Home UEFA Euro 2024 5 things England can learn so far

5 things England can learn so far

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It was like a typical intense Premier league battle, but what did we and Hodgson learn from the game? I believe if we pay close attention to the following five factors England can achieve even greater success at Euro 2016.

Number one…Roy Hodgson is not a footballing genius

Some commentators were a bit quick to suggest that Hodgson has a great brain for reading the game after his substitutions against Wales. I would say it is more of a slow burning brain, that eventually kicks in. After the Russia game it was clear he didn’t learn a great deal. Both Sterling and Kane were probably our worst two players in that game. Yesterday England fans were surprised before the game even started to see the same starting line up.

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Both Sterling and Kane surprisingly started against Wales

 

When the game started fans were gritting their teeth in frustration as first Sterling missed a relatively simple chance from a few yards out and then Kane blasted high over the bar and both did little else. Eventually for the second half when possibly Hodgson got a few nudges from his coaching staff, he took off both Kane and Sterling. On came Vardy and Sturridge and England turned the game around.

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Sturridge celebrating England’s late late winner

 

Hodgson got it very wrong too in the Russia game by taking off Rooney who was one of our best players and motivators. England then went on to let Russia back in with their late equalising goal. He should have taken off Lallana instead, although he managed to learn that in yesterday’s game. Lallana was so impressive in the first 50 or 60 minutes against Russia but then faded fast with fatigue, as he ran his socks off for England.

Number two…we are not a team of individual world class players but we have a world class squad

Wales have a world class player for sure. Bale’s free kick was superb even though Joe Hart should have done better. Where the England team differ from a normal Premier league side is that we have two whole quality teams at our mercy to pick from. And Hodgson needs to use that fact more. We have arguably one of the best squads in the tournament with our reserves good enough to field their own team at the Euros. Barkley, Stones, Forster, Bertrand, Clyne etc haven’t even had a look in yet. Hodgson needs to be braver. He brought on two players against Wales and they won us the game….learn quicker Roy!

Number three… Harry Kane should not take free kicks or corners

Everyone questioned why Kane was taking corners against Russia. His corners were poor and anyway as a great goalscorer, he should be on the end of them, not the beginning! Indeed everyone is questioning why Kane is even playing. Yesterday he took a free kick that nearly cleared the stadium. In defence of Harry he has played more minutes then any of our attackers. 3,368 minutes to be precise and he appeared in all 38 league games for Tottenham. Sturridge on the other hand has played 979 minutes in 14 games for Liverpool. About two and a half thousand minutes less. Hodgson must know these same statistics and it’s no surprise Kane looks sluggish.

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I’m so tired, can I come off yet Roy!

 

Number four…Give Fraser Forster a chance

Joe Hart fumbled against Russia even though they had only two shots on goal. He fumbled again yesterday against Wales, almost losing a simple catch from a Wales corner, until the inexcusable Bale goal from about 40 yards out. Forster was in great form all last season going on a 708 minute run without conceding a goal. That was a Southampton record and it helped them rise from 13th to 6th in the league.

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Fraser Forster

Number five.. start with Sturridge, Vardy and Lallana 

vardy

This a no brainer of course, but some would argue that Hodgson too, sometimes is a no brainer! We have seen the tiredness of Kane, the ineffectiveness of Sterling and the great start Lallana makes to every game. Sturridge and Vardy should have started against Wales but at least they eventually came on and won the game for England. If at some point England go into a 3-0 lead against Slovakia, then by all means take off Rooney and give someone else a chance. There is great depth in the squad and another player, like Barkley or Bertrand may still come on to give a great performance and stake a claim to a regular place.

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