Wenger: Fear of failure not helping big teams

(GSM) – Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger believes that fear of failure has been responsible for the poor form of the leading European teams at the World Cup.

Failure to qualify for the knockout stages is being seen as a disaster for big nation teams, with England, France, Spain, Germany and Italy failing to live up to expectations so far.

However, Wenger believes that once the majority of them would qualify for the second round, they would then start to play properly.

The studious-looking, dapper Frenchman, who has worked in England for 14 years, was speaking at a reception hosted by Prince William, president of the English FA, and took time away from the canapes to review the opening week of the tournament.

Wenger, who was at a reception hosted by president of the English FA Prince William, said: “The biggest teams who have the highest level of expectation cannot express that talent yet.

“One reason is caution, fear of failure, response to huge demands. These teams will just glide through though, most of them, then you will see them really play.

“The lower (ranked) teams have done quite well and one of the things at the World Cup now is that there are no real weak teams any more who get beaten 10-0.”

“Basically, the big teams with high expectations play these first round games just to get through. I don’t think (they play that way) consciously but more out of fear of failure.

“There are so many demands in the modern game, too much pressure, too many expectations and sometimes too much inhibition.”