On a disappointing night against Slovenia, rescued only by Harry Kane's injury time winner, few moments stood out. World Cup qualification was secured in far from convincing fashion. As England searched desperately for a goal, Raheem Sterling, moved out to the right side after starting in the number ten role, ran the ball out of play. The grumbles of disappointment and frustration were audible.
For some reason, Sterling has always had a complicated relationship with England fans. There is a sense that he symbolises an over-indulged generation that has done little to justify their astronomical earnings. Until Kyle Walker joined him at Manchester City over the summer, Sterling was the most expensive English player of all time. A tag he never warranted, it was a reflection of the absurd market for potential and domestic talent more than anything else.
Big Money Move
The means by which Sterling and his agent agitated for the move left a sour taste in the mouth for Liverpool fans but football can be a cruel and mercenary world. Unwanted players regularly feel the brunt of it. Enough young prospects have been discarded unceremoniously when they fail to make the grade not to begrudge Sterling the chance to turn the tables.
It can be easy to overlook the fact that much of his development came at Queens Park Rangers, and he was poached by Liverpool at the age of 15. Sterling was always looking to better himself, and Manchester City represented just another rung on the ladder. It's true that he has often flattered to deceive, particularly in an England shirt, but the criticism he receives seems largely unfair and misplaced.
#CHEMCI
A blame culture exists around the national team, and along with Joe Hart, Sterling was one of its most high profile recipients at Euro 2016. He started England’s first two group games and looked rusty in both. Nothing went right from the start and as an attacking outlet, it’s difficult to hide. Playing the safe pass isn’t enough. Sterling persisted, continuing to run at opponents, coming inside, trying to engineer chances, but it wouldn’t happen for him.
The Critics
After a poor game, which even the best can have, he didn’t deserve the vitriol thrown his way. Against Wales he missed a golden opportunity to put England in front as he sent Adam Lallana’s low cross sailing harmlessly over the bar. Sterling was withdrawn at half time. He returned to the starting line-up for the first knockout game against Iceland, and won the penalty through which Wayne Rooney opened the scoring, but everything went downhill from there.
The team froze terribly in the second half, paralysed by fear of failure and the creeping realisation of the response that awaited them back home. It was painful to watch. England are often burdened by expectation and it does no one any favours. As the dust settled on another premature tournament exit, Sterling received plenty of negative press. Coming on the back of a difficult first season at Manchester City, the tone had been set.
Unfairly considered to be flashy and wasteful, both on and off the pitch, Sterling has done nothing to warrant the sort of response he receives. After all the searing pace and unpredictable promise of those first couple of years at Liverpool, perhaps he hasn’t kicked on quite as expected. Still only 22, time is definitely on his side and end product, something he was often felt to lack, is coming. He has five goals in six Premier League games this season.
After 35 international appearances, many of them forgettable, Sterling needs to show more for England. He hasn’t scored for his country in over two years but the intense pressure he comes under, and that section of supporters waiting to seize on any mistake, doesn’t help matters. Sterling will come good and it will have been worth persisting with him.
England take on Lithuania in their World Cup qualifier on Sunday 8th October (Kick Off 5pm BST).
