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Chelsea 15 Jun 2000
WISE CONFIDENT OF CHARLEROI BOOST
Dennis Wise revealed the belief in the England squad that they can beat Germany for the first time in a tournament in 34 years despite their defeat against Portugal and insisted: "Everything can change in one game."
Wise insists that confidence is still high despite letting a two-goal lead slip to lose 3-2 in their opening game, with the players having agreed with Kevin Keegan's call for them to take more responsibility out on the pitch in a "brain-storming" postmortem.
And while he knows that defeat in Charleroi on Saturday would be likely to spell England's elimination from the tournament, he maintains that victory would put them virtually back on track.
Wise declared: "The confidence is there. We've got to get a result against Germany but, if we do, then it all changes. It can all change in one game.
"We feel that we can beat them and that's what the lads who are selected will be trying to do. It's not the end of the world yet, we know we've still got a chance and we're capable of beating them.
"We need a bit of backing and a bit of extra confidence, but there's a good atmosphere among the lads."
Wise - who is relishing his first major tournament at the age of 33 having just missed out on Euro '96 - insists that he is not concerned either way by the reports of internal dissent within the German camp.
For the England players have been concentrating on learning the lessons of the manner of their defeat by Portugal, when they allowed their own game plan to become disrupted and failed to heed the advice coming from their bench.
During the meeting held between Keegan and his squad in the wake of that match, the players agreed that they needed to shoulder more responsibility in coping with changing circumstances on the pitch.
Wise revealed: "What he Keegan was trying to put across was that maybe sometimes some of the players have got to take it upon themselves and sort things out. That's where we went wrong really.
"The gaffer also wanted a few people's opinions. He took note as he's that type of person. He likes you to say what you feel and he likes to put his things across as well.
"Maybe it was up to us on the pitch to try to sort it out because it's very hard for him when the game is going on to try and sort things out.
"He told us what he expects from us and we agree with what he says. We put our bit across and basically it's the same. Basically he doesn't want that situation again and it's the sign of a good manager when he asks your opinion."
However, the priority within the England camp now is to ensure that the focus shifts from "what went wrong against Portuguese to what's going to go right against the Germans," revealed one of Keegan's assistant coaches, Les Reed.
While many observers believe Keegan will change formation to a 5-3-2 line-up against Germany, Reed insisted that no firm decision had yet been made - and that retaining 4-4-2 was still a strong possibility.
The former Charlton coach's main responsibility with England is the preparation work on the opposition and he has therefore spent much time studying Germany and the best way to beat them for the first time in a tournament since the 1966 World Cup final.
"We have two options. One is to change our shape and imitate theirs, or stay with the shape that we want and we think we get the best out of when we've got the ball, but know what our roles are when the opposition get possession," he said.
"That's the choice we'll make between now and Saturday. We can do both things and we need more information about the Germans.
"But you can have any kind of shape, they are only starting positions, they are a frame of reference. It's what you do when you've got the ball or the opponents have the ball which matters.
"You can get movement from any system or shape if the players are encouraged to change position and to rotate. I thought we did that in the 4-4-2 anyway.
"If there was any criticism against Portugal, it would be of how we reacted when we went 2-0 up. What we did to get there was good and we wouldn't want to lose that."
While Portugal's game is all about movement, Germany tend to play a more rigid system, with wing-backs, two defensive man-markers, a sweeper and Mehmet Scholl playing behind the front two.
Reed added: "I think the Germans will want to play at a much lower tempo than Portugal did. They have traditionally built up from the back, while the Portuguese move it out from the back as quickly as possible and use their midfield.
"The Germans drop deeper to retain possession of the ball in the hope of drawing you out and getting in behind you. We need to make sure that the space between our defenders and front players is much tighter."
Then again, England had anticipated how Portugal would play, but were unable to cope when the game started turning against them.
The real trick to beating Germany is not just outfox them before the match, but to do so during the game taking responsibility and adapting where the need arises.
And that is the lesson which Keegan has clearly been attempting to ensure that his players learn.