Heading into Euro 2012, I had a very bleak outlook on the future of the Three Lions under the tutelage of Roy Hodgson who was appointed by The FA ahead of fan and media favorite Harry Redknapp. Hodgson is an honest man with a lot of experience in international tournaments having lead the likes of Switzerland to the world cup in 1994 but what Hodgson lacks is the swagger of modern football as his tactical focus is based on a very rigid two banks of four who are happy to sit deep, protect their keeper and allow possession to the opposition.
And as an avid Liverpool fan, Roy Hodgson was the epitome of the anti-Liverpool manager historically due to his cautious tactics, bizarre interviews and most of all he was hired by the two cancers Hicks & Gillett.
In club football, Hodgson’s tactics lead to enhancing the fortunes of the smaller clubs with due respect as he is idolized amongst the fans of Fulham and most recently West Bromwich Albion. But for the Fulhams, Malmos and WBAs you have the Blackburn, Inter Milan and Liverpool. Hodgson averaged 43% of the available points which to clubs like Fulham again with respect would be happy with while fans of Liverpool and a star-studded Blackburn Rovers simply dreaded. With regards to knock-out football, Roy led his mean to trophies in Scandinavia while also taking both Inter Milan and Fulham to the UEFA Cup Winners Cup final and The Europa League finals respectively.
Now, where were we, oh yeah back to the Euros!
Hodgson’s squad selection, while controversial, actually made a lot of sense. He had to deal with the Rio Ferdinand issue, the Wayne Rooney suspension but Roy presented a pleasing squad with emphasis on youth with the likes of Oxlade-Chamberlain making the final cut.
What’s more impressive were the recruitment of his backroom staff with his trusted right hand man at Fulham Ray Lewington and the very inspired acquisition of Gary Neville who seems a very important figure in England training. The results on the training pitch were evident as an aura of calmness and relaxation surrounded the England camp which is a stark contrast of the energy that surrounded England in the not so distant tournaments.
On the pitch, England’s two friendlies against Norway and Switzerland revealed Hodgson’s cautious tactics with slight improvement in the second half vs Switzerland at Wembley.
Fast forward to the first game at Euro 2012 against a France side that have been doing some rebuilding of their own, very steadily since the debacle in South Africa. Laurent Blanc lead his Le Bleu to a staggering 21 unbeaten run before the tournament dispatching Fabio Capello’s England at Wembley in 2011.
During that first game, the famous two banks of four were apparent throughout the 90 minutes with England choking out any space that France required for their creative players to make an impact. England’s full backs were asked to stay back and avoid any forays into offensive territories thus restricting Ribery and Nasri to casual attempts of dribble and cross while mostly simply passing the ball back to Cabaye, Alou Diarra and the retreating Benzema. England’s defensive tactics surely worked and you have to hand it to Hodgson, he realized that a compact side was necessary against a superior France side and England obtained the one point they yearned for and fully deserved.
Hodgson’s tactics though successful, caused more concern regarding England’s attacking intent specially that the team sat far too deep for long periods of the game, the two attacking figures of Ashley Cole and Glen Johnson were invisible while James Milner played more of a defensive winger role than an attacking one.
England had to face their bogey team next. England have never beaten Sweden in official football and have only scored their first friendly victory over the Swedes last year since 1968. This was going to be no easy feat for the English.
Rumors spread before the game that Roy has decided to start with the dominant Andy Carroll in place of Oxlade-Chamberlain with Ashley Young moving to the left wing side. Could this be a sign of a more attacking England? I certainly hoped so.
Playing the aerially imposing Carroll makes a lot of sense considering what Shevchenko achieved against Mellberg and co using his heading abilities during Sweden’s opening game vs co-hosts the Ukraine. England started brightly; Ashley Cole and Glen Johnson were given license to move forward with Steven Gerrard and the tireless Scott Parker shielding the England defense with a much disciplined display. England’s attacking intent was there for all to see through a dominant first half where the Three Lions dominated possession and restricting Sweden to a few counter attacks.
The theory regarding Sweden’s weakness to headers became once again a proven fact with big Andy Carroll powering in a text book header from inside the penalty area. With that goal, England finish the first half with a 1-0 lead.
Whatever Sweden coach, Erik Hamren, said to his players at half time seemed to have worked as Ibrahimovich and co pushed forward and equalized within 3 minutes from the restart before taking the lead a few minutes later.
Hodgson to his credit took a gamble by taking off the inept James Milner and bringing on Theo Waclott. This decision would prove to be a masterstroke. After Walcott’s introduction the game changed completely with England’s rigid system disintegrating as Young and Walcott pushed on from the wings with England’s full backs pushing even further. The England pressure succeeded in breaking down the Sweden defense through a fierce shot from outside the box by the inspired substitute Theo Walcott.
Theo did not stop there though, producing his best performance in an England shirt since his hat trick away to Croatia. His pace continued to trouble the Sweden left side of defense and through an incisive breakaway Walcott dribbled into the Swedish penalty box before laying the perfect pass to the very impressive Danny Welbeck to back heel it magically beyond the goal line.
This England side showed the same level of calmness even when they went a goal down and the team has a lovely vibe of confidence around them. There were no over-the-top celebrations after the final whistle; to this England side, breaking the Swedish curse was just another result.
Roy started the game with attacking intent and adapted when England fell behind. Nobody could and should ask for more.
Roy’s next task will now be expectations management and deciding who to drop to accommodate the returning Wayne Rooney.
I expected a series of low scoring England games with a bore feel to them – Roy has proved me wrong. I expected England to score no more than 1 goal per game and again Roy has proven me wrong.
I will gladly have my humble pie now. Oh God it has never felt this good to be so wrong.
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