Italy finally expose Hodgson

For once in this tournament an English television pundit summed it all up perfectly. On ITV's England v Italy highlights show Jamie Carragher said what everyone should have been saying the moment that Roy Hodgson was given the England job. To paraphrase the Liverpool defender, Carragher, strangely passionate for once regarding all things England, said 'we talk about getting kids to play more like Spain in this country, to keep the ball and pass but who is the manager of the England first team? Roy Hodgson, who plays with two banks of four and doesn't play with a passing style'. Nail. Head.

As damning statistics flashed up on the screen regarding possession (Roy doesn't believe in that, remember?), shots on target, passes made etc against Italy, the massacre that Andrea Pirlo and his co conspirators had inflicted on England over a tortuous two hours was hammered home. Carragher again led the way in sensible rhetoric. 'This Italy team isn't a great Italy team and they've played us off the park tonight. Those stats are what you would expect from a Championship side when they play against a Premier League team'. I'd have changed only the end of Carragher's analysis. Those stats are what you would expect from a Roy Hodgson team against any quality opposition.

Hodgson won't change. England must.

For two weeks Hodgson had got the nation on his side. I don't know how he did it, but he did. He convinced a country boasting one of the strongest squads at this tournament that qualifying from a group containing Sweden and Ukraine was 'exceeding expectations'. I often felt like the world had turned upside down as people blindly refused to acknowledge my assertion that Roy Hodgson was not taking English football forwards, but backwards. 'Ignore the fact we've had the least possession and shots on target of any team in the competition, we're winning, we're playing with spirit and heart' was the much heard retort. I'm sorry, but blocking shots left, right and centre and conceding ground to the likes of Ukraine doesn't represent progress for English football. Neither does a rigid 442 system with two banks of four camped on the edge of your own area for two thirds of each match regardless of the opposition. As someone who suffered through a Roy Hodgson led team with my club side Liverpool, all of this was familiar to me and the notion that the ends justified the means regarding England's ugly approach infuriated me as history had already shown me that his failings will eventually come to the fore when luck deserts him. And boy were those failings shown up against Italy. The make up and fake tan were removed by the Italians and suddenly England looked decidedly hideous in the unforgiving light of day. Try as he might, Hodgson can't fool all of the people all of the time with his approach. 

As England topped their group and Roy was lauded to high heaven by fans and pressmen alike, Liverpool supporters like myself were criticised as we had apparently not given Hodgson enough support or time at Anfield. Rubbish. He was hounded out of Merseyside for his woeful football and rigid tactics. He turned a Liverpool team containing talent like Gerrard, Torres, Reina, Kuyt, Maxi, Johnson, Agger and Lucas into a team that were fighting relegation and playing like West Brom or Stoke on a weekly basis. It was Hodgson's way, it remains Hodgson's way and it will continue to be Hodgson's way. That is why he will drag English football to lower recesses than we've seen for years.

If Fabio Capello had produced football as sterile as what Hodgson has served up during Euro 2012 then he'd have been a national pariah. This England team boasts world class players in every department. Hart, Cole, Gerrard and Rooney would walk into most sides in world football. They are surrounded by players who have won Premier League titles and have a wealth of Champions League experience. They are not the no-hopers that they are often made out to be. Nor did they come up against the likes of Spain or Germany which is when Hodgson's approach would perhaps have been acceptable or at least, understandable. Playing negatively against sides that are clearly much better than you (as Spain and Germany undoubtedly are) is one thing. Doing it against teams who don't have one player who would be good enough to make your squad is another matter entirely.

It is so blindingly obvious that Hodgson won't improve England going forward in any way what so ever. His tactical set up has never deviated from it's current archaic incarnation. It is Chelsea in Europe last season. It is Greece in Euro 2004. It is underdog football that rarely prevails and offers no sustainable model going forward. It relies solely on keeping it tight, working hard and hoping for a bit of luck. When that luck runs out however, what are you left with? What crumbs of comfort did Euro 2012 offer for England? Have they shown any positive attacking play? Have they shown they can beat big sides or even live with them in terms of possession or quality on the ball? Have they laid any foundations for the future regarding their footballing philosophy? No. But apparently that is irrelevant to most when you are somehow squeezing out lucky victories against the might of Ukraine. 

Diamante's penalty sent England packing. 

The most perplexing offering from the press and supporters of England this summer has been the myth regarding England's much lauded bravery. This is astonishing and could not be further from the truth. It also highlights the lack of knowledge this country has when it comes to the beautiful game. Bravery in football is trying to keep the ball under pressure, attacking the opposition and doing so with style. It isn't kicking the ball up to your hulking number 9 in the hope that he can win a flick on. It isn't sitting 8 men in front of your goal. It isn't putting your faith in a lucky bounce going your way. England returned home after playing like cowards when they possessed a calibre of player that promised so much more regardless of what Roy Hodgson and his sympathisers say to the contrary. If you disagree then I'd ask you to answer this question: How many of the French players would you have swapped for England's when they faced each other in the first game? Three? Four? England had at least an equal (I'd argue more than equal) level of quality in their team that night and yet they simply retreated into their shells and let the French do what they wanted. Yes, Scott Parker blocked the ball, yes John Terry threw himself into tackles but that isn't bravery in a footballing sense. Bravery would have been trying to out play France and win the match, not merely surviving. Italy's performance against Spain was real footballing bravery. They attacked a far superior team at every opportunity, went toe to toe with the Spaniards for 90 minutes and could easily have beaten the world champions that day. Hodgson's team were weak, flaccid and unambitious all tournament and will continue to be so.

Penalty shoot outs are often considered a cruel way to leave a tournament. But with the exceptional Germans lying in wait for England in the next round, perhaps their elimination was the most humane way of sending England home. If the Italians were able to strip England bare and embarrass them to such an extent then God only knows what Schweinsteiger, Ozil et al would have done to them. Until England wakes up and realises that Roy Hodgson is little more than a chancer, this county's footballing failures will only be added to. England were awful at Euro 2012 and no amount of media spin from Roy or his fans should convince you otherwise. 

The importance of keeping Agger

Euro 2012 rather summed up Daniel Agger's career thus far. He came, he excelled, he was largely ignored.


In a summer where his team mate Martin Skrtel is being linked to Manchester City for an eye watering £20m transfer fee, it comes as a great surprise and a greater relief to this writer that Daniel Agger is seemingly not being pursued by Europe's biggest and richest clubs. It is hard for me to recall a more under rated player in the Premier League over the past 5 years or so. To these eyes at least, Agger isn't just good, he's world class. From his first few embryonic appearances at Anfield back in 2006, it was easy to see that he was extremely gifted.

Just in case some people need reminding.....

While his frame was slight and nerves were evident in those early days, his touch, technique and calmness shone through even at the tender age of just 21. As the years have progressed, so too has the Dane. Agger has quietly turned himself into one of Liverpool's most important players alongside Luis Suarez, Steven Gerrard and Lucas Leiva. When Daniel Agger is in the team I can guarantee that every Liverpool fan automatically feels more optimistic of victory regardless of the opposition. Indeed, statistics show that when Agger started for Liverpool in the league last season they averaged nearly 0.5 more points per game and conceded at just 0.82 goals per game compared to 1.31 goals per game when he was absent. Unfortunately, during his time at Liverpool, Agger hasn't been in the starting line up regularly enough.  


He has amassed just 170 appearances in nearly 7 years during his time on Merseyside, which is a paltry amount for a player of such undoubted class. His injuries have been numerous and recurring in nature and it wasn't long ago that many Liverpool supporters felt that his wretched fitness record should have resulted in the club cutting ties with him. Many disagreed entirely of course, believing that a talent as great as Agger's should always supersede any physical problems, especially as he was still relatively young. Luckily for Liverpool, the club have retained his services. Happily, last year had a slight upturn in fortunes for the player and he managed 27 league appearances out of 38 compared to just 16 the previous season. With his muscle injuries seemingly behind him (only a cracked rib forced him out for a lengthy time this campaign just gone), Agger now seems free to show his quality over an entire season which will surely garner him the more widespread recognition that has evaded him so far in his career.

Agger and Skrtel: Are Manchester City after the wrong man?

When he has been available there is no doubting that he has been extremely valuable for Liverpool, but with the appointment of Brendan Rodgers as manager, Agger seems likely to become even more of an influential player for his club. It is universally expected that Rodgers will attempt to make Liverpool a passing side who dominate possession in the way that Swansea did last season and there isn't one player at Anfield who seems better suited to that kind of philosophy than the classy Danish defender. No centre half that I have seen in the Premier League in recent years has demonstrated greater technique than the former Brondby man. His ability on the ball is the equal of many midfield players and if Rodgers is indeed to impress a passing style upon Liverpool, then Agger's consistent availability will be of paramount importance to his new boss. 


Rodgers likes his teams to play out from the back with short passes rather than long balls, and Agger will likely be the key man in his defence when it comes to implementing this style of play. He is the most accomplished passer Liverpool have in their defence and is equally adroit at retaining possession when pressed by opposition forwards. Indeed, perhaps the most notable aspect of Denmark's play during Euro 2012 was how often Agger and his defensive partner Simon Kjaer would collect the ball from their goal keeper and look to get Denmark attacking without resorting to aimless punts up field. At times they were pressed extremely high by their opponents (Holland, Portugal and Germany) and therefore put under immense pressure, yet the Danes seldom deviated from their short passing style despite the presence of a target man to hit up front. I'm sure if he was watching it brought a smile to Brendan Rodgers' face.

Agger celebrating a rare goal at the Kop end

Perhaps Agger has flown under the radar somewhat as when he was injured for lengthy periods earlier on in his Liverpool career the immaculate Sami Hyypia and Jamie Carragher were there to play instead. However, since Hyypia's departure, Agger has become more of a loss to Liverpool with each missed appearance. His deputy is currently one of his former mentors, Jamie Carragher, who is now 34 years old and sadly looking his age. When the veteran scouser stepped in for the injured Agger last season Liverpool looked much the worse for it. They dropped deeper, didn't keep possession as well, couldn't build play from the back as easily and it impacted on both their attacking and defensive play significantly. It was no coincidence, but it was as much to do with the absent ability of Agger as it was to do with Carragher's decline in fortunes.


Talent wise, Daniel Agger is amongst the best defenders in Europe and the fact that teams like Barcelona, Real Madrid, Juventus et al haven't yet been on the phone to Anfield to enquire about his availability is a mystery to me. I can only fathom that his poor injury record is the reason behind it. As Agger heads into this season looking fit and ready to take on a more crucial role than ever, perhaps the Anfield faithful should be thanking their lucky stars that he has missed a lot of football thus far in his career. If he hadn't, it is highly likely that he would be plying his trade at a different club next season.

Cassano's time to shine

The oft ignored number ten of Italian football is belatedly making his mark for the Azzurri 

Baggio, Totti, Del Piero: The Holy Trinity of Italian Number Tens

Roberto Baggio, Alessandro Del Piero and Francesco Totti. Three 'number tens' whose presence dominated the landscape of the Italian National team from the early 1990s until the late 2000s. Three much celebrated, mercurial talents who were fundamental to their country for the best part of those two decades. Three men who bore the weight of their nation on the shoulders and often carried the teams hopes of success almost single handedly. Three men who scaled the heights for the Azzurri. Baggio dragged Italy through to the 1994 World cup final on his own before his heart breaking penalty miss Pasadena. His was the most glorious failure international football has seen in a major tournament. Del Piero and Totti ultimately went one step further by being involved in the 2006 World cup winning squad and both having significant personal moments of triumph in that tournament on their route to victory. But, over the past decade, one other gifted number ten has always intrigued and promised much over in Italy without ever really convincing or being noticed outside of his homeland. His name is Antonio Cassano. 


Despite the wonderful technical ability Cassano possesses, he has never truly become a star of the footballing world outside his own island. Sure, he was good at Roma, he got a move to the worlds most famous club Real Madrid (where his penchant for cake and women took precedent over actually, you know, playing football) and his performances were often majestic at little Sampdoria, but none of this has ever reached the levels of media coverage that his predecessors who wore the famous Italian number ten shirt achieved. Baggio, Totti and Del Piero were mega stars of the footballing world but Cassano has never really threatened to break into their stratosphere.  


One main reason for this relative anonymity is that the peak years of his career have not yielded nearly enough caps for his national team, thus restricting his opportunities to demonstrate his talents to a global audience. Even when Cassano has had his fleeting moments of success for the Azzurri, they have been largely forgotten due to circumstances out of his control. On the night of Italy's final group game at Euro 2004, he was his country's outstanding player and scored what seemed like a dramatic last minute goal that everyone thought had earned his team a place in the quarter finals  only for Sweden and Denmark to knock the Italians out with a convenient draw in the other group match that took place at the same time. Cassano's celebrations at his late winner against Bulgaria that night turned into dismay as he realised that his efforts had been in vain. Italy went home and his heroics had been rendered irrelevant to the wider world. Later in his career, after his dismal spell in Madrid, Cassano should have been his country's most important player at the 2010 World cup. He had performed splendidly for Sampdoria and was the best attacking player in Italy. However, the then national team manager Marcello Lippi ignored public opinion and refused to even select him in his squad for the tournament. It was not a decision made for 'footballing reasons' as Roy Hodgson would say. Cassano made no secret of his disdain for Lippi while the World cup unfolded, even saying that he wanted the team to win but 'not for Lippi. I say what I think'. While Italy surrendered their World cup crown in the worst possible manner in South Africa, their best player sat at home and probably ate the pastries that he is so fond of with a wry grin on his face as Lippi's team ended the tournament disgraced and embarrassed without a single victory to their name. Cassano's reputation for volatility and instability is cited as the reason for his exclusion from La Nazionale under Lippi and his reputation as a bad boy has cost him an awful lot.

Cassano's form during Euro 2012 has been impressive

With Cassano it has never been a question of talent. His footballing ability is, and always has, been obvious. His temperament however has always been in question. The bust ups with managers, the media outbursts, the lack of application to his trade and his fluctuating weight have all held him back, but now it seems that he has matured enough to finally let his feet do the talking. Italy's current manager Cesare Prandelli has put his trust in the Bari native. Cassano has fought back to fitness in miraculous fashion following his health problems (he underwent heart surgery after a minor stroke earlier in the season) to get himself fit for the Euros, and his manager's faith is currently being repaid in droves. This tournament has allowed Cassano to showcase his talents on the big stage and now, for the first time, he has the chance to perform in the latter stages of an international tournament. After Lippi ignored the in form striker for years because of his attitude, Prandelli has now not only selected Cassano but made him the focal point of his new Italy and given him the opportunity to indelibly stamp his mark on these Championships. Despite some preposterous cries for him to dropped recently after some frankly, very silly comments at a press conference about homosexuals (he obviously still has some maturing to do), Cassano has taken his place in the starting line up in all three of Italy's group games wearing the blue number ten shirt. His performances have merited it. Perhaps he hasn't stood out as much as other flashy forward players like Mesut Ozil or Andres Iniesta, but he has been one of the top performers thus far in Euro 2012. If you've watched all of Italy's games you will know how indispensable he is to their play. If you haven't paid much attention to Italy yet then you probably weren't even that aware of his presence until he scored against the Republic of Ireland last night. Such is Cassano's lot. The BBC and ITV aren't likely to pick him out as a star name while they have the likes of Ronaldo and Rooney to focus on (and lets face it, Alan Shearer probably doesn't even know he exists, such is his knowledge of the world game).

Recent silly remarks to the press haven't affected Cassano's performances

Cassano's performance against the Republic of Ireland was particularly outstanding. For twenty minutes the Italians looked sluggish and startled by the Irish's high pressing game, but it was Cassano who tilted the contest in Italy's favour. He began to retain the ball in the final third for his team and offered a threat to the Irish defenders whenever he got the ball. His eye for a pass was evident as he released Antonio De Natale with a sumptuous through ball moments before he himself gave Italy their crucial lead with a header from a corner that he had won. He again played Di Natale in on goal after a flowing counter attack that he was the key man in during the second half only for Di Natale to be foiled by Shay Given. Despite obviously lacking match fitness and not yet being ready to play a full 90 minutes, Cassano has still been Italy's attacking lynch pin. His clever movement into space off the front man (be it Balotelli or Di Natale) marries up perfectly with his inventiveness. He makes the game look simple and in a lot of ways he is not your typical flamboyant Italian trequartista. He does not quite posses the dribbling skills of Baggio, the goal scoring touch and free kick mastery of Totti or Del Piero but, in Prandelli's side Cassano fits, as Morrissey and Marr once so melodically put it, hand in glove. A through ball here, a flick there, a clever trick to gain a yard of space...none of these things are ever done at break neck speed or with the flair of an Iniesta or the extravagance of a Ronaldo but they are still wonderful to behold due to their effectiveness. Without Cassano knitting their play together in the final third, Italy look slightly ragged and unrefined, but with him they look potent and dangerous.  


With a crucial goal now behind him in this tournament to add to three impressive performances, it finally feels like Antonio Cassano is catching fire at the right time for La Nazionale. Italy stand a decent chance of progressing beyond the quarter finals in this tournament and Cassano's form at this time is their main hope of doing so. Cassano is on the verge of becoming an icon on a world wide stage. Given his outrageous talent, it's about bloody time.

The Euro Awards Week 1

Here is a collection of highlights and lowlights from the opening round of matches at these European Championships. Enjoy.

Worst commentary so far: Clive Tyldesley at full time of the England vs France match on ITV. 'England threatened to win the game just muich as France'.....1 shot on target from just 5 during the entire game and just 35% possession would suggest otherwise Clive.

Best Defensive display: Denmark vs Holland. The full backs Jacobsen and Poulsen nullified the wing threats of Robben and Afellay constantly throughout the game, funnelling them into the crowded centre of the pitch time and again where they ran into the imperious pairing of Agger and Kjaer who managed an off colour Robin Van Persie Robben expertly throughout. The centre backs also built Denmark's forays forward from deep with calm distribution and they were only undone by a ludicrously good through ball from Sneijder which dissected them late in the second half.  No matter, the Danish keeper Andersen then came to their aid by smothering Klass-Jan Huntelaar to preserve their precious three points.

Most impressive team performance so far: Italy vs Spain. Tactically the Italians were within touching distance of perfection against the world champions who showed off their artistic 4-6-0 formation.  In deploying Daniele De Rossi in a retro sweeper role seldom seen these days they managed to deal with the Spaniards sublime interchanging of positions and accurate tiki-taka football. De Rossi's cover allowed Bonucci and Chiellini to press the Spanish midfielders without fear of exposure in behind and until Fernando Torres entered the fray the Italians' system worked a charm. Andrea Pirlo prompted from his deep lying midfield position as well as he ever has and Marchisio and Maggio's energy and drive to get forward gave Spain problems on the counter attack. Italy also left two men up front throughout the game starting with the enigmatic yet enthralling pairing of Balotelli and Cassano before they were replaced by the inventive Giovinco and the veteran poacher Di Natale. To keep Spain so quiet and remain a constant and very obvious threat yourself is not easy these days but Italy managed it as well as anyone else might over the next week or two.

Most infuriating team performance: Portugal vs Germany. The Portuguese squad is so filled with talented footballers that it was almost criminal to see their exclusively defensive approach in their group opener against the Germans. After finally falling behind in the 72nd minute of a turgid game and belatedly accepting that they needed to actually attack their opponents, Portugal they looked a real threat and should have equalised late on which made their ultra defensive approach at 0-0 all the more baffling. When a team boasts the likes of Nani, Meireles, Moutinho and Coentrao in its ranks alongside the best player in the tournament in Cristiano Ronaldo it really is hard to stomach such a lack of ambition and it was duly and rightfully punished by Mario Gomez' winner.

Best Goal: Cesc Fabregas Spain vs Italy. Outstanding team goal when the Spaniards needed it most. The run inside Giaccherini from Fabregas was timed to perfection and after Xavi and Iniesta moved the ball quickly in midfield to find Silva, the Manchester City man's through ball was delivered with such subtlety, disguise and optimum weight that Fabregas' finish was a mere formality.  It was a timely reminder of why Spain are the best team in the world. The move completely cut open an Italian defence that had hitherto looked impenetrable. Honourable mention to Roman Pavlyuchenko for his fine effort against the Czech Republic on the opening night.

Most predictable moment thus far: Two moments that are hard to split here. We all knew they were coming at some point in this tournament. First, Mark Van Bommel becoming frustrated as Holland trailed Denmark 1-0 and picking up a yellow card for a nasty looking foul. Second, we have the consistently entertaining Mario Balotelli who after robbing Sergio Ramos of the ball with great endeavour and creating a golden opportunity for himself against Spain managed to sleepily squander the chance by deciding to walk with the ball before he decided whether to shoot or pass. Alas, Ramos chased him down to make a tackle that should never have been possible.  Super Mario was substituted soon after.

Best Pundit: Clarence Seedorf (BBC). The Dutchman oozes class, calmness and talks with a knowledge of the game that shames domestic pundits such as Shearer and Southgate. Most competent exponent of the English language on the BBC's panel as well which gets him extra brownie points.