Underestimation.
It seemed England’s fatal flay during the World Cup in Brazil, where the Three Lions were tactically inept to deal with their opponents.
Against Italy, Roy Hodgson failed to deal with Italy’s right wing threat of Darmian and Candreva who consistently gave Leighton Baines various issues.
Instead, the team was shifted around the need to put Wayne Rooney in the team which consequently led to Balotelli’s winner in the 50th minute.
Despite their negligence against Italy, we were blinded by the spark of Raheem Stirling.
The only England player to capture our imagination, however, as football fans, we let ourselves fall into a false sense of security which was reinforced against Uruguay.
Luis Suarez, who was in a wheel-chair a month before the match, destroyed England. With an assist from his former Liverpool captain, Steven Gerrard, he broke English hearts despite Rooney scoring his first goal in a World Cup.
The team was set up on the basis England would counter-attack Uruguay.
This was the reason for Sterling, Sturridge and Welbeck being in the team.
It failed.
These two games showed us England must stop asking the question of, “What are the opponent going to do, and how can we beat it?”
Even though this is seen as a cautious approach to counter your opponent, the English side have tried it for the last three tournaments, and it hasn’t worked.
It’s time for change.
Whether it’s Roy Hodgson or the next England manager, they must instil their own blue-print of a style of play.
Watching England play a 4-2-2-2 against Norway was an eye-sore.
When you think a plain 4-4-2 is bad enough, seeing the England side try to be intelligent in playing a slightly more complicated formation was hard to watch.
Wembley’s half-full stadium was an evident sign that the country has fallen out of love with it’s national side.
Many will say, “It was only Norway,” but are you really telling me 4 more million people chose to watch the Great British Bake Off instead because it was just a friendly?
This is England we’re talking about.
England’s back five, including Hart, is fine.
It’s from there Hodgson must have a rethink.
Wilshire and Henderson simply aren’t holding midfielders, the ever-present thought the side must copy the likes of Brazil and Germany with at least one must end.
Why? Once again, it hasn’t worked.
You may think this article is just a cheap shot at the England side, but it’s simply frustration.
When you see the likes of Sterling and Sturridge continually play well for their club, it’s a shame they are restricted in this England side.
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