国产热热热精品,亚洲视频久久】日韩,三级婷婷在线久久,99人妻精品视频,精品九热人人肉肉在线,AV东京热一区二区,91po在线视频观看,久久激情宗合,青青草黄色手机视频

Sports / Soccer

Unbeaten England have reasons to be cheerful

(Agencies) Updated: 2015-06-15 10:17

Unbeaten England have reasons to be cheerful

England's Jack Wilshere celebrates after scoring a goal?during their UEFA Euro 2016 Qualifying Group E match?against Slovenia?at Stozice Stadium in?Ljubljana, Slovenia,?June 14, 2015. [Photo/Agencies]

LJUBLJANA - England's progress since a pitiful World Cup group-stage exit a year ago was confirmed by Sunday's 3-2 win in Slovenia, which secured their first unbeaten season since 1990-91 and displayed signs of a new attacking intent.

Defeats by Italy and Uruguay and a draw with Costa Rica in Brazil last June were viewed by many England fans as the lowest point in the team's chequered history but six wins from six in Euro 2016 qualifying are beginning to change perceptions.

It is an easy Group E -- second-placed Slovenia trail England by nine points -- and two teams automatically qualify for the expanded 24-team tournament in France, but even coach Roy Hodgson cannot have expected 18 points at this stage.

His joy at fulltime could have been very different if Wayne Rooney had not made it 3-2 in the dying minutes to move one goal behind Bobby Charlton's England record tally of 49.

"We dominated the game totally for long, long periods," Hodgson told ITV.

Hodgson also put a positive spin on his decision to start centre half Phil Jones at right back and then substitute him after a error-strewn first period for midfielder Adam Lallana, with right back Nathaniel Clyne on the bench.

Lallana helped set up Jack Wilshere's two pile-drivers and midfielder Jordan Henderson filled in well at the back, a tactic Hodgson said was intentional to keep England on the attack.

"Jordan did very well at right back, we were thinking that we would be limiting our options if we replaced Phil Jones with another defender," Hodgson said.

"It was harsh on Nathaniel, he doesn't deserve that...but it was the best way to get Lallana on. Luckily both moves worked out well."

Another indication of England having more bite in the final third, in contrast to a dour recent goalless friendly in Ireland, was midfielder Wilshere finally netting for his country on his 28th appearance.

His two carbon copy crackers from outside the box were worth the wait and the 23-year-old acknowledged he should shoot more having become accustomed to sometimes over intricate passing at Arsenal.

"It has been a long time coming. When the first one came I just hit it so I had a little bit of confidence for the second one," he said.

Tougher tests await and there remain major question marks defensively but England fans are rightly feeling a lot more cheerful.

Most Popular
What's Hot
Highlights
Special
...
和龙市| 永顺县| 甘泉县| 杂多县| 南江县| 汤阴县| 延寿县| 榆中县| 利川市| 乌拉特前旗| 大冶市| 原平市| 盐源县| 磐安县| 韩城市| 宁德市| 绥德县| 石城县| 平利县| 青田县| 比如县| 凌源市| 宜宾市| 山西省| 登封市| 花莲市| 溧水县| 普宁市| 温泉县| 玉环县| 会同县| 洛浦县| 新沂市| 洪江市| 丁青县| 阳城县| 于都县| 雷州市| 西安市| 彩票| 翁牛特旗|