Club No Longer a Match for Country

As a youngster I had many dreams: pilot, chef, rock star, dinosaur, but most importantly scoring a spectacular injury-time winner in a World Cup final for England. This dream was shared by everyone - young and old - who would happily give two very important body parts to be given even the chance at a friendly against the Papua New Guinea's finest.

Let's fast-forward a decade or so: "Who do you dream about playing football for son?" Nine out of ten times England shall be pushed well back into the queue led by the Manchester Uniteds, Liverpools and LA Galaxies of this world. Yes, it seems like club football has well overtaken its international counterpart in this great nation.

Reasons? Well England has failed to win anything shiny in 43 years, whereas Man U rarely fail to bring home a piece of silverware home each season. Fair enough I suppose, everybody wants to be on the winning team don't they? But it has now came to the situation where club success is at the expense of international glory.

Let's look at last week's games: a friendly against Slovakia and a World Cup qualifier against Ukraine. I very much doubt any of England's stars graced the hallowed ground of Wembley without their club game next Saturday in the forefront of their minds, thus staying firmly in fourth gear to ensure they would not be pooped for their "crucial" league encounter.

David Beckham is the only man who defies this. Say whatever you wish about his desires for publicity and an extra few dollars into a gastronomical bank account, England is his priority. He continues to give 100%, regardless of his role, at the age of 33 when many players hang up their England boots to prolong their club career as soon as they blow out 30 candles.

So what are England's reasons for such a baron patch of glory? Too many foreigners in the Premier League? Lack of opportunities for English youth? Maybe. But I believe that if this current crop want the World Cup or Euro as much as they crave the Champions League or Johnston's Paint Trophy then we have an absolutely fabulous chance bringing something home from South Africa. And releasing another horrible new shirt to celebrate.