Revisiting Roy Hodgson's Euro 2016 Squad Decisions Before England Face Iceland
The match had reached stoppage time, and England were still chasing the goal that might've ensured they topped Euro 2016 Group B. Manager Roy Hodgson made the last of his three substitutions over 15 minutes earlier, yet his team could still not break Slovakia down.
Relentless right-back Nathaniel Clyne chanced another run down the right wing and crossed toward Jamie Vardy. It was cleared but soon came back in, the striker and midfielder Dele Alli among those unsuccessfully attempting to create an opening.
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Among the various media outlets commenting on the 0-0 draw during and after, it was not a surprise to see that old English footballing standby brought up: They might have scored if they had a big No. 9 target man to batter the unprepared foreign opposition.
The 2016 version of the argument centered around West Ham United's Andy Carroll. One of several players to feature prominently in pre-tournament discussions, he did not even make the preliminary squad.
As England prepare to face Iceland in the European Championship last 16 on Monday, Bleacher Report revisits Hodgson's squad decisions via the notable players who missed out. How have the players who went instead fared, and will the manager be regretting leaving anyone behind?
First up is Carroll and whether England's misfiring strike force would have benefited from his presence in France.
Andy Carroll
Carroll was one of the first to make an impression in an England shirt under Hodgson's management.
Part of a Euro 2012 squad assembled in the aftermath of Fabio Capello's unexpected departure, the then-Liverpool centre-forward netted in the 3-2 group-stage win over Sweden. The return of Wayne Rooney following his suspension saw Carroll relegated to a back-up role off the bench.
Four years on, the 27-year-old did not even get that far.
Injuries have blighted Carrol's career since then, largely keeping him out of the England picture. His formidable presence at the front of West Ham's attack toward the end of this past season had many believing he warranted a place at Euro 2016.
Watching England fail to break down Russia and especially Slovakia, there is an argument to be made for employing such a battering him. The effective use of the similarly tall Peter Crouch in past years showed how some foreign opponents can struggle to deal with such a direct approach.
Carroll, at his best, is undoubtedly a nuisance. He will likely feel he never got a proper chance to impress back in 2012 and that he obviously has not since (he was an unused standby for the 2014 World Cup).
However, it is easy to see why Hodgson went with the forward options he did.
Harry Kane and Jamie Vardy outscored Carroll comfortably last season. Marcus Rashford's eight goals was only one less than the 6'4" Hammer, who appeared in 14 games more than the 18-year-old. Daniel Sturridge had fitness issues but still managed 13, while captain Wayne Rooney was never going to be dropped (and has played in midfield anyway).
The most similar to Carroll (only a couple of inches shorter at 6'2" and a proven aerial threat with Tottenham Hotspur), Kane could yet provide that more no-nonsense presence up top for England. Perhaps they will find a successful rhythm to their more expansive play and get more out of Sturridge. Progression will likely mean more aggressive opposition and the opportunity to get Vardy in behind.
It is possible Carroll would have made an impact in France. But the logic, at least, behind Hodgson's eventual selections up front still makes sense.
Jermain Defoe
Sunderland striker Jermain Defoe, with 18 goals, outscored Carroll too. His form fired the Black Cats to safety, which had some touting the 33-year-old for a recall.
He has tournament previous—scoring at the 2010 World Cup—and a solid return of 19 goals in 55 England appearances.
Defoe will certainly have fancied himself to take the chances presented Sturridge and Vardy in the Slovakia game. But not part of a Hodgson squad since 2014 (he too was a standby for that summer's tournament), it has been clear for some time the manager has moved on.
"Theo unfortunately has not got such a regular game over the last few months and has had a few problems with injury," Hodgson said of Arsenal man Walcott when announcing his Euro 2016 squad, per the Telegraph's JJ Bull. "It's a tough decision of course but it's one you have to take."
People rightly questioned this reasoning given Hodgson had taken another Gunner in Jack Wilshere, who played even less football in 2015-16.
Still, it is safe to say Walcott has been short of form this season, offering neither the goals nor the quality wing play that might have earned him a spot as one of the wide men in England’s front three.
Andros Townsend
Walcott's malaise appeared to have been Townsend's gain when the Newcastle United winger made Hodgson's preliminary squad.
A Hodgson favourite in recent years, he lost his place when he fell out of favour at Tottenham. Regaining form on the north-east, a decent showing in the warm-up win over Australia suggested there could be a place for him.
Hodgson opted not to take Townsend, selecting Adam Lallana and Raheem Sterling as the squad's main wide men.
The former is performing decently so far. The latter not so much—though some public criticism of the Manchester City man has been plain moronic. Even with both, though, there may still have been room for Townsend.
His work late in the 2014 World Cup qualifying campaign, not to mention his goal versus Italy last year, showed an aptitude for international football. While he struggled for consistency at club level, the less regimented national-team environment seemed to suit his swashbuckling style.
Be it using his pace attacking full-backs or cutting in and shooting from long range, Townsend may have offered something different to the more intricate majority of this squad. With attacking midfielder Ross Barkley also having gone unused, Hodgson may regret not bringing Townsend as a Plan B.
Danny Drinkwater
England have not yet got going in attack, but there is more satisfaction around their midfield—particularly with the work of its anchor, Eric Dier.
Scorer of England’s goal against Russia, the 22-year-old has started all three matches so far, receiving acclaim for his confident and mature displays.
Leicester City's Danny Drinkwater could rightly feel aggrieved he did not make the squad in the respect that others who are not Premier League champions went ahead of him.
He would certainly have had value as cover, but barring injuries, it is unlikely he would have featured.
Dier has been just that strong in the deeper midfield role. With Hodgson favourites such as Jordan Henderson, James Milner and Rooney always likely to go and be involved, Drinkwater would probably have had to be content with a watching brief.
Fabian Delph
Delph's part in the early going of England's European Championship qualifying campaign meant Hodgson was keen to see him up close before the tournament. This was despite the fitness issues that undermined his first year with Manchester City.
Fit and in-form, Delph may have found himself starting in the midfield of Hodgson's preferred 4-3-3. His stamina and general clam shuttling horizontally and vertically make him ideal for a position that also benefits from a good engine.
Given he struggled last season, it was a surprise he was included, though. Ultimately, he missed out anyway with a groin injury.
Mark Noble
Like with Carroll, the clamour was understandably big among West Ham fans for their captain, Mark Noble, to get a chance with England. The all-rounder had one of his best campaigns yet in a strong year for the Irons and would have been a popular call-up outside of east London too.
It would be a shame if Noble ended his career uncapped. But beyond an interesting discussion point ahead of the tournament, it has long been clear Hodgson prefers others to the 29-year-old.
Phil Jagielka
That only one defender has made this article says a lot of England's paucity of options, especially at centre-back. A fit Luke Shaw may have caused a selection dilemma at left-back, but otherwise things were settled on the flanks.
Jagielka has been a fixture of Hodgson's team for a large portion of his tenure, starting two games at the last World Cup. With the manager a big believer in loyalty, many assumed the Everton stalwart would travel to France.
As it was, Hodgson could not ignore Jagielka’s waning powers. The 33-year-old had a poor season by his high standards.
An underperforming Everton defender has been taken to the tournament, but it is the more youthful John Stones, the hope being his smoother style would see him more comfortably step into proceedings if either Gary Cahill or Chris Smalling needs replacing.
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