England

Managers | Does England really need a Scolari?

By John Turnbull ⋅ 1 May 2006
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London | In considering Luiz Felipe Scolari’s rejection of the job as England manager, Observer columnist Mary Riddell writes that the influences from abroad have “transformed the English league and society itself.” The game is irrepressibly global, irrepressibly political, as illustrated by the row over whether Iran president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will attend the coming World Cup. Riddell writes, “Whether or not the President shows up, this tournament promises to be unusually politicised, even by its historic standards. Italy’s victories in 1934 and 1938 were exploited by [Benito] Mussolini, who described the team as “soldiers’ for the national cause, while England’s win in 1966 could not have been a bigger boost for Labour if Harold Wilson had played at centre back.” … World Football on BBC World Service on Apr 29 began a series on politics and the World Cup. 

Tags: 2006 FIFA World Cup, Coaching