A 5-Point Plan to Take England to Euro 2016 Glory
Peruse through the preview magazines, online articles and any other buildup-related media for Euro 2016 and there is a somewhat surprising theme: there is a real belief among many of the participating countries they can go far.
Many previously unheralded nations are buoyed by making it into the newly expanded tournament in the first place. For those more regular European Championship qualifiers, there is belief the greater chance of progression will only aid them reinforcing their superiority.
England fall somewhere in the middle of this—something that became clear in attempting to figure out the following five-point plan to take them to Euro 2016 glory.
Roy Hodgson's team achieved a 100 per cent record in qualifying, and in its later stages, the national side have had their numbers boosted by some exciting new faces. As regular (if not quite perennial) participants in major tournaments they will/should believe themselves more capable than some to go far in France.
Then again, the lack of success at this level in recent times means they have plenty to prove.
With that in mind, getting even to within reach of a final place is going to require they be smart and forceful, both tactically and in their mental approach.
We begin with the obvious importance of a good start to the tournament.
Start as They Mean to Go on
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England's last major tournament experience at the 2014 World Cup began badly with a 2-1 loss to Italy.
Hodgson's team did not play awfully, but the result was to prove costly. Their tournament ended with further defeat to Uruguay a game later, while the same Italian side they had approached so warily were also dumped out by the South Americans and a surprise Costa Rica outfit.
History suggests a winning start this summer is not necessarily imperative for England. Their last good run in the competition at Euro '96 began with a 1-1 draw with Switzerland. Their sole major win at the 1966 World Cup started with a stalemate against Uruguay.
It is safe to say, however, a positive start is generally beneficial to setting the right kind of tone.
Since England's last semi-final run in 1996, only Spain have gone on to claim the European Championship after not winning their first game, drawing 1-1 with Italy last time out (they lost their opening match at the preceding World Cup, too). France in 2000 and Greece in 2004 finished second in their respective groups but had a little leeway after kicking off with three points.
The expanded tournament format does provide a safety net. The best four third-place teams will also go through to the round-of-16.
Nevertheless, an early confidence boost is preferable.
Playing Italy two years ago or France at Euro 2012 (a 1-1 draw) perhaps necessitated a more cautious setup. The Group B opener with Russia should not be taken lightly by any means, but compared to those previous opponents, a bold approach certainly feels the way to go.
Be Adaptable
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The usual pre-tournament discussion has seen England's starting XI debated exhaustively.
Just about everyone with any serious attachment to the Three Lions has voiced what they feel Hodgson should do or how they anticipate he will set up his team (this writer included). Particularly in relation to an attack where the old (chiefly captain Wayne Rooney) is looking like jarring with the new (in-form men like Harry Kane and Jamie Vardy).
Figuring out a best team certainly has value. Any contender has key players around whom a good run is built. The more of them you know you can rely on, the better.
Still, even with the best of luck, maintaining that over a month of football is difficult.
Hodgson may settle on a preferred plan of action for Russia that proves a satisfying one, at least for the duration of the group stage. But for England to get anywhere at Euro 2016, he will need to ensure his side is adaptable and ready to switch to a plan B or C if needs be.
The alternation between a 4-3-3 and a diamond 4-4-2 over the past two years gives them a good basis to work from. In the standout win of that period—the 3-2 defeat of world champions Germany—England had played well in the former but benefited from switching something closer to the latter when they fell behind.
The more aggressive strategy that should serve them well in the group stage may not be so suitable against potentially tougher latter-round opponents. Hodgson and his coaching staff must find ways of preparing their players here without overburdening them.
Make the Most of Their Resources
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In line with the preceding point, one of England’s strengths is the different options they have to call on.
Hodgson does not have depth in terms of major tournament experience or players who have appeared regularly in the Champions League. England have had that in the past, though, and it has only counted for so much.
Of greater importance is being able to field a balanced and structurally sound team—one in which its fundamental tenets are second nature to every man utilised, but where there is also room for its most likely difference-makers to improvise and contribute as they see fit.
England are limited at centre-back, but defenders are generally the most unused players at tournaments anyway—see this still-pertinent example from 2014 by the Telegraph's Jonathan Liew.
Elsewhere, the squad is sufficiently varied for Hodgson to mix it up as and when he needs, be that in a more strictly defined plan B or as impact substitutions or cover.
In attack you have Kane as the all-round striker prototype. Vardy is a speedier, more direct weapon, perhaps more conducive to a counter-attack approach.
Daniel Sturridge has the potential to make some sublime interventions (see his goal for Liverpool in the Europa League final), while teenage Marcus Rashford is the unknown who may catch opponents out.
The recent debutant has already hinted at the qualities he has to make a sudden impact, as well as the intelligent play that helps him adapt to and perhaps even dictate a game’s rhythm.
In front of defence and holding midfielder Eric Dier, James Milner offers energy and Jordan Henderson drive. The versatile Dele Alli is the side’s potential spark, and Jack Wilshere is a conductor capable of pitching in with a fine solo performance.
In between there are the enigmatic Merseysiders Rooney and Ross Barkley, the skilful Raheem Sterling and on the flanks a squadron of well-equipped full-backs.
All this is to say Hodgson does have resources. He has chosen the squad, now he must make the most of it.
Take Responsibility
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While the onus is on Hodgson to set this team up, he obviously can only do so much. It is ultimately up to the players how well they do.
There is hope the new members can produce more than their predecessors, who were hobbled by expectation and made complacent by managers enthralled by their overrated star power.
At the same time, England will need leadership if they are to hold their own against Europe's best and stay cool through the rounds.
It is fair to say the team does not have the natural captains of 20 years ago, something then-manager Terry Venables highlighted as vital in the recent BBC retrospective, Alan Shearer's Euro 96: When Football Came Home.
"I'd looked around the changing room and I thought, 'wow, we ain’t just got fantastic players here, we've got leaders,'" Paul Ince added in the programme of a squad including Shearer, Tony Adams and Stuart Pearce (not to mention himself). "So when things go wrong, we come together."
What the more experienced current players like Gary Cahill, Joe Hart and skipper Rooney can do is take responsibility for making sure the spirit is right.
"We have to be a team," striker Sturridge said, per the Guardian's Daniel Taylor. "It's very important. We have to be a family."
There may not be any standout figures like an Adams or an Ince, but working collectively to generate and establish the right atmosphere could go a long way.
Be Prepared for a Tough Slog in the Latter Stages
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In the years since Euro '96, no winner of the European Championship or World Cup has reached that point without having to go through extra-time or penalties.
The 1996 tournament was notable for producing a rare England shootout win—the emotional quarter-final victory over Spain. Including their semi-final exit to Germany that summer, however, they have lost five times in that format since.
Just about all the points discussed already will be vital to surviving the slog of knockout stages that are even longer at this tournament. Should England get that far, it is inevitable they will have to summon great reserves of energy and nerve, too.
Speaking in an interview with former England rugby union coach Sir Clive Woodward prior to the 2014 World Cup, Hodgson said his side do certainly practice penalties. He admitted, however, he was still working to help them get over the aforementioned history.
"Somehow we’ve got to try to brainwash our players into forgetting all of that," he told the Sky Sports Sporting Heroes programme, "we've got to make certain they’ve got the mental strength to the job, and we do have to practice."
We do not have long to wait now until we find out if England can overcome such obstacles.
Should they perform to the best of their ability, Euro 2016 glory is not unfeasible. But even adhering to the basic points of this plan, Hodgson and his squad may still find others are just too strong.
