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The Sad Similarities between Owen Hargreaves, Jonathan Woodgate and Dean Ashton
Seventy minutes into the World Cup second round knockout between Germany and England and another laborious England attack breaks down. With calculating ease the ball is cleared for Mesut Özil to chase. Owen Hargreaves, however, is responsive to the danger and quickly darts across, beating his German foe to the ball and putting it into touch. England can cling on to hopes, however unrealistic, of a comeback.
Back to reality and Hargreaves, England’s surprise star of the 2006 World Cup in Germany and at 29 years old still talented enough to be an England mainstay, is powerless to intervene. Injuries have beset his progress over the four intervening years. Instead he sits watching the match on holiday rather than being a part of the squad. Özil accelerates past the statuesque figure of Gareth Barry and squares for Thomas Müller unmarked at the far post. 4-1 and the humiliation is complete.
Why was Müller given so much room to complete his brace in Bloemfontein? One reason may be the enforced absence of the forgotten man of England’s defence, Jonathan Woodgate. In keeping with the majority of his career so far, Woodgate sat watching the game from home having only been fit enough to participate in three of Tottenham’s Premiership games in the 2009/10 season. Significantly, he failed to appear in Fabio Capello’s plans during qualification – a ringing testimony to a career beset by injury and controversy. As Germany carved England open at will on the counter-attack during the second half the loss of both players was keenly felt.
Their loss will be rued for a long, perhaps indefinite, period to come. As his versatile midfielder broke down with another injury during pre-season, Sir Alex Ferguson was downcast in his prognosis. “The bad news is that Owen Hargreaves is back in America seeing the specialist,” he said. “He won't be ready for the start of the season. I don't know when he'll be back.” As well as spelling bad news for a Manchester United midfield which has at times lacked his intelligence and aggression, particularly given Michael Carrick’s loss of form, it is grave news for England’s midfield. Like Xabi Alonso’s influence in the Spanish midfield liberates Xavi and Andres Iniesta, Hargreaves could have been the figure who, in the right tactical system, enables Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard to work together. Alas, we may never know.
If reports are to be believed, Woodgate, like Dean Ashton, may be forced into premature retirement. Suffering from a perplexing groin problem has meant that he will not be a part of Tottenham’s 25-man squad for the forthcoming Premier League season – a season which his manager Harry Redknapp had called “make or break” for the cultured centre-back. “He’s in a position where he can’t train or kick a ball,” he said ominously.
His and Hargreaves’ recuperations read similarly to that of Dean Ashton, as a series of abortive comeback attempts. Their most recent appearances in the first team are increasingly distant memories. Ashton’s retirement was sad, marking as it did the end for a player of unfulfilled potential. Club and country alike will be hoping that the same fate doesn’t meet Hargreaves and Woodgate. English football would be weakened by their absence.
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