It’s do-or-die for Joe Hart against Germany

Crucial game for Joe Hart

The past 12 months hasn’t been one that is likely to bring Joe Hart too many fond memories. In fact, it is one that he will be hoping to erase from his memory after a series of high-profile blunders has seen him left out by both his club and country. Against Germany on Tuesday, Roy Hodgson will be hoping that Joe Hart “seizes his chance” and re-establishes himself as the No.1 for both club and country.

Hodgson has said that Hart will start Tuesday’s friendly at Wembley against Germany, after having spent the best of three weeks pondering about what could have been. A clash against a German side ranked No.2 in the world and is brimming with attacking talent is sure to bring the best out of Hart as he strives to show the world that he was just going through a difficult patch and that he is England’s premier goalkeeper.

After a string of slip-ups, Hart’s part in the 90^th minute winner scored by Torres in the game against Chelsea that cost City a precious point, was the final straw in his coffin. After persisting with the 26-year-old in the midst of intense media scrutiny, Manuel Pellegrini finally decided to remove him from the fray. Ever since then C Pantilimon, his understudy who had thus far only taken part in the League Cup, was handed his Premier League debut and has played in goal for the last four games for City.

On the national front, Hart could do nothing but watch on from the bench as Fraser Forster made his international debut in Friday’s defeat to Chile. But, now after an exile that was largely self-imposed, Hart is now back in the England reckoning. Right throughout the time that he was left out at City, Hodgson made it clear that Hart was the first choice for the national team and he believes that he is ready to start the game against Germany as Hart is finally “in the right frame of mind.”

Hodgson has made it very clear that he can only choose from what he has and said “We aren’t in the situation where I can only pick players who are playing regularly 90 minutes for their team. We don’t have enough players for me to do that.” He added “But I am more than happy that Joe is ready. He will be anxious to seize his chance and anxious to show everyone that he is still a very good goalkeeper.”

Whilst it is certainly true that his form over the past couple of months has led to his No.1 spot being taken away from him, Hart still remains a picture of composure and hasn’t flustered, over his form. On the other hand, the change in manager has meant that he has had to adapt his game and play more as a sweeper, something that cannot happen overnight. Whilst he is working on his own game, he would have definitely wanted some stability at the back for City. But, that has fallen on deaf ears, as the constant chopping and changing in front of him has meant that he has already played behind seven different center-back combinations in 11 league games so far.

Whilst this alone cannot explain all of his faults, there have been certain occasions where has just let his concentration slip for a moment, and as a goalkeeper, those lapses certainly cost dear. Having said that, with 21 clean sheets in 46 Premier League matches and 19 in 37 caps for England, he has certainly showed that he has what it takes to become a world class keeper.

Hodgson described Hart’s attitude and performance in training as good and perhaps, this kick up the backside was just what Hart needed to raise his game to the next level. And as the old cliché goes, form is temporary and class is permanent and Hart will hoping to show his true class for the visit of Germany.