Only eight teams remain in Euro 2012, and the side who were without a manager just six weeks before the start, the team ravaged by injuries, the country of whom most had lost all faith, are well in with a shout.
Italy are all that stand between England and a first major tournament semi-final appearance since 1996. What a story it would be if this England side did manage to go all the way and win their first trophy since 1966 in Jubilee year.
Boss Roy Hodgson was heavily criticised for including Stewart Downing, Jordan Henderson, and Martin Kelly in his England squad, while leaving out players such as Micah Richards, Peter Crouch, and Adam Johnson.
During the tournament, however, ‘Woy’ has got all the big decisions spot on. England have become hard to beat, a solid unit who should hopefully now create more, should talisman Wayne Rooney put his poor performance against Ukraine behind him.
The back four fell apart during a crazy second half against Sweden, but that aside, England have rarely looked troubled. Both France and Ukraine have dominated possession, but been unable to create much through a tight knit England defence.
The criticism of Hodgson’s decision to leave Rio Ferdinand at home seems to have disappeared as Joleon Lescott and John Terry have forged a formidable centre-back pairing, supported by the best left-back in the world in Ashley Cole.
The goalkeeper isn’t too shabby either. In Joe Hart England have a goalkeeper for the next 15 years, as long as he stays fit there’s certainly no question marks over the Number 1 jersey.
Where England are weak defensively, at right-back and Glen Johnson, Hodgson has used James Milner as a protector, Milner will run all day long and get back in to support the marauding Johnson.
Scott Parker has been quiet, but then that’s exactly what you want him to be, while Steven Gerrard has largely sat in alongside him attempting the sort of Hollywood passes we’ve become accustomed to seeing at Liverpool.
Ashley Young hasn’t particularly impressed, and his place could well be under threat from the pace of Theo Walcott or Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. ‘The Ox’ is another gamble which seems to have paid off for Hodgson, after starting the first game against France he’s found himself on the bench, but he has worked well as an impact player, much like his Arsenal teammate Walcott.
Andy Carroll can count himself a little unlucky to have been sat on the bench again versus Ukraine, but both he and Danny Welbeck have looked encouraging in the way they’ve handled themselves at their first major tournament with England.
Then of course there’s Rooney. His touch wasn’t there on Monday night, but it was his first game in over a month, and he could be set for a huge performance against the Azurri on Sunday.
Should England pull off a win against Italy, they will likely play the old enemy in the semi-final. Germany will provide fierce opposition, but there’s a way to go before we get to that.
The nation are finally starting to get behind Roy’s boys, let’s not get ahead of ourselves, this England side are no world beaters. But they are more than capable of winning the three games required to bring home the European Championship trophy and join in the year of Britain’s celebrations.
COME ON ENGLAND!
Introducing the neat little app that’ll pay you to view content tailored to your interests:
ThisisFutbol.com are seeking new writers to join the team! If you’re passionate about football, drop us a line at “thisisfutbol.com@snack-media.com” to learn more.
[ad_pod id=’DFP-MPU’ align=’right’]