Perfection will mean nothing if England fail
How tHey qualified: 1st in Group E – P10 W10 30pts. Switzerland (a) 0-2; San Marino (h) 5-0; Estonia (a) 0-1; Slovenia (h) 3-1; Lithuania (h) 4-0; Slovenia (a) 2-3; San Marino (a) 0-6; Switzerland (h) 2-0; Estonia (h) 2-0; Lithuania (a) 0-3.
CoaCH: Roy Hodgson.
NO-ONE in the technical area at Euro 2016 will quite have his experience.
Years of learning and perfecting his craft in Sweden, Switzerland, Italy and more prepared him for his biggest challenge – being the England manager.
The oldest coach on show in France, this is the time for 68-year-old Hodgson to deliver.
He was parachuted in for the Euros four years ago and oversaw England’s groupstage exit at the World Cup.
This is his third major Finals, and a perfect qualifying record will count for absolutely nothing if this campaign ends in failure.
StaR PlayeR: Wayne Rooney.
SOME question whether he deserves a place in England’s line-up for the opening game against Russia, but that is part of the argument.
Since making his debut in 2003, Rooney has been a national obsession in England.
And it wouldn’t be a major tournament if talk did not centre on him in the build-up, with all English fans hoping he can repeat the form he first showed as a teenager at Euro 2004.
Despite now passing Sir Bobby Charlton’s record as all-time goalscorer, the focus this time is on where he should play – up front or in midfield to accommodate Harry Kane and Jamie Vardy.
aNalySiS:
NOBODY qualified in finer style for Euro 2016 – a 100% record, with 31 goals scored. But this is where it matters for Roy Hodgson.
Opposition in Group E was weak and friendly results against the better teams in Europe have been mixed.
Since the end of qualifying, the likes of Eric Dier, Dele Alli and Jamie Vardy have emerged, and all make a strong case for a starting berth. But the formation and the make-up of the team are still up in the air.
This is where Hodgson will earn his money.
He has lots of options, and he must find the system that will bring the best out of the players at his disposal.
Will he go for Vardy and Harry Kane – with 49 Premier League goals between them this season – as a front two? Will it be a diamond or a midfield three? Where does he find a place for Wayne Rooney?
The common wisdom is that England’s strengths are going forward and there certainly look to be goals in the team. But the lack of a top-class defender leaves them vulnerable at the other end.
The expansion to 24 teams means that England would have to do spectacularly badly to go out at the group stages but reaching the last eight should be seen as a minimum requirement.
To do that, they’ll have to do something not achieved since 2006 and win a knockout game at a major tournament.