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Weekend reading: England’s dreaming

My Saturday musings, followed by the week’s links.

Anyone who doubts the power of mental belief [1] only needed to witness England’s dire performance against Algeria in the World Cup last night to have their preconceptions tested.

In Rooney, Lampard, Gerrard, and Cole, England boasts players the equal of any in the world. The rest of the squad is rich in talent, too, even after all the injuries.

Yet England still doesn’t have a team.

Last night they played like ingenues, or worse – like terrified players from some totalitarian state who feared missing a shot or a tackle would result in a penalty shoot-out back home.

As Gareth Southgate put it: “They look haunted wearing an England shirt.”

I don’t watch football routinely but I always watch the World Cup. It’s a cliche, but in these tournaments sport transcends its technicalities to become mythic.

The story of England’s World Cup 2010 expedition may continue with a victory against Slovenia on Wednesday. But only a decisive victory will rewrite the myth sufficiently to take England towards the finals.

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