Friday, May 17, 2002
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Football
Speed thrills. It also kills. Michael Owen's speed thrills the fans and kills the enemy! When Owen travelled to France four years back, he was a boy. Now, he is a man...and a superstar. Light of feet and brave of heart, Owen, along with David Beckham, will spearhead the English challenge in the coming World Cup, in a heady tango of supreme skill and shattering speed, provided Beckham is fully fit. Owen is the cutting edge of the England attack, and he has the specific job of not just scoring, but running the defence ragged, opening up avenues for the others. He will always be a constant threat on the break, for the defenders hardly have time to regroup given his burst of speed and not inconsiderable skill to find his way through. Over the last two decades, England has produced some extremely effective strikers. Gary Linekar and Alan Shearer were poachers, pure and simple, sneaking their way into the right spot at the wrong time for the defence, and swiftly burying the ball between the posts. Both Linekar and Shearer were adept with the head, and that made them extremely dangerous during the `set pieces' when they could so easily soar over the defenders, even when the `box' was cramped. Owen is a little different in the sense that he requires a little space to make the inroads. But then, he has been successful with his methods. Owen was just 18 years and 59 days, when he wore the England jersey for the first time - against Chile in '98 - and made the occasion memorable by scooping the Man of the Match award. He was also the youngest to receive the England cap in the 20th century. He is likely to be partnered upfront by either his Liverpool teammate Emile Heskey or Leed's United's Robbie Fowler. And then there is the experience of Teddy Sheringham, who might not be the fastest of movers, but possesses a mind, that is forever ticking. Owen has been bothered by injuries running up to the big event, and a pulled hamstring did keep him out of the vital World Cup qualification game against Germany in Munich. And there have been periods when he has been frustrated by the defenders. He should, however, come in roaring at the defence during the World Cup, like in France '98, where he sizzled with his blinding runs and crisp shot-making ability. Even the battle-hardened tough tackling Argentine defenders were chasing shadow, as Owen, after latching on to a Beckham pass, flew ahead, left behind Chamot for dead, sold the dummy to Ayala and swept the ball home, with the calmness of an executioner. Owen also won a penalty for England in the same game, and, in a tournament where Sheringham was off-colour, he certainly added teeth to the English attack. Over the next four years, he has taken quite a few knocks in the harsh, unforgiving world of professional football, yet has managed to hold his own. There was recognition too when he was named the stand-in England captain after Beckham suffered the injury. Owen is looking forward to hunting again with Beckham, for whom he has enormous respect - ``You always know what a world class player he is and that one of these days he is going to....maybe even win us, a World Cup.'' Beckhan and Owen. It promises to be interesting. In fact, exhilarating. — S. Dinakar
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