Real Madrid & Denmark's holding midfield meistro, Thomas Gravesen, plays with intelligence, intensity and purpose. And he knows a player when he sees one, preferring that Michael Owen should stay at Real Madrid:
"He is a fantastic player and makes us a better team when he is in it," said Gravesen.
Owen will go back to England -- to either Liverpool or Manchester United -- to get full playing time this World Cup year.
The English Press should be shot for overreacting to this friendly result. They dis-honor Denmark -- a very good team -- while taking no realistic account of the present condition of England.
England players are right at the end of all the adrenalin and fatique of preseason training and the pent-up emotions of the first league fixtures in the EPL. Moreover, many England players have come off of extremely tiring tours of the USA and the Far East -- in some cases both.
A result like this will humble everyone and concentrate minds just at the right time for the World Cup qualifiers on Sept 3 (Wales) and Sept 7 (Northern Ireland), where travel will not play such a factor but a bit of rest will.
Exasperation at this point is a waste of ink & energy. It achieves nothing and does not even sell copy.
No one influenced more than Gravesen for Everton. The Dane must relish the quality around him at Real Madrid and enjoy filling Claude Makelele's old boots. He will keep improving at the Bernabeu, and fills a critical role in that attacking side. They are lucky to have him.
