The ‘Domestic Dilemma’ At Euro 2012

To say that Steve McMananaman was a pioneering maverick of modern English football would perhaps be entering the realms of hyperbole, though it could be argued that the winger’s move to Real Madrid in 1999 instigated a rush, or at least a mild charge, of English internationals to the club in the following years. His switch reignited interest in that very rarest of breeds: the Englishman abroad.

Of course, the travails of David Beckham, Michael Owen and Jonathan Woodgate held varying degrees of success, but it was at least a signifier that England’s ability to export footballing talent was still fresh and crisp. With foreign leagues no longer able to lure away English players after the creation of the wealth-mongering Premier League, we are no longer able to laugh relentlessly at players making irksome attempts to integrate amongst the locals. Gone are the days of Luther Blissett riding a vespa, Paul Gascoigne wolfing down plates of pasta or Trevor Steven in a beret.

Humorous welcoming photo shoots aside, the issue of the national side and domestic-based players is one which needs to be assessed in greater detail. Does being insular in terms of representation harbour success? Time for some number crunching.

Interestingly, England have been the only national side to have taken a squad comprised solely of domestic players in the last two major international tournaments. Whilst Germany and Italy also took 23 home-based players to South Africa in 2010, their Euro 2012 squads have now been diluted with a handful playing abroad. Of all this year’s competitors, only Russia, Ukraine, England and Italy have 20 or more domestic based players, whilst the Republic of Ireland cannot boast a single member of their squad plying their trade in the domestic league. Elsewhere, numbers in other squads tend to hover in single figures.

So far in Euro 2012 results point exceedingly towards the benefits of keeping things domestic. Of the eight games which have not resulted in a draw so far, the side with least home-based players have triumphed only twice. Those with more domestic players than their opponents have scored twice as many goals.

In the games which have finished on level terms, the number of domestic players has also been predominantly corresponding between teams. Spain and Italy’s draw saw 19 and 20 home players in each squad respectively, although England have nearly twice as many as France and likewise between Poland and Russia.

At Euro 2008, finalists Spain and Germany were fourth and third in the table of players playing in their home leagues at the tournament, whilst surprise semi-finalists Russia and Turkey were 1st and 5th respectively. The trend is one which repeats itself throughout major tournaments. World Cup 2006 winners Italy were comprised solely of players from Serie A. Third place Germany housed only two foreign based players in the same tournament.

And then there is England. Despite being predominantly made up of domestic based players at every major tournament, there has been little notable success for the national side. This goes to suggest one of either two things; that English players aren’t very good, or that they suffer due to the influx of foreign players into the English domestic league. Alarmingly, the latter is the most likely explanation.

The Spanish and German leagues are becoming increasingly diluted with foreign talent, yet year upon year their national sides are able to call upon domestic players and engage in successful campaigns. Their players are able to thrive upon and learn from these imports, rather than envisage them as threats. Instead of retreating and accepting the influx, it appears as though they are able to use this as motivation to exceed themselves. The English seem to lack this capacity. Whilst there is also perhaps the case of bias against English players in manager’s selections, there also exists a psychological barrier in the national psyche which dictates to young Englishman that they are inferior.

England’s case, however, is exceptional. Figures indeed suggest that reliance upon domestic-based players is a step towards success. There are, however, one or two deviances in a successful squad; a couple of exceptional players either previously or currently plying their trade abroad, bringing unique ideas to solid domestic spine. Chris Waddle in 1990. Gascoigne at Euro 1996. Two vital components of England’s last two most successful campaigns who had fled blighty. Spain’s English based contingent at Euro 2008 were critical, yet the structural backbone of the side was formed in La Liga.

Investing in domestic based players for a national side pays dividends. But what is also needed is one or two variants, a player schooled in the ways of another world who can bring a touch of elegance. England’s most technically gifted would be well advised to seek new experiences abroad, for the benefit of both themselves and the national team.

Would you like to see more English players abroad? Are domestic based players the key to success? Tweet me @acherrie1

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