Glen Johnson Crucial to English Success

For years we have been used to the same old headlines concerning Glen Johnson, question marks have been persistently hanging over his head—good going forward but a liability at the back.

Add the emergence of Kyle Walker, plus Micah Richards consistent high level of performance, and we have fierce competition for that right-back berth.

For all the negative headlines we have seen regarding Johnson over the years, it has, at times, been hard to see how the ex-Chelsea man has held onto the role. Over England's two games at Euro 2012 though have we started to see what all those managers have been seeing?

Crucial

Some of the best players in the world have been charging at the English back four over the last few days. France had Samir Nasri, Franck Ribery and Karim Benzema, while Sweden had the ever opinion-dividing Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Johnson, however, has coped admirably. Arguably being his nation's best performer at the back, despite the lapse that saw Olof Mellbeck drift in unmarked to equalise.

On several occasions already at this year's tournament, the Liverpool defender has made crucial interceptions to save his nation's blushes. He did this once earlier this week to deny Benzema a one on one with Joe Hart, and had two more yesterday.

Potential game-changing situations that could have seen two very different results to those that we have witnessed.

If this defensive side of his game is being improved, Johnson could become a complete full back.

We all know the qualities he possesses when going forward, a cross yesterday almost resulting in John Terry getting on the score sheet. While he has also performed his now almost trademark maneuver of cutting in from the right and firing a shot with his left foot.

In a moment of difficulty, Johnson has stepped up and raised the level of his game. Is it possible that England now have in their ranks the best full-back combination in this European Championships?