England misfire but it's Mission Accomplished in Ukraine

It wasn't pretty, it wasn't even particularly exciting - but a goalless draw against one of our biggest rivals for qualification to next summer's World Cup Finals does represent good business for Roy Hodgson. 

Here's Jonny's assessment from his Smooth Radio bulletin the morning after the night before. 

Lessons for Roy after Ukraine draw

There's no doubt in my mind that Roy Hodgson's the man to make best use of this pool of England talent - but as I explain in this two-minute podcast, we've made scant progress since losing Fabio Capello. Roy has a Plan A but often struggles when an about-face is required.

listen to ‘Lessons for Roy after England draw’ on Audioboo

Roy's England plans seem on the hoof

When grand plans don't come together, great generals resort to a Plan B, but at Wembley, Roy Hodgson's backup looked distinctly laboured.

Konoplianka's strike was superb

Only a late equalising penalty from Frank Lampard saved England from the ignominy of home defeat to a determined Ukraine intent on revenge.

Their disallowed 'ghost' goal against us in Euro 2012 was the easiest motivation possible for coach, Oleg Blokhin.

The visitors came out of the traps keen to break us up with pugnacious directness. Skipper Steven Gerrard, who later saw red for the first time in his international career, was deliberately run into by a Ukrainian marker in the early minutes.

Roy's blood pressure increases

It's true goals that goals change games and Jermain Defoe's disallowed one would've given the game a whole different outcome had it been allowed. Instead it gave Ukraine their chance.

Their greater resolve resulted in a terrific strike from Yevhen Konoplianka and from then on, England struggled with it.

The problem of searching for an equaliser came in leaving ourselves exposed at the back. Hodgson's instruction to keep possession exposed our deficit of creativity and imagination.

Lampard's great leveller: he leathers it.

We missed sitters, struck woodwork and worked hard in front of a patient Wembley crowd, but it's hard to watch England forced to perpetually evolve during competitive games. We don't have the guile of more than one gear. We're not good under pressure.

A late penalty can't disguise the lifeless, oft limp show and it's no good blaming the referee for handing out cards like confetti. We know international football's less tolerant on challenges.

LESSONS:

1) This early setback's a reminder qualification isn't a formality.
2) Roy Hodgson's still at the drawing board post-Capello.

Pragmatic Roy steers England through to the last eight

England have made it to the quarter finals of Euro 2012, winning the group with two wins and a draw.

Let's keep our powder dry, we're English, FFS!

England rode their luck en route to a 1-0 win over host nation Ukraine, including a "goal" for the host nation which should've counted. John Terry's athletic last ditch clearance was in fact over the line. But Ukraine are out.

Wayne Rooney marked his return from suspension with the winner from a Steven Gerrard (who else?) cross. It was a tap in but an important boost for the Manchester United striker, who huffed and puffed his way through a first outing for five weeks. He looked off the pace for long periods but has an inner determination to overcome his blatant lack of match fitness.

He found his feet towards the end of the match, but will certainly feel the effect of the workout tomorrow.

Keeper Joe Hart was on top of his game and had to be, staying alert to the most determined of Ukrainian strikes, but special mention goes to the skipper.

Gerrard has been magnificent this tournament. He's responded to wearing the armband with aplomb.

Twelve years ago, I witnessed Liverpool's highly-rated youngster make his debut, also against Ukraine. Years later, now skipper, he stands up as our most important player.

Some say we over rely on the set-piece for our goals and creativity: if so, who better than the artist Gerrard to conduct our progress?

In winning the group, we avoid defending champions, Spain. That fate befalls the French on Saturday night. Instead, it's Italy on Sunday who like England, arrived at the tournament with low expectations despite the reputation of a first rate nation.

John Terry, who'll always assume a form of captaincy whether wearing the armband or not, huddled the team together at the final whistle. Difficult to beat and united in purpose, England have a chance to make it to the semifinals. Then again, so do Italy. We must remain resolute and concentrate hard. Our dreams of winning can end in a heartbeat.

England aren't the finished product by any stretch, but as John Lennon said "life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans".

We've more than a fighting chance of going beyond expectations and this is a vast improvement on Capello's South African flop.

Roy Hodgson's called everything right. It's as if being overlooked for the job too many times has prepared him even more so. Doesn't he look so much the better choice than Harry Redknapp now?

Hodgson's choice is good for EURO 2012

England's opening match in the Championship, a one-all draw with France shows us the pragmatism that Roy will deploy against quality opposition.

France will be around later in the tournament, but the England boss knows we'll have to play to our strengths if we want to be there with them.

City Slicker beats City Slacker: 1-nil England!

The draw extended France's unbeaten run to 22 against an England boss with just three matches and ten training sessions under his belt.

Sure we surrendered territory at the end of each half. They're practiced, experienced, continuous, confident and very, very good.

But England's hard workers didn't flinch, and when French relentlessness opened us up, there was Joe Hart to quell danger wholeheartedly.

This is going to be a recurrent pattern for Roy the realist, who's track record of producing difficult to beat sides must be how it is until we grow to his ultimate gameplan.

And it's not all pie and mash football: Roy's willing to pull a few rabbits out of the hat too. He's sprung surprises with his selections and has the unknown quantity in the back of his mind: Oxlade-Chamberlain and Welbeck showed that.

Hodgson's right; we will get better, but while we're not, this England fan would rather us win then go home with the tabloids screaming down his neck.

It's Sweden and Ukraine next - neither of them strike fear into our hearts. Come on England and well done Roy's boys.

EURO 2012 racism row to be swept under the carpet



Alone: token support from football

It's a shocking state of affairs that two of our England squad should have families who fear for their safety by going to EURO 2012.

Both Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's brothers and parents have cancelled their trips to Poland and the Ukraine citing "possible racist attack".



But the FA, who are supposed to "Say No To Racism" and seek to "Kick It Out" are impotent to do anything about it. They're hamstrung. Why? because John Terry's in the England squad.

The former captain's awaiting trial for allegedly racially abusing Anton Ferdinand during a Premier League game at Queen's Park Rangers last October and now won't take place until after  EURO 2012. District judge Howard Ribble ordered that Terry should only stand trial from July 9th because a number of Chelsea players won't be available to appear as witnesses until the end of the tournament. And another former England defender, Sol Campbell's urging fans not to even bother going to Europe's festival of international football, lest "they might return in a coffin". Stay at home is the former Tottenham and Arsenal man's advice.



Racism is rife in Ukrainian stadia and unsegregated attacks on opposition fans is commonplace.

By claiming Terry's selection was based on a footballing decision only, the Chelsea skipper can come along for the ride and escape punishment until it's safe to venture out in July, a full six weeks before the start of next season.

These FA, FIFA and UEFA initiatives are mere empty husks when push comes to shove. Nothing ever comes in the way of a tournament, even issues of basic morality - and sadly, Walcott and Oxlade-Chamberlain will have to show extra professionalism to get on with their game.

It's mere box-ticking by these governing bodies to show they do act against the scourge of racism, but if they really meant it, the FA would've dropped Terry, threatened to boycott EURO 2012 alongside other leading nations - and got the tournament moved to a country where people can live and work decently.

Sol speaks out against Ukrainian racism.

That Ukraine and Poland are racist societies is no surprise to me. Their sleepy evil backwaters for a reason. It's because throughout the last 150 years, they have expelled, tortured and murdered people who weren't indigenous. My own grandfather was born in the Ukraine and was forced to leave as a child with his family. The spotlight has fallen on Poland and Ukraine only because UEFA decided to spread their western European football message to a part of the third world on our doorstep.

If governing bodies won't stand up for their black players, perhaps black players might do it for themselves.