Roy Hodgson: ‘This was an away game with a capital A’

Roy Hodgson

When Marko Dević’s shot was only partly stopped by Joe Hart, England fans were left with one of those “here we go again moments”, the seemingly slow-motion agonies as the latest bright dawn for the nation’s football team turns to a false one.

The ball was looping towards the goal, like a knife slowly turning in the collective open wound until the saviour arrived. John Terry, whose very presence in this England squad had divided opinion, had been keeping a low profile since he arrived at this tournament. But now he stood up – or rather slid down – to be counted. Can the sinner be redeemed? Yes, if he helps to keep you in Euro 2012.

Whether the goal should still have been counted is one that Sepp Blatter, Michel Platini and the rest of football’s great and good can discuss at their leisure.

A mixture of a sixth official (do they have to hire bigger cars to transport them all to matches these days?) missing the action, Ukraine missing their other chances and Sweden beating France put England at the top of Group D and preparing for a quarter-final against Italy on Sunday.

Harry who?

Chants of “Football’s coming home” would be a little – or a lot – premature but the man who was considered a surprise choice as the latest England head coach six weeks ago could at least look forward to a few more days as a potential hero while the hype machine goes into double shifts.

Roy Hodgson gives the impression of can meet with triumph and disaster and treat those two impostors just the same and had both size nines planted firmly on the ground. “If someone had said we would win the group I don’t think they’d have had too many takers – most people thought we wouldn’t get out of the group,” he said. “We’ve won it and we’ve won it by points rather than goal difference as well. That gives us an extra day’s rest, which we’re badly in need of. It was a really hard game for us tonight – this was an away game with a capital A.

“But I thought it was a really good defensive and disciplined performance and when we needed a bit of luck – when the ball may have crossed the line – we got that bit of luck and won the match.”

The goal from Rooney, so soon after the break, would have been the perfect opportunity for Hodgson to claim credit borne out of some pearl of wisdom delivered within the dressing room. But Hodgson simply chose to say: “I don’t think the goal was the result of any real difference in our play. In the first half I thought that the shape of our team was good and we were working hard but we weren’t really showing enough composure on the ball when we broke out. That’s still something we could improve on.

“But this is a fledgling team as far as I’m concerned,” he said. “We’re working at our game and showing composure on the ball and quality in the attacking areas is always the most difficult part of football.”

Often the most difficult part of England football has been managing expectations. Hodgson and his captain, Steven Gerrard, have managed a fair job with that but, like the opposition, it is becoming harder.

Gerrard, one of the “golden generation”, has been a key player for England and seems to have stepped into the limelight that comes with the captaincy like a favourite jacket, but still no signs of claims to greatness.

“I don’t think tonight’s performance was fantastic, but we got the job done,” he said.

Asked just what this team had found compared to other England sides – arguably with a better level of players – in recent tournaments, Gerrard said: “A better level of performance. We’ve been criticised in the past for maybe not turning up at times, and under-performing. We’re man enough to take criticism and the important thing is you respond and react.

“And I think you’ve seen a reaction from this this team.”

England v Ukraine full-time report

Paul Wheeler

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