Chief is unhappy with the PRICKLY
DAVID WOODS
(inset) ROY HODGSON is beginning to show the strain as the pressure of keeping a nation of football fanatics happy takes its toll.
The 66-year-old was genuinely shocked at the chorus of complaints – led by ex-England skipper Gary Lineker – levelled at him and his players following Tuesday night’s 0-0 draw in Ukraine.
While teams such as Italy and Holland have qualified for next year’s WorldCup,Englandarestillinafourway fight with Montenegro, Ukraine and Poland to reach Brazil, with two games to go in Group H.
Home advantage proved anything but for former boss Steve McClaren when a miserable defeat to Croatia ended his reign in the rain, along with England’s hopes of making Euro 2008.
But asked how he felt about Wembley being a potential handicap, rather than a fortress, Hodgson lost his cool and snapped back: “How many more times will I get the question?”
When the talk turned to him snubbing Carrick, Hodgson said: “Carrick didn’t play because we had Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and Jack Wilshere.
“If Carrick played, your question would be about the one who didn’t play. So let’s move on from that level of discussion.”
But however he dresses up the result, poor passing was a huge feature of the game for both sides. andinvitepressurefromaverystrong, pressurising team. But you’ve just seen us play against Moldova.