[lfc-news] Ian Rush column - Echo

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Liverpool Echo, 29 Mar 2005
Reds had every right to savour derby win
By Ian Rush, Liverpool Echo

IF I was playing in a derby match the team had to win, had missed a lot
of chances to secure victory, lost four of my team-mates due to injury
and saw another sent off, basically reducing my side to nine men, I
would be very relieved when the final whistle went.

In fact, I would go so far as to say I'd be ecstatic.

With this in mind, I find some of the comments begrudging Liverpool
their moment of celebration in last week's derby both surprising and
disappointing.

An opponent might not like to see their rival enjoying their win, but
certain inappropriate comments would have been better left unsaid. It
tastes of sour grapes.

Let's not kid ourselves. Had Everton won at Anfield they would have
savoured the moment just as much as Liverpool. This was a huge game,
particularly for Liverpool, who knew they couldn't afford to lose.

As for those who say this is a sign of how far Liverpool have 'sunk',
don't make me laugh.

Derby wins, particularly in adversity, always felt this good. I was on
the wrong and right end of such scenes of jubilation during my career.

The feeling of victory helped team spirit, made me want it more and
more, while the pain of defeat made me more determined to never
experience it again.

If the players of both Liverpool and Everton didn't feel the same last
week, something is wrong with them.

Time for sense of perspective

AFTER beating Northern Ireland so comfortably, it's obvious England are
going to win the World Cup next year.

Well, that's what you would think following the strange aftermath to the
victory at Old Trafford.

The reaction to England's results never ceases to amaze me. If they lose
a meaningless friendly, all you read about for days is criticism of the
manager.

Now, having easily beaten weak opposition, they're being tipped by some
as the best team in the world.

Joe Cole, who had a good game at the weekend, is now described as the
answer to the left-sided problem.

Sorry if I sound a bit cynical, but I would reserve judgment on both
these conclusions until Sven- Goran Eriksson's side meets a world class
team.

To me, England are what they have always been - a very good side with
some fantastic players -but with a lot more to prove to suggest they can
win the World Cup.

The worrying thing for England supporters is how recent opportunities
have been missed in major competitions. In both the World Cup in 2002
and last year's European Champion-ships, the team were found wanting
when it really mattered.

They went into those tournaments as one of about four teams capable of
winning it, but fell short of expectations.

Part of that was some of the tactical decisions, which contributed to
England's own downfall.

Against Brazil, England had control of the game, only to throw it away.
When things were going wrong, they didn't have a response.

Last summer in Portugal, we saw the same thing. A game which could have
been won was surrendered. When Wayne Rooney went off, the side was never
the same.

Between now and next summer, England aren't going to get the kind of
test they're sure to get in Germany. Their preparation won't be made up
of hard matches.

Their qualifying group is one of the weakest and only by facing one of
the strongest sides will we really know how good the current side is or
whether someone like Cole really can turn himself into an international
left midfielder.

Having said that, England are in a lot better shape than Wales at the
moment.

I was in Cardiff to see the defeat against Austria.

It wasn't a disastrous result or performance. Our chances of qualifying
had already gone. But it was a disappointing start.

It's clear John Toshack needs plenty of time to enforce his own
philosophy. He's not going to make major improvements overnight.

Most of us in Wales are realistic about our situation and won't make
silly declarations on the basis of one game. I think a few people in
England should do the same.

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