England manager Roy Hodgson insists that his team does not require copying the game style of other nations in order to boost their chances in major tournaments, and wants them to play to their strengths.
The Three Lions suffered yet another major tournament misery in Euro 2012, as despite holding on an aggressive Italian side to a 0-0 time for 120 minutes of play in the quarterfinals, they crashed out of the competition on shoot-out. The result meant that
it was the sixth time out of seven that they have now lost in the knock-out stages of a major competition on penalties.
With much being said about the passive and extra defensive approach of the English throughout the course of the tournament and comparisons being drawn between their game and that of the defending champions Spain, Hodgson reiterated that England do not need
to emulate the game style of other nations in order to win major tournaments. He also insisted that his team need to play to their strengths, instead of adopting a style alien to their culture of play.
He told the reporters in an interview, “I don't want to emulate nations, no. I want England to be England.”
“You can't say we are going to play like Spain because apart from anything, the Spanish grew up in different climatic conditions to us and have always had very different qualities.”
He also caste light on the fact that the reigning European and World Champions, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Spain-c3011 had not won a major competition in 44 years till their Euro 2008 triumph, and there was a time when they were seconded by other teams every now and then.
The 64-year old named myriad young players in his 23-man crew for the coveted European event. Andy Carroll, Danny Welbeck, Oxlade-Chamberlain and http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/England-c749.
As the Three Lions gear up for the World Cup 2014 qualifiers, Hodgson admitted that he was glad to have a talented crop of players at his disposal and was optimistic that they will further improve with the passage of time.
He added, “There were talents like http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Danny-Welbeck-c10233, who were with us at the Euros. They are not poor players technically. Hopefully in two years' time they will be even better.”
Tags: