STEPPING INTO THE BREACH

Roy Hodgson took the Three Lions into Euro 2012 with expectations low despite Fabio Capello having progressed through qualification unbeaten. The Italian’s shock departure had led to months of instability after his resignation over the Football Association’s decision to remove the England captaincy from John Terry. The Chelsea captain had become a controversial figure and was about to stand trial over allegations that he had racially abused Anton Ferdinand, brother of former England centre-back Rio. Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp was initially expected to be his replacement.

However, Hodgson, who was coming to the end of a successful season as head coach at English Premier League side West Brom, was appointed England boss little more than a month before their first game of Euro 2012. He worked to stabilise the situation by introducing an organised 4-4-2 structure, despite losing Terry’s Champions League-winning centre-back partner Gary Cahill to injury in his final pre-tournament friendly against Denmark.

MEETING EXPECTIONS IN DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES

Hodgson went into the opening two matches without suspended striker Wayne Rooney. And while Joleon Lescott proved a solid replacement for Cahill on the pitch, the manager’s diplomatic skills were tested after his decision to select the inexperienced Martin Kelly as Cahill’s replacement in the tournament squad prompted complaints by a representative of former national team captain Rio Ferdinand. This prompted speculation that his choice was motivated by a desire to avoid selecting him due to events following the allegations of racial abuse by Terry towards his brother Anton, but Hodgson explained that he did not want to use a player of such vast experience as cover. He also explained that talented Manchester United playmaker Michael Carrick’s absence was because he did not want to be ‘on the subs bench’, but after the tournament he brought the midfielder back into the national team following his two-year absence under Capello.

In the opening two matches, Hodgson guided the Three Lions to a tense 1-1 draw against France before coming from behind to beat Sweden 3-2. A 1-0 win over hosts Ukraine put them through Group D as winners, as Rooney returned to score his first goal in a major international tournament since his teenage appearance at Euro 2004. At the quarter-final stage they were defeated on penalties following a 0-0 draw against Italy, who went on to reach the final.

Although the Three Lions qualified unbeaten for World Cup 2014, expectations will not be high in Brazil as they face a difficult group stage against Italy and Uruguay, but their opponents will be just as unhappy to be drawn against their fellow former tournament winners.

FORMER PLAYER NEVILLE ADDS TO WORLDLY HODGSON’S KNOWHOW

The 66-year-old England manager has considerable experience to draw on. Despite his six-month stay at English giants Liverpool ending in disappointment and departure, at club level he has led both Inter Milan and Fulham to UEFA Cup finals. And at international level Switzerland reached third place in the FIFA World rankings as Hodgson took the national team to the 1994 World Cup in the USA, following his appointment after successful spells in Sweden and at Swiss club Neuchatel Xamax. England were absent in the USA after failing to qualify. Twenty years later, Hodgson will return to the Americas as manager of his own nation.

Assistant manager Ray Lewington worked under Hodgson at Fulham, and he will be joined by goalkeeping coach David Watson as well as former national team stalwart Gary Neville. The former Manchester United right-back won 85 caps and represented England at two World Cups and three European Championships, and now combines his role with regular media appearances as a pundit. He brings valuable playing experience to the role, having noted in his autobiography that “too many players spend too much time fearing the consequence of failure when they pull on an England shirt”.