FIFA did not revel in the cool, cask-conditioned glow of popularity among lager-friendly Germans when an American beverage was named the official beer of the World Cup finals. Bland, far from intoxicating and foreign; for Budweiser, read Owen Hargreaves’s reputation with England supporters. As far as this tournament is concerned, neither has appeased demanding palettes.
Yet, just as locals have had little alternative than to accept the marketing power of the self-styled “King of Beers”, so Hargreaves is about to become a more familiar sight to England fans. Jeered on to the pitch in recent substitute appearances, the scapegoat will start tonight’s match with Sweden, a fixture that will determine the final order of group B.
It is more than two years since Sven-Göran Eriksson’s long-term favourite began an international — in Gothenburg, appropriately — and he will win his 32nd cap in the defensive midfield position that he usually fills for Bayern Munich. Deputising for Steven Gerrard, who is one booking away from a suspension, Hargreaves has a chance, in a country where he is hailed as a hero, to prove himself back “home” .
“It’s a great opportunity,” he said. “I’ve had a wonderful time in Munich and some great success and to play here with England is something I’ve dreamt about. It will be wonderful to start a game as well. I’m confident I can do the job. That’s my position, the holding role, making tackles and getting stuck in. Those are the things I bring to the team and I feel very confident doing it.”
While they have already qualified, England’s result against troublesome opposition — they have not beaten Sweden since 1968 — is not unimportant. Either the host team or Ecuador await in the first knockout round and Hargreaves, who has forged a lucrative career from beating Germans, is well-placed to examine the impact, strengths and frailties of his adopted nation. His soothing message is that trepidation is unnecessary. “The World Cup is about having the best team, not necessarily the best players,” he said. “We’ve got a great team and I fancy our chances against any side. There is a lot of expectation on the Germans. They’re the host nation and have a long history of success in this tournament, so obviously the expectations are there. Individually, they’re not as good as us, but collectively they’re a strong unit.
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“I’ve been in contact with [Philipp] Lahm and [Bastian] Schweinsteiger. They’re very excited they’ve got off to a good start and Philipp has been one of the big stars of the tournament so far. I think they’re looking forward to their next game, but probably not to the possibility of playing us. If you look at the individuals in our team I’d back us to beat them. If I was them I wouldn’t want to play England.”
Hargreaves does not expect to oust Gerrard, although he did allude to England’s frustrating inability to settle upon a coherent blend in midfield. “Steven is in the team, he’s only having a rest for this game,” the 25-year-old said. “He’s a wonderful player, one of the best I’ve ever played with for talent. But there’s pressure on me — I play for one of the biggest clubs in Europe and had a lot of success. I haven’t started much for England in the past, but I have for Bayern and can take comfort from those games. I just want to make sure we finish first in the group.
“Have we missed a holding midfielder? It’s tough to say. We’ve got incredible talent all across the pitch, but it’s important to get the balance right to be successful. We’ve got all the ingredients. It’s a matter of finding the right mix.”
After victories that have bordered on dispiriting, Hargreaves is adamant that improvements will follow. “This game will be different,” he said. “It’s being played later and Sweden will be a bit more open because they need a result. Trinidad & Tobago and Paraguay were only interested in defending. I think this game will be more flowing and interesting.”
It may take more for Hargreaves to be loved, but it would not be small beer.