三级aa视频在线观看-三级国产-三级国产精品一区二区-三级国产三级在线-三级国产在线

  Home>News Center>Sports
         
 

Owen pleads not guilty to complacency charges
(Agencies)
Updated: 2004-09-09 06:44

Michael Owen has hit out at suggestions that he and David Beckham are underperforming for England because they know they will never be dropped by Sven-Goran Eriksson.

Riled by the charge that England's biggest names have taken up residency in a comfort zone created by a star-struck Eriksson, Owen is anything but complacent in defending his record as England's leading striker for the last six years.

"I've been in the team a long time now and I've seen the cycles we go through," he said ahead of England's must-win World Cup qualifier against Poland on Wednesday night.

"At the moment everyone seems to be saying there is a comfort zone.

(In the past) it was a gambling culture or that people liked a drink. In six months time it will be something else."

Criticism of Beckham and Eriksson has reached unprecedented levels in the English media in the wake of Saturday's 2-2 draw with Austria in England's opening qualifier for the 2006 World Cup.

Owen too has come in for his fair share of flak, having marred a lively display by failing to take either of two clear chances before England allowed a 2-0 lead to slip from their grasp.

But the Real Madrid striker categorically rejects suggestions that his form for England, which was by his own admission mixed at Euro 2004, could be affected by Eriksson's view of him as an automatic choice.

The Swede's faith in his senior players does not make him any different from previous England managers, Owen argues.

"When I was coming through as a young kid, Alan Shearer never got dropped, Tony Adams never got dropped.

"I think the top players are treated the same as anyone else. I can only speak for myself but I think I am playing on merit.

"In the last few games for England I've performed well enough to justify my place in the team. I'm still scoring goals and I believe I should still be in the team."

Owen has scored 27 goals for England in 62 internationals and, despite the intensified criticism he has had to endure recently, his goals per game average for England since the start of last season (five in 12) has dipped only marginally.

He is also convinced that the criticism of Eriksson's side as a whole has been overdone in the wake of their quarter-final exit - on penalties against Portugal - from Euro 2004.

"The only thing I look at are the facts and I am very positive about the England national team," the 24-year-old added.

"We've got to two quarter-finals (2002 World Cup and Euro 2004), no-one likes playing against us, we are one of the top countries in the world with some of the best players and some great young players coming through as well."

Owen justifiably points to a country like Spain as an example of a big football nation which has under-performed far more spectacularly than England of late.

But he is also willing to admit that England's recent performances - in Portugal, where leads were allowed to slip away against France and, fatally, in the quarter-final, as well as against Austria - have exposed a weakness when it comes to closing out victories.

"I don't know what it is in our minds that lets teams off the hook and gives them a bit of incentive (to come back).

"It has been the same for quite a few games in that we should have killed teams off. The other night we were dominant for an hour and then it was just like a different team."

It is a fault England must eradicate if Owen's optimism about the future is to prove justified.



 
  Today's Top News     Top Sports News
 

Wu Yi: China to go further than WTO promises

 

   
 

SW China floods have killed at least 172

 

   
 

Elders' problems centrestage at forum

 

   
 

Further opening in banking sector pledged

 

   
 

Russia vows to attack 'terror' worldwide

 

   
 

Presidents promote growth with Gabon

 

   
  China book small win over Malaysia
   
  China aim higher in Athens Paralympic Games
   
  Mutombo says he will join Yao on Rockets
   
  A day of victories for Hong Kong fans
   
  Chinese driver makes F1 history
   
  Int'l hot-air balloon to fly today in Xinjiang
   
 
  Go to Another Section  
 
 
  Story Tools  
   
Advertisement
         
主站蜘蛛池模板: 91精品国产手机在线版 | 欧美日韩精品一区二区 | 毛片黄片一级片 | 黄毛片| 亚洲国内精品久久 | 国产精品密播放国产免费看 | a级免费毛片| 欧美破处视频在线 | 久久综合成人网 | 国产成人三级视频在线观看播放 | 国产成人久久蜜一区二区 | 成人午夜电影免费完整在线看 | 一级片黄色a | 日韩在线视频免费 | 视频一区视频二区在线观看 | 亚洲激情成人 | 伊人色婷婷综在合线亚洲 | 国产亚洲精品一区二区在线播放 | 亚洲国产美女 | 久久国产精品一国产精品金尊 | 欲色综合 | 国产在线一区观看 | 网红主播大秀一区二区 | 草草草在线| 三级网址在线 | 国产毛片在线视频 | 尤物精品国产第一福利三区 | 久久九九有精品国产56 | 国产日韩片 | 国产亚洲精品福利片 | 六月婷婷精品视频在线观看 | 美日韩在线视频 | 精品国产免费人成在线观看 | 特级黄色录像片 | 久久国产主播 | 99久久免费精品视频 | 纯欧美一级毛片_免费 | 国产精品视频免费观看 | 成人在线观看视频免费 | 2022av视频| 伊人影院中文字幕 |