Jack Wilshere must be wary of becoming Wayne Rooney

There will always be that performance at the Camp Nou.

The 2010-2011 Champions League First Knockout stage. The second leg between Arsenal and Barcelona in Catalonia. Underneath the starry skies and upon the canvas of the European stage. Inside the amphitheater that forms Barcelona’s majestic football stadium. Amidst the brilliance of Lionel Messi, within the kaleidoscopic passing of Barcelona and beyond the controversy of a Robin Van Persie red card — there was Jack Wilshere.

The then 19-year old showed why many had

The Top 5: World Cup Upsets

Italy’s captain dejected after Italy is knocked out in the Group Stages of the 2010 World Cup

Scripts are written to be followed. But once in a while, someone comes along and tears up the screenplay and does whatever he wants. The unexpected becomes the surprise which many speak of for years on end.

It could be how David defeated Goliath with that one swing that landed a pebble into the giant’s

The Pirlo conundrum

Andrea Pirlo, Italy’s gem

Andrea Pirlo is the cog upon which Italy’s wheel turns. That was evident at last summer’s European Championships where he commanded the Italian midfield with his elegant poise.

It was his bursting run that led to the opener against Spain, his sumptuous free-kick opened the scoring against Croatia, his two assists unlocked Ireland and his panenka that demoralised England. Against England especially, he was the kingpin in midfield, rarely troubled and always seemingly in acres of space to launch threatening passes.

For opponents, that should thus be a no brainer – stop Pirlo, stop Italy. Of course, that is

Euro U-21: Brave England defeated by technical Italy

 

Englands Jordan Henderson battles for the ball with Italy’s Lorenzo Insigne at the Euro Under-21 Championships *** image courtesy of zimbio***

The set-piece came in. Steven Caulker jumped at it before Craig Dawson headed it in. It looked scrappy but in the midst of all that was laid bare the solemn identity of English football. Grit. Determination. Hunger. Desire.

The match would eventually be lost and indeed the goal would not stand. As England’s U-21’s kicked off their Euro 2013 campaign against Italy’s U-21’s, there was a clear divide in the manner in which both sides played their football. A contrast of styles.

Here was England; determined to win and they kept on going and going and going. And going. Italy on the other hand were different. Technically superior. Their passing and movement was