By Henry Winter, Football Correspondent Published: 11:55PM GMT 05 March 2010
Glory night: Michael Owen celebrates his consternation idea opposite Argentina in St Etienne in the 1998 World Cup Photo: REUTERS We will regularly have Paris and Casablanca. And Lisbon and Geneva, Tallinn and Charleroi. And, unforgettably, St Etienne, Munich and Shizuoka. Those who find to draft Owen"s challenging achievements for his nation contingency supply themselves with an atlas as well as an abacus.
In aggregation 40 goals, Owen set an England jot down by scoring in 4 uninterrupted tournaments, even distinguished in 4 apart continents, anticipating the symbol in places as resisting as New York and Tirana, Baku and Niigata.
Michael Owen ruled out for rest of deteriorate Michael Owen in cinema Michael Owen: form Capello committed to England notwithstanding Russia seductiveness Terry "manned up" to tormentors Sport on radioBack from his travels, Owen gay England supporters at home, scoring at Anfield, St James" Park, the Riverside, Portman Road, Old Trafford and at Wembley (Twin Towers and Single Arch).
But it is over. Owen"s mental condition of finishing his career on a high, of gracing a fourth World Cup, has been finished by his oldest enemy, a shredded hamstring.
The one competition this difficult aspirant could never defeat, a disadvantage to injury, has consummated his deteriorate and his hopes of a last hand with England.
How vicious that the damage should be postulated at England"s HQ. Events at Wembley in last Sunday"s Carling Cup last encapsulated Owen"s career: a resolute set upon on a big arise followed by the disappointment of injury.
One of those examination on, Fabio Capello, a man not since to sentiment, has regularly been dismissive about his "tormentor"", ignoring Owen"s repute for scoring in vital games.
As most England fans were discerning to point out on their in isolation message-boards, Owen should have been underneath care for South Africa simply as an stroke sub, as a late rescue action who indispensable usually a integrate of touches to harm opponents.
An damage to Jermain Defoe, a identical sort of striker to Owen, would certainly have influenced a rethink by Capello. Not now. The doorway to the England sauce room unequivocally is sealed on Owen. He hass limped in to the diagnosis room at Carrington and will not reappear until after the World Cup. It is over.
What a shame. Apart from Wayne Rooney and Defoe, there is no improved English finisher around. Even this season, when people have sought to slur a brazen who stands at the behind of usually Sir Bobby Charlton, Gary Lineker and Jimmy Greaves in between England"s all-time scoring greats, Owen still showed his fast class.
There was the dictatorial approach he engineered his possibility opposite Manchester City or, last weekend, the clinical set upon opposite Aston Villa at Wembley. Treasure was found in European fields.
After Cristiano Ronaldo on six, theory who is the heading scorer in the Champions League this season? Yes. Michael Owen. His 4 goals have come in usually 267 minutes, a conspicuous return.
Those who flout the hat-trick opposite Wolfsburg as a "dead rubber"", entrance when Manchester United had qualified, omit the being that the Germans were fighting for their lives.
As the City diversion showed, Wembley reliable and Europe highlighted, Owen scores at break moments. But his diversion has regularly been about some-more than goals.
Glenn Hoddle"s 1998 criticism that "I"m not certain either he is a healthy goalscorer"" influenced outrageous controversy. The point that Hoddle was perplexing to have in that "English as a unfamiliar language" approach of his was that there was some-more to Owen"s diversion than simply putting the round in the behind of the net.
Even as a teenager, Owen was a some-more dull footballer than perceived, a point Hoddle stressed when phoning the player to explain his remarks.
"You emanate chances for others,"" the thereafter England manager pronounced in an sell reported in Owen"s journal Off The Record. "To me, a healthy finisher is someone who stands in the box and waits for the ball. But you can couple play.""
Hoddle had prolonged been an suitor of Owen, even creation a special outing up the A11 to Carrow Road on a cold Dec night in 1997 to watch Owen partner Heskey opposite Greece Under-21s. The span were unstoppable.
Afterwards, I telephoned Hoddle, as piece of a pool agreement, and he was loquacious in his praise. When Hoddle voiced his subsequent full squad, Owen"s name was there and he duly became England"s youngest general of the 20th century opposite Chile. The rest is history.
Or violence if you were an Argentina defender at France "98. Many of the England fans right away wailing Owen"s cruelly-timed incapacitation were in St Etienne when he scored opposite Argentina.
They desired the approach he took David Beckham"s somewhat high pass in to his walk with the outward of his feet and thereafter embarked on that odyssey by Argentina"s defence. Roberto Ayala corroborated off, crazily. Jose Chamot could not conflict in time. Carlos Roa was knocked about by a shot behind opposite him.
Each of these was a reputable general performer. Each was broke by an eighteen year-old. Inevitably, the annoy surrounding Beckham"s exclusion and the suspense of penalties fuelled an romantic shelter from St Etienne. But there was additionally idea for England"s destiny postulated by the fuzz of a white shirt speeding by blue-and-white-striped ones.
That idea was special but what additionally tender those benefaction was the approach Owen responded to Hoddle"s tactical instructions when Beckham departed.
Reacting with absolute lungs and brains, Owen and Alan Shearer shuttled in between midfield and attack, ensuring England never looked depleted. In the shoot-out, Owen followed Shearer"s recommendation to "do what you regularly do, and hang it in the ------- net"".
England fans will never dont think about that night, nor the one in Munich in September, 2001. Whether from Nicky Barmby"s cushioned header to Heskey"s knock-down or Steven Gerrard"s cool pass, Owen"s reply was devastating.
Germany"s shamed keeper, Oliver Kahn, roughly compulsory counselling afterwards.
This capability to overcome great opponents ensures that the name of Michael Owen will regularly be loving by England fans.
They were in Shizuoka in 2002 when he spooked Lucio. Brazil"s achieved centre-half became so frightened by Owen"s vicinity that he took an eye off Heskey"s over-hit pass.
The round bounced off Lucio and Owen was away, gliding by and dinking it expertly over Marcos. Until Ronaldinho incited the diversion on the head, England seemed to have the universe at their feet. Thanks to Owen. It is over but the memories never will be.
OWEN HIGHS...
ST-ETIENNE, 1998 Owen flashes past Jose Antonio Chamot, Nelson Vivas and Roberto Ayala prior to violence Carlos Roa to put England forward opposite Argentina and make known his gifts to the world.
MUNICH, 2001 The Liverpool striker scores a hat-trick as Sven-Goran Erikssons side subjection Germany 5-1 in a World Cup qualifier, a outcome at large regarded as the inhabitant sides most appropriate of the decade.
ANFIELD, 2002 Owen captains his nation for the initial time at his clubs home, scoring as England comfortable up for Korea and Japan with a 4-0 win over Paraguay.
AND LOWS...
SHIZUOKA, 2002 Owen puts England forward in the World Cup quarter-final opposite Brazil prior to saying goals from Rivaldo and Ronaldinho discharge Erikssons team, notwithstanding the latters dismissal.
COLOGNE, 2006 After starting opposite both Trinidad and Tobago and Paraguay in the opening dual games of the tournament, Owen tears his cruciate knee vinculum after usually 51 seconds of Englands last organisation game.
PARIS, 2008 Owens last diversion in an England shirt and his usually coming underneath Fabio Capello comes as a second-half surrogate in a 1-0 accessible better to France.
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