England Running Scared of the Celtic Cup

Seems the draw for 2010 World Cup qualifying groups wasn’t the only thing decided in Durban last weekend. The Republic of Ireland, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland were busy ironing out the details of the Celtic Cup, similar to the old British Home Nations Championship but with England replaced by Ireland. The FA chiefs of the four nations have all agreed to the tournament in principle. Wisely, the FAs have avoided scheduling the initial tournament to coincide with Euro 2008 next summer and royally pissing off everyone at UEFA. Instead the competition will commence in 2009 and return in 2011 and 2013, after which everyone will gather round and see if they want to keep going. Fellow Euro 2008 misser-outers England were cordially invited to join in the British Isles based fun, but are apparently too scared to square up to their four near neighbours.

In some ways England would be on to a loser by competing in such a tournament. Failure to win the whole thing would provide further evidence of England’s decline, while the other four nations would be fired up and looking to claim England’s scalp. On the other hand, certain England primadonas would benefit from having their passion tested by four outright battles. Certainly competing in the Celtic Cup will give all involved nations a chance to get some competitive action as opposed to the series of increasingly lifeless friendlies.

One even more depressing possibility is that the English FA believe they can make more money out of lucrative summer tours. They’re right of course, but chasing more money doesn’t make the team any better, and is ultimately pointless if they keep giving millions to people like Steve McClaren.

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