actually suit England more?
It could do – they’d obviously have more possession but that could make it a little easier to counter. Especially with someone like Vardy, because they’ll push further up and he’ll have so much space in behind.
Time for our world-famous, totally-not-a-rip-off-of-one-to-eleven-segment, fantasy five-a-side. We allow famous footballers to create their dream five-a-side team, but every selection has it’s own stipulation. Today we’re doing an England special, courtesy of our 62-cap special guest!
So Emile, your first player is the best you played alongside for England?
So difficult to put it down to one… I’ll say Scholesy.
And the second is the best you played against for England?
Probably Walter Samuel for Argentina. He was an absolute beast.
The third – your favourite England player growing up?
John Barnes.
The fourth is a player from the current team you’d like to play alongside.
Someone that suits the way I like to play is Jamie Vardy.
And finally, any England goalkeeper – past, present or future?
David Seaman. No doubt.
Emile’s still going strong at the age of 38 and insists he’s in as good shape as ever. But with his Bolton Wanderers contract set to expire at the end of next season and little hint of a new deal, the striker’s future – footballing or otherwise – remains unclear. What’s next for Emile Heskey?
Bit of media work, I’m taking my time deciding what I want to do. I’m not in a rush to do anything to be honest with you. I’m just going to enjoy my time off and enjoy my time with the kids – they’re keeping me busy as it is – and then see what happens.
So could you continue playing next season?
Who knows! I don’t at the moment, ask me again at the end of July!
Emile Heskey was speaking at a Ladbrokes #ForTheFans event. For more from Emile and the latest betting click here.
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