Reflecting on Italy defeat

As so often, well almost always, happens England's tournament progress ended in disappointment with a penalty shootout defeat on Sunday night.

Roy Hodgson, as he told BBC sport, was keen to stress that a 'players reputation' should not be based on a shootout miss and that players should be judged over the four games that we played at Euro 2012...

This was a tournament that he was happy with, as he was all in all with the Italian game: 'a player's reputation should not be forged on a penalty shoot-out, their reputation should be forged on the four games and in those four games we have not lost.

'We stuck to our guns right until the end and the players should be very proud of what they did.

'I have learnt a lot about the players and their determination and dedication to the task and the fact they are so keen to play for England.

'There were some heroic performances not only tonight but also in the previous three games.'

After a positive start to the Italy game, the opening 20-25 minutes were pretty impressive, we totally withdrew into our shell with the 2nd half and the whole of extra time seeing us on the backfoot.

Once again though, despite admitting we tired, he thought we had a couple of decent chances and can walk away with our 'heads high' after the tournament with the future something we can look forward to: 'I thought the chances were there for both teams but as the second half went on we tired very badly and they came at us again and again.

'We have lost and we have gone out without losing a game with our heads held high.

'I've been very happy with what I have seen from this group of players and how they have dealt with the demands of an England shirt.

'I do think we have got some very good young players coming through and this tournament has been very good for them.'

Our major failing again was an inability to retain possession, and utilise this better. This constantly left us chasing the game and on the backfoot - we expanded so much unnecessary energy with the failure if you ask me and we really must learn from this.

After this bright opening to the game it was disappointing to see us, quite visibly, 'settle for penalties'. Yep we are not technically gifted like many nations but we surely are not so inept when it comes to attacking that we have to simply hold on and not really look to win a game?

Given our penalty history settling for these seemed extra odd!

Substitution wise, whilst doing this quite well in other games, I must admit I was not sure that Hodgson made the right call with his withdrawal of James Milner to bring on Theo Walcott, which was the right one but I would have taken off Ashley Young, who had another poor game.

Had Walcott come on for Young, and played on his side, it would have allowed Glen Johnson to continue getting forward and offering us that outlet that he did.

Penalties seemed to sum up our history with penalty deciders, the Young one that hit the bar is one you feel would have hit the bar and gone in with most other nations but nope not us and had it gone in would have left us on the verge of victory, which of course we would not have warranted mind...

Hodgson has done a decent job and I like the way he has us playing as a unit and as a team but hope that he looks into getting us playing more offensively in the future and with some useful youngsters coming through I reckon he can continue to build on what he started.

Vital England on:

Vital England on:

Click here to join in the debate on the club forum.