Hodgson’s men show heart and hunger

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

England caught the mood of the nation with the sort of display that allowed Chelsea to beat both Barcelona and Bayern Munich on their way to winning the Champions League, and although they conceded their first goal and first points under Roy Hodgson, the result was a triumph for grim determination — and a more than satisfactory start to their Euro 2012 campaign.

Just like Roberto Di Matteo’s men needed to defend for their lives to see off opponents who were technically superior, so England’s draw with France owed more to discipline and heart than fine flowing football.

In a game that neither side could afford to lose if they harbour serious ambitions of going far in this tournament, England started well, took the lead through Joleon Lescott on the half-four, but went on the backfoot and allowed Samir Nasri to equalise soon afterwards.

From then on it was a rearguard action, and while France will be frustrated that they could not find a winner, Hodgson will be proud of the performance of his players.

Once the phoney war of his opening weeks came to an end, we got to see what England were all about under Hodgson, and it augurs well for their participation in tournament football.

The Rio and racism rows were put to one side and it was down to what happened on the pitch, and England were not caught short.

Hodgson surprised most of us with his selection of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in midfield, at 18 the same age as Michael Owen was when he was launched onto the world stage at France 1998 and Wayne Rooney in Euro 2004.

It was a bold move by Hodgson, but initially looked to be a positive one. The early signs were good, as the Arsenal youngster nicked the ball off Adil Rami after only two minutes and bore down on goal, before the move petered out.

But we saw the impetuousness of youth, too, first when he gave the ball away cheaply and allowed Franck Ribery surge forward, only to be foiled by a Glen Johnson tackle. The ‘Ox’ then acted like a bull in a china shop when he dived recklessly into Mathieu Debuchy, earning England’s first yellow card.

But by then England were ahead. On a balmy evening after a scorching day in Donetsk, cool heads were required, as well as patience and possession, not traditional strengths of England teams. But Hodgson’s men defied a national stereotype by being deliberate in their build-up, and their reward came with the breakthrough goal, on the half-hour mark. England won a free-kick wide on the right, Gerrard swung it into the danger area, and Lescott lost his marker Alou Diarra to rise majestically and head post Hugo Lloris from close range. England’s fans, and most of the locals who appeared to support them more than the French, celebrated, daring to believe victory was possible.

But as is so often the case, going ahead seemed to inhibit rather than inspire England. They dropped deep and allowed the French to come on to them, conceding territorial advantage and inviting the likes of Ribery, Nasri and Yohann Cabaye to shoot on sight. And it proved to be fatal.

Five minutes after the goal, the French had a great chance to score when Diarra headed Nasri’s free-kick towards goal from close range, only for Joe Hart to show his sharp reflexes are with a superb save, and when the ball came back, Diarra headed wide of the far post.

The reprieve was to prove short-lived. Still England gave their hosts too much space, and when Ribery worked the ball to Nasri 25 yards from goal, Steven Gerrard could not get forward quickly enough to block a shot that flew past Hart’s outstretched hand and in at the near post. Unlike England, France were emboldened by their goal and for the remaining five minutes of the first half threw everything forward. Cabaye had a fierce shot deflected away, Karim Benzema cut in with menace, and England looked like wavering.

Hodgson made a slight change at half-time, switching Oxlade-Chamberlain to the right wing, where James Milner was ineffective. But still they defended too deeply, leaving Danny Welbeck increasingly isolated in attack. English chances became fewer and fewer, while the French continued to pepper Hart’s goal, and it took a number of brave blocks and interceptions from Scott Parker to keep them out.

When the Spurs midfielder went off, clearly exhausted after a display of perpetual motion, Gerrard took over the role of putting his body on the line, alongside Parker’s replacement Jordan Henderson. Jermain Defoe replaced Oxlade-Chamberlain, with Ashley Young moving back into his more customary wide role, but the Spurs striker barely got a sniff of goal. In the final stages, it was real rearguard action as France piled forward. Nasri and Ribery, in particular, proved to be almost unplayable with their movement and speed of thought and feet. While England showed the hallmarks of a Hodgson side, sticking to a rigid shape with discipline and determination, the French were fluidity personified. It was not quite like watching Barcelona, but the result was similar to the Catalan side’s clash with the Blues of Chelsea — only this time Les Bleus ended up disappointed.

Subs for France: Martin for Malouda (85), Ben Arfa for Cabaye (85).

Subs for England: Henderson for Parker (77), Defoe for Oxlade-Chamberlain (77), Walcott for Welbeck (87).

Referee: Nicola Rizzoli (Italy).

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