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FOOTBALL IN ENGLAND
There is little doubting that football remains the
national sport and this is only likely to be enhanced as
we move closer to the start of theWorld Cup. As one
of only seven countries that have ever won theWorld
Cup, the competition holds big appeal to the general
public.
On the national stage there is little doubt that English
football is on the up with the help and leadership of its
first foreign coach Sven-Goran Eriksson. The
influence of foreign players and coaches in the
Premier League has been a growing theme since the
Premiershipwas created and English clubs have been
well represented in the final stages of the European
Champions league. However, financially at least, the
tide is turning for English clubs, as the wage bills
grow, now these typically exceed 50% of total
turnover club turnover.
STATE OF THE ECONOMY
British football is often said to lag behind that on
continental Europe (though witnesses to a recent
performance against Germany may beg to differ). If
so,wecan be thankful the same is not true their relative
economic performances, at least in recent years. Since
1992,UKgrowth has averaged 2.9% a year, compared
to 1.9% in Euroland. Over the same period,
unemployment has fallen by 6% of the workforce in
the UK, but less than 3% in the rest of Europe. And
inflation rates have barely differed (they’ve both
averaged close to 2.5%). The growth gap is unlikely to
be as big in future, because there are limits to how far
unemployment can fall (on the claimant count
measure only 3% of the workforce are currently
unemployed). The UK will therefore have to generate
stronger productivity growth if recent rates of
expansion are to be maintained. But, for the moment,
theUKeconomy is performing relatively well.
Arguably, one reason for the UK’s relatively stable
growth record in recent years has been its inflation
targeting regime for monetary policy. If so, then the
government faces something of a dilemma in its push
to persuade the British of the merits of European
Monetary Union, still the central economic and
political question facing the country. The longer the
successful track record of an independent monetary
policy the harder it is to persuade people of the merit
The World Cup and Economics 18 World Cup 2002
THE 2002WORLD CUP
Injuries dominate last minute preparations, with
fears overDyer and Gerrard as we go to press. The
loss of Neville and fears over Beckham have
already caused dilemmas. During April, the fitness
of David Beckham became a national obsession in
the run-up to theWorld Cup after the Golden Boy
of English football was injured by in a recent
Champions league match. The England skipper
looks likely to be fit for the first match on 7th June
against Sweden.Tomake mattersworse,Beckham
was crocked by an Argentinean defender,
England’s old adversaries and the team that
knocked England out in 1998. To add to the spice
England have drawn Argentina in the group stage.
Interestingly, England have met Argentina in the
World Cup on three occasions (1966, 1986 and
1998), twice the winner went on to lift the trophy
(1966 and 1986).
There is a huge amount of irony over the Beckham
situation after his last experience in theWorld Cup.
Having been sent off against Argentina in the 1998
quarterfinal, Beckhamwas subject to endless abuse
from the tabloid press and at every UK ground
except Old Trafford. Attitudes have certainly
changed towards Becks after he seemed to put
country before club earlier in the season and scored
the winning goal against Greece, which enabled
England to qualify for the World Cup. Now
everyone is praying he lifts the 2002World Cup.
England had been going into the World Cup in
confident mood under new Coach Sven-Goran
Eriksson having qualified by beating rivals
Germany 5-1 in Munich, a great moment for any
Englishman. They start the tournament as joint
fifth favourites with Spain, but behind France,
Argentina, Brazil and Italy.
England have been rather unfortunate being drawn
in the group of death with favourites Argentina,
bogy team Sweden and Nigeria. Furthermore, it is
vital that England win the group otherwise they face
a daunting task in subsequent rounds. If England
finish runners-up in group F, they will face winners
of group A (probably France), in the quarterfinal
theywould most likely meet Brazil, before running
into Argentina again in the semi-final. If England
win group F, life is much easier with Uruguay or
Denmark likely to be the opposition.
of adopting someone else’s. HaroldWilson, a former
Prime Minister, once pointed out that only while a
Labour government was in office did England
manage to win the World Cup. Perhaps the
government should point to the outstanding French
team and Spanish League as a reason for joining
EMU. If only the German team was doing a little
better . . .
STATE OF THE NATION
The rest of the world may have looked on somewhat
in bewilderment as the British recently devoted a
week’s public mourning to the 101-year old mother
of Queen Elizabeth. But the public interest in her
funeral demonstrated once again the centrality of
Britain’s history to its sense of identity. Early in its
life, the current government made conspicuous
attempts to change – to “modernise” – the country’s
image, stressing its contributions to pop music, and
pop art. The contributions may have continued (with
the music proving rather more popular than the art);
but the government’s fixation with the modern has
dwindled somewhat since the early days. Visitors to
the Millennium Dome may judge this a good thing.
Long-suffering railway passengers will not be so
pleased.
Previous Appearances: 10
1950, 1954, 1958, 1962, 1966, 1970, 1982, 1986,
1990,1998
Honours
Winners: 1966
Semifinalists: 1990 (4th)
Hosts: 1966
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