Prior to the World Cup of 2018, Dave Bowler sat down with England goalkeeper Ben Foster, who reflected on his experience as England goalkeeper at the World Cup 2014 in Brazil.
By Dave Bowler
Ben Foster Talks Brazil 2014
Goalkeeper Ben Foster went to Brazil with England and so speaks with some authority on the preparation that goes into the tournament and the dos and don’ts this time around.
“It was great to go to the last World Cup with them and to get a game in the competition too, against Costa Rica. Being able to say I’ve played in a World Cup, that is a massive highlight of my career.
“When we were in Brazil, Roy Hodgson was very keen that we made ourselves part of the local community out there. We went and visited schools and things, and I think that was a really nice change for England to do that rather than being locked away in the hotel.
“He wanted to include the community in things, to do a bit of charity work, to make everyone feel a part of things. I think that’s nice, it’s a real strength. It’s not hard to go out and visit a few places, say hello, and have your picture taken. Andit gets the local people onside, which is nice.
Ben Foster Prepares For World Cup 2018
“Coming into the World Cup, people worry if the team have done all the right things in terms of preparation for the tournament. Speaking from personal experience, in 2014, the training camp was great. It was really well organised, everything is there for you as a player, everything is catered for. There was no stone left unturned to make things right for the players.
“It’s how you perform on the day, that’s what it boils down to, and people forget that when you go to a World Cup, you’re always lining up against teams that aren’t bad themselves! We didn’t play that well in 2014, but at the same time, we were faced with Uruguay, Italy, and Costa Rica. I don’t think the media always gives the opposition the respect they deserve. Playing against any of those is not easy.
“People talk about whether a winter break would help, but I’m not convinced. You only end up cramming the same number of games into a shorter time, so I’m not sure that helps.
Holiday Season is the best for football
“Although we are going to be busy over Christmas, nobody would want to lose that period of games because they’re special. Growing up, that was one of the best parts of the football season. There seemed to be games every day, and that’s great. Ppeople love that. You couldn’t take that away from fans, so then you’re looking at trying to fit a break in in January. I’m not sure it would make much difference, to be honest.
“Maybe part of the issue is just how fierce the Premier League is. Away from the top six, I can promise you, just staying in the league is an achievement. You look at the size of some of the clubs that have been relegated in the last few years. The likes of Villa, Sunderland, and even Newcastle show how tough it is to just stay up. Then at the other end, the competition to win it or qualify for the Champions League is cut-throat too. So by its very nature, the Premier League is exhausting.”
Changes in Goalkeeping
If the competition at the top is getting tougher, so too is the role of the goalkeeper with a younger generation of coaches insisting that their teams play out from the back, meaning the goalkeeper has to be as good with his feet as his hands, a development Ben has kept a close eye on.
“Goalkeeping has changed a bit over the years I’ve been playing – there was none of that playing out from the back stuff when I was on loan under Aidy Boothroyd at Watford, no chance! The way I think about it is that even if I shank a clearance out into the stand, they can’t score from there!
“Every situation is different, you don’t want to put yourself under pressure on the ball near goal, and you don’t want to do that to defenders either, you have to play it as you see it. I don’t want to be a playmaker! Leave that to the footballers!”
Dave Bowler is the author of “The Magic of the Cup 1973/74”, telling the story of Liverpool’s FA Cup win in 1974. Available here: