England learn hard way

England may find themselves in the semi-finals of Euro 2012 tomorrow night or they may be boarding a plane back to London; but whatever the result against Italy in Kiev it appears Roy Hodgson’s side may finally have learned the lesson the world has been waiting for them to grasp for so long; the art of humility.

For years now the Premier League has been celebrated across all national barriers — from Liverpool fans in Singapore to Manchester United supporters in South Africa. But the England team, by contrast, have been the pariahs of world football, the team everyone loves to hate.

However, there is evidence here in Poland and Ukraine that public opinion towards them is thawing and that the Football Association and their players have finally woken up to the realisation they needed to make changes.