Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany believes England could possibly emulate German success by reaching a World Cup final in the next four tournaments.
Kompany, who has penned a new five-year deal at Eastlands, is promoting the changing methods English clubs are adopting to deal with the paucity of world class talent as they seek to develop youngsters for the international stage.
One of these examples is the lavish new academy complex City are building, which Kompany believes will capture the best young Mancunian talent to benefit both the two-time Premier League champions and the England national side.
“England will play a World Cup final in the next four tournaments for the simple reason no other country has as much resources to put into facilities,” he said.
“People talk about great facilities in England but they have only been here for the last two or three years. You will still have to wait.”
England have only reached one World Cup final in 1966, when on the home turf of Wembley they ran out winners.
Kompany said City’s work might bring about similar international success for England.
“Behind closed doors there has been a tremendous amount of work being done by all departments at Manchester City, it takes the club onto a new level.
“I really hope it will be the start of in 5 to 10 years of Manchester bred and born kids come through the ranks and become world class players.
“That’s what all clubs what to happen and new academies like this is the perfect tool for it.”
The 28-year old Belgian international of course is very familiar with the way clubs bring through players in Germany, something he saw during his time at Hamburg before he moved to City in 2008.
Kompany, therefore, can see the makings in England of the hard-work in youth development the Germans had already teed up to achieve World Cup success in Brazil this summer.
However, Kompany warns that World Cup English success won’t just appear from the investment in coaches and facilities by wealthy clubs alone: it will require young England stars to challenge themselves in the infancy of their careers.
Part of that challenge for Kompany would be breaking the comfort zone of many English players’ inherent reluctance to leave these shores and he is urging many to find their feet overseas.
“What has made my development is not starting out in the Premier League at 17 or 18 because it’s not realistic,” he went on to say. “It’s the most competitive league in the world.
“I started at Anderlecht at 17 and played Champions League at 17 and moved when I was 20. That made the difference for me and players like Eden Hazard and Jan Vertonghen, all the players in my national team. We learn our trade at smaller clubs.”
Kompany thinks clubs need to do more to encourage top English youngsters to go out on loan to lesser leagues on the continent, as the lower divisions of English football fail to prepare top class performers for the future.
“If you ask a kid at 17 in England to go and play in League One or the top division in Holland, 90% will pick League One.
“But it’s a different type of football to what is required for the Premier League. Open the borders in your head.”
For Kompany it seems England has all the minerals to dominate world football. The only thing that can stop the English, for the Belgian, is themselves.
Main image courtesy of CNN via YouTube, with thanks.
