England bowed out of another international football tournament in the quarter-finals on penalties. The public inquest begins into the failings and what needs to happen for England to push themselves into a first final since 1966 World Cup Winning Campaign. Tactics, Selection, Hype and Penalties all under review.
Tactics
England stuck to a solid 4-4-2 formation in all four games at Euro 2012 with slight tinkering, in terms of a deeper striker/attacker. Young played the role against France, Wellbeck against Sweden and Rooney against Ukraine/Italy. Against the stronger teams, it is near essential to play a five-man midfield to cope with individual talents such as Pirlo, Xavi, Ronaldo and Ozil. Played a flat four, allows individual talents to control the flow of the game, ease of space and passing. Whilst it was a familiar set-up for players to get used to, it was not adaptive enough to cope with stronger opponents.
Matches
Against France, England conceded quickly after scoring. Whilst neither side seized control of the game, the English invited France to attack causing frequent problems from outside and inside the box. England's movement was too rigid going forward and the midfield conceded possession too often.
The swedish performance exposed England's defence more with Olaf Mellberg scoring twice from set-pieces. Theo Walcott played a superb 20 minutes with an opportunist strike on goal and assist for Wellbeck.
Ukraine will feel hard done by. Plenty of attempts, including a "goal-line" clearance by John Terry. Ashley Cole struggled against the movements of the wingers and Joe Hart made a few hashed clearances. Rooney looked sluggish, lacking match experience.
England topped Group D and had the easier task of taking on Group C Runners' Up Italy. Pirlo controlled the game. Italy were wasteful in attack. Having the potential to score 4/5 past a sloppy goalkeeper and inconsistent defence. England may have exited in the dreadful six yard spot kicks but over 120 minutes, should have exited earlier.
The Hype
Pre-tournament odds were not stacked in England's favour. The press were mostly pessimistic and even a few unpatriotic fans bet that they wouldn't pass the group stage test. England ground out results, bypassing Spain in the process. Suddenly the press got exited. The England team players quoted as saying they now had a chance to win it. Ex-England players such as Terry Butcher, urging courage, pride and passion. Floods of English fans, now believed, flying out to Poland and Ukraine. Expecting. England should have dampened the flames. The press should have held off. England may have the claim to inventing the sport but are a long way off Argentina, Brazil, Italy, Spain and France - in terms of quality, development and tournament excellence.
Selection
This was Roy Hodgson's chance to exude the chance to develop younger players. Whilst Danny Wellbeck, Walcott and Oxlade-Chamberlain - all made appearances, this was a chance to revamp the whole England setup. With Brazil 2014 in mind, Hodgson should have brought in and played the likes of Daniel Sturridge, Kyle Walker and Gary Cahill. Experienced players like Gerrard, Rooney and Terry could still figure - but almost as the elder Olympic squad admissions. Bringing a more youthful squad, would have should a desire to provide experience - whilst minimising expectations entirely.
Tactics
England stuck to a solid 4-4-2 formation in all four games at Euro 2012 with slight tinkering, in terms of a deeper striker/attacker. Young played the role against France, Wellbeck against Sweden and Rooney against Ukraine/Italy. Against the stronger teams, it is near essential to play a five-man midfield to cope with individual talents such as Pirlo, Xavi, Ronaldo and Ozil. Played a flat four, allows individual talents to control the flow of the game, ease of space and passing. Whilst it was a familiar set-up for players to get used to, it was not adaptive enough to cope with stronger opponents.
Matches
The swedish performance exposed England's defence more with Olaf Mellberg scoring twice from set-pieces. Theo Walcott played a superb 20 minutes with an opportunist strike on goal and assist for Wellbeck.
Ukraine will feel hard done by. Plenty of attempts, including a "goal-line" clearance by John Terry. Ashley Cole struggled against the movements of the wingers and Joe Hart made a few hashed clearances. Rooney looked sluggish, lacking match experience.
England topped Group D and had the easier task of taking on Group C Runners' Up Italy. Pirlo controlled the game. Italy were wasteful in attack. Having the potential to score 4/5 past a sloppy goalkeeper and inconsistent defence. England may have exited in the dreadful six yard spot kicks but over 120 minutes, should have exited earlier.
The Hype
Pre-tournament odds were not stacked in England's favour. The press were mostly pessimistic and even a few unpatriotic fans bet that they wouldn't pass the group stage test. England ground out results, bypassing Spain in the process. Suddenly the press got exited. The England team players quoted as saying they now had a chance to win it. Ex-England players such as Terry Butcher, urging courage, pride and passion. Floods of English fans, now believed, flying out to Poland and Ukraine. Expecting. England should have dampened the flames. The press should have held off. England may have the claim to inventing the sport but are a long way off Argentina, Brazil, Italy, Spain and France - in terms of quality, development and tournament excellence.
Selection
This was Roy Hodgson's chance to exude the chance to develop younger players. Whilst Danny Wellbeck, Walcott and Oxlade-Chamberlain - all made appearances, this was a chance to revamp the whole England setup. With Brazil 2014 in mind, Hodgson should have brought in and played the likes of Daniel Sturridge, Kyle Walker and Gary Cahill. Experienced players like Gerrard, Rooney and Terry could still figure - but almost as the elder Olympic squad admissions. Bringing a more youthful squad, would have should a desire to provide experience - whilst minimising expectations entirely.
