KNIVES OUT FOR ROY
FA fury after Euro gamble falls flat
ROY HODGSON’S selection own-goal in England’s final group game at Euro 2016 has incensed senior figures at the Football Association.
Hodgson insisted he had no regrets over his decision to make six changes for the goalless stalemate with Slovakia.
But several of his bosses at the FA are furious at the failure to finish top of Group B, surrendering the chance to face one of the third-place finishers in the last 16. The fall-out from his gamble could have far-reaching
repercussions for Hodgson’s future as manager when it is reviewed at the end of England’s involvement in the tournament. Hodgson was warned by FA chairman Greg Dyke, above, on the eve of the Slovakia game in Saint-Etienne that his future would only be safeguarded if England reached the semi-finals. The subsequent decision to rest a number of players following the 2-1 win over Wales, including captain Wayne Rooney, who wanted to start, has caused consternation in FA circles. England face a last-16 tie in Nice on Monday against the runners-up of Group F, which consists of Hungary, Iceland, Portugal and Austria and beyond that could face hosts France in the quarter-finals.
Hodgson is already facing a battle to meet the criteria laid down to earn an extension to his contract, which expires this summer.
Rooney was England’s best player in the first two games and leaving him on the bench initially against Slovakia was a risk too far.
Hodgson returned to England’s base in Chantilly yesterday privately shattered by the failure to top the group but with no regrets over his line-up. “I never have regrets after results if the team have played well,” he said. “I don’t believe any players I could have put out would have played a lot differently from those who started.
“I could not have imagined we would be so dominant in each of the three games. But the goals haven’t come.
“We are not taking the chances we are creating, nor using all the possession in and around the penalty area, the corner kicks, to score the goal that wins games.
“That is a fact of life but I always believe that, if we keep playing the way we have played, the goals will come.”
Hodgson will watch both Group F games – Iceland take on Austria and Portugal face Hungary – in the team hotel on big screens via a laptop while the FA will have technical staff at both.