After last night’s battling 1-1 draw away at the hands of Italy, it is left to the ever critical fans of the English team to discuss whether Roy Hodgson is the man to lead our country to footballing success.
Many would argue that Hodgson is taking a step in the right direction, having now reaching an unbeaten run of 9 games and winning 5 out of 5 in European Qualification. This is a rich vein of form that has been missing from many an England side for a number of years.
Whilst competing in a seemingly easy group, England fans should remain firmly on the ground with friendlies against France, Spain, Germany and the Netherlands lined up in preparation for the tournament which will give Hodgson’s side a willing test.
It was due to be a big first test in last night’s Italy game but with both sides fielding experimental sides, it left little significance on the actual outcome on the game. Although it was only a friendly game with experimental sides, it gave Hodgson the opportunity to give less experienced players a chance to show what they can bring to the side.
With an English side currently playing to a good standard with exciting younger players getting a chance in the form of Harry Kane, Nathaniel Clyne, Ryan Bertrand, Ryan Mason and Ross Barkley. A bright future ahead looks mouth watering for a manager with such invigorating new blood joining the England ranks. A higher quality standard of football and an influx of youth into the England squad have given the national side a swagger not seen for a while.
Since his appointment in 2012 many will be able to argue and defend Hodgson’s corner. Within his first major tournament in Euro 2012, Hodgson guided a somewhat ill-prepared England side to the quarter finals against Italy, after finishing group winners, only to be knocked out on penalties. Regardless of the knockout, having just a matter of weeks to prepare with a seemingly aged ‘golden generation’, Hodgson’s performance rose England up to 3rd in the FIFA World Rankings, their highest ever position.
Hodgson then went on to record England’s largest ever victory since 1987 in an 8-0 thrashing of San Marino in the qualification for the 2014 World Cup. Which he then continued throughout the qualification process to qualify for the World Cup unbeaten.
However, all England supporters regardless of whether they admit it or not are pessimists when it comes to our national side. With Roy Hodgson seemingly doing so well up until we reached Brazil last year, the 67-year-old oversaw England’s worst ever World Cup campaign when they were eliminated at the group stage with a game to spare. After such highs of what he had achieved with England, an expectation and subtle belief around a new exciting England squad was shattered after 180 minutes of football.
England had embarrassed themselves on the world stage, once again proving how far off we are from the rest of the competing nations.
Since the exasperation of another failed World Cup attempt, Hodgson has now driven England down to 20th in the World Rankings, its lowest position since 1996. After numerous dull friendlies, notably the 1-0 win over Norway which saw two shots on target in 90 minutes and only a 40,000 crowd, it is seems as if Hodgson’s slowly running out of steam.
The problem that many feel is Hodgson’s downfall is the boring nature of the football they play. Watching England is becoming more difficult and painful to watch with many now opting to not watch at all. The excitement of an England game is wearing off and the prospect of an international break is slowly becoming a tiresome and laborious experience for everyone. The excitement of the Premier League builds up the expectations for fans with the fluid, attacking football on display. However, it is forgotten by many that this attacking flair does not come from within English players and that this is not English football, making it a very monotonous experience when watching an English side.
After a promising start by turning an aged squad into group winners, it has seemed that a dismal World Cup has left Hodgson rebuilding again for next year’s European Championships in France. After regaining some pride in being recently unbeaten, it will not yet be an achievement until England is given some real opposition to test themselves against. With high profile friendlies on the horizon, we can only sit and wait with baited breath as to whether Hodgson’s English resurgence will be a rousing success or the inevitable crushing of English hopes. With the Euro’s just over 12 months away, if the latter prevails, it is hard to see an alternate ending for Hodgson other than a belated parting of ways.
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