Slovakia 0 - 0 EnglandEngland settle for second as Hodgson’s gamble backfires in Slovakia stalemate Wayne Rooney came off the bench for England but could not inspire Roy Hodgson’s side to victory over Slovakia.
The disappointment was obvious at the final whistle and, ultimately, this result will leave Roy Hodgson facing some awkward questions about his decision to make so many changes, the risk-taking that accompanied his choice of personnel and the unmistakable sense that England, once again, have made life unnecessarily hard for themselves.
Hodgson’s decision to give six players their first starts in this tournament certainly did not work as he would have wished given that England’s failure to hold on to top spot in Group B means they now forego the chance to play one of the third-placed finishers in the first knockout stage. Instead, they will go to Nice to face the Group F runners-up, possibly Portugal, and France will probably be waiting in the quarter-finals. England have lost the chance to play in Paris, close to their Chantilly base, and their deflation at the final whistle was considerable.
They had given everything in the second half to find the elusive goal that would have given them, in theory, an easier next game but it was not an entirely convincing performance and Hodgson will have to accept there is an element of disquiet when it was clearly a calculated gamble on his part to experiment with Wayne Rooney, among others, starting on the bench.
Hodgson is not renowned for this kind of risk-taking and it was certainly tempting at times to wonder whether he might have been guilty of under-estimating Slovakia. Jan Kozak’s side did, after all, win against Spain in qualifying, as well as having the audacity to beat Germany on their own soil a few weeks ago. England’s team-sheet must have been a source of encouragement for the sokoli and there is no doubt Hodgson’s team look more dangerous, for instance, with Kyle Walker and Danny Rose advancing from the full-back positions rather than Nathaniel Clyne and Ryan Bertrand. Slovakia had their own aspirations of winning the group and, with so many changes, perhaps it was asking too much to think England would simply continue where they had left off against Wales four days earlier.
They still looked the more potent side, with the possession statistics showing they had around two-thirds of the ball in the first half, but there was a hint of dissatisfaction about the first plaintive cries for Rooney towards the end of that period. Nobody can say with absolute certainty that Rooney’s presence would have made it a more straightforward night but at that stage the bulletins from Toulouse, with Wales quickly establishing a two-goal lead against Russia, were increasing the scrutiny on Hodgson’s team selection.
His new-look side were passing the ball reasonably enough. They had balance and structure and it was a superb pass from Jordan Henderson, deputising for Rooney, that sent Jamie Vardy scampering clear for the most inviting chance of the opening half. Vardy had the speed and anticipation to spin away from Martin Skrtel but Matus Kozacik came off his line to close down the shooting angle and spared his team with some fine goalkeeping.
Kozacik also saved his team later in the half after Clyne’s driving run had created a shooting opportunity for Adam Lallana from just inside the penalty area. Lallana, operating on the left of midfield, had been prominently involved in the first 45 minutes, but he is still waiting for his first England goal and there are times when his lack of end product makes him an elegant frustration.
Hodgson resisted any temptation to make changes at half-time and he must have been encouraged in those moments by Slovakia’s inability to threaten Joe Hart. Yet there was an almighty let-off seven minutes into the second half and a reminder about the occasionally accident-prone nature of England’s defence. Chris Smalling’s attempt to chest a cross back to Hart was short and, suddenly, the nearest opponent, Robert Mak, was threatening to get to the ball in front of England’s goalkeeper. Mak’s anticipation was superb but, having darted between his two opponents, he could not get a clean touch and the opportunity was lost.
This was England’s first real warning and another came shortly afterwards when Hart had to be alert to keep out Vladimir Weiss’s low drive. In between, Daniel Sturridge’s perfectly weighted pass gave the overlapping Clyne a shooting chance but it was no surprise when Hodgson decided, after 56 minutes, that it was time to bring on Rooney at the expense of Jack Wilshere. Dele Alli came on five minutes later, with Lallana making way, and that meant Rooney taking up the left-sided attacking role. Alli went into midfield and almost scored with one of his first touches, denied by Skrtel’s saving clearance after some penetrative link-up play between Sturridge and Henderson.
England were virtually encamped in the opposition half during the final 20 minutes but there was a sense of desperation at times about their attempts to find the elusive goal. Sturridge could not latch on to Dier’s through ball and the frustrations continued after Hodgson brought on Kane in place of the Liverpool striker. Vardy had an unsatisfactory night and, for all Rooney’s promptings, it must have been disappointing for Hodgson that his team could not create one clear chance in the final exchanges. Slovakia had settled for a draw and the ramifications for Hodgson could be considerable.
Guardian
