IMO from the group stages.
Although England won by a narrow margin on Saturday when beating Belgium they were poor without the ball, and against a better, sharper side would surely have conceded goals.
With Gary Cahill now out of the tournament with a double jaw fracture and with Hodgson refusing to pick Rio Ferdinand, preferring Liverpoolâs Martin Kelly, England now lack depth at CB especially as John Terry has a dodgy hamstring!
The other three sides in Group D are no 'mugs':
France have already won at Wembley and in Germany, and beaten Brazil under new manager Laurent Blanc as they rebuilt after the undisciplined shambles of the 2010 World Cup, and in star striker Benzema, winger Ribery, and Midfielders Nasri, Cabaye, Ben Arfa and MâVila they have really good players.
Ukraine will have home support, have won 5 of their last 6 games with the other was a 3-3 draw at home to Germany, and in the Dynamo Kiev wingers Yarmolenko and Gusev they have a real threat on the counter attack.
Sweden will have the minimum of travel in the group stages, they beat Holland at home in qualifying even if the Dutch were already secure as the group winners, and in Zlatan Ibrahimovic they have a star striker, with Sebb Larsson and Kim Kallstrom they have two brilliant dead ball specialists, and although not the best defensively they look a potent side going forward.
IN SUM - England are underprepared, will have to travel over 4,200 miles to play their group games, the decision not to pick Rio Ferdinand now looks likely to backfire and Rooney misses the first two games. So overall with France improving fast, Sweden good going forward and Ukraine playing at home England look very likely to be knocked out in the group stages.
Views?
Although England won by a narrow margin on Saturday when beating Belgium they were poor without the ball, and against a better, sharper side would surely have conceded goals.
With Gary Cahill now out of the tournament with a double jaw fracture and with Hodgson refusing to pick Rio Ferdinand, preferring Liverpoolâs Martin Kelly, England now lack depth at CB especially as John Terry has a dodgy hamstring!
The other three sides in Group D are no 'mugs':
France have already won at Wembley and in Germany, and beaten Brazil under new manager Laurent Blanc as they rebuilt after the undisciplined shambles of the 2010 World Cup, and in star striker Benzema, winger Ribery, and Midfielders Nasri, Cabaye, Ben Arfa and MâVila they have really good players.
Ukraine will have home support, have won 5 of their last 6 games with the other was a 3-3 draw at home to Germany, and in the Dynamo Kiev wingers Yarmolenko and Gusev they have a real threat on the counter attack.
Sweden will have the minimum of travel in the group stages, they beat Holland at home in qualifying even if the Dutch were already secure as the group winners, and in Zlatan Ibrahimovic they have a star striker, with Sebb Larsson and Kim Kallstrom they have two brilliant dead ball specialists, and although not the best defensively they look a potent side going forward.
IN SUM - England are underprepared, will have to travel over 4,200 miles to play their group games, the decision not to pick Rio Ferdinand now looks likely to backfire and Rooney misses the first two games. So overall with France improving fast, Sweden good going forward and Ukraine playing at home England look very likely to be knocked out in the group stages.
Views?
With Downing and Henderson being named in the team of the tournament 