England began their attempt to qualify for Euro 2016 with a 2-0 win over fancied Switzerland to put themselves in pole position to top Group E. Danny Welbeck's second-half brace has renewed hope that the Three Lions can find some form under Roy Hodgson, writes Adam Bate.
Tuesday 9 September 2014 16:47, UK
The qualification format for Euro 2016 was supposed to take the pressure off. With the best third-place team reaching the tournament in France and half the others getting there via the playoffs, even Steve McClaren’s England could’ve found a way of surviving such a process.
But try telling Roy Hodgson he wasn’t under pressure going into Monday’s group opener in Basle. After delivering some choice words to the press last week when a five-game winless streak that encompassed the World Cup only ended with an underwhelming 1-0 win over Norway, the game against Switzerland had plenty riding on it. Credibility was at stake.
And the test was passed. Switzerland went into the match 11 places above England in the FIFA world rankings, and rightly so after only being edged out in extra time by Argentina in the summer, but England came up with a deserved 2-0 win thanks to Danny Welbeck’s second-half goals. Importantly for Hodgson, this time the manager was part of the solution rather than the problem.
England were well organised. Playing a formation that appeared to suit many of the team, there was both control and energy to their play as they showed composure on the ball and a real sense of purpose when the counter-attack became a viable option once Switzerland began to push out.
It was far from a flawless performance. There were moments of clumsiness from Phil Jones and carelessness from several others that might have proven costly but for a good performance by Joe Hart in the England goal. However, there could be some comfort taken in the fact that these weaknesses arose through individual rather than structural errors.
Much had improved from the World Cup and even the Norway encounter. The line-up had more balance. Leighton Baines, for instance, looked a happier figure with full debutant Fabian Delph offering defensive support and angled passes inside rather than the straight runs of the wingers he’s been loosely paired with in the past. This was a formation that could get the best from him.
As for Delph, he survived a hectic start in which he ran the risk of a red card to produce an encouraging display that suggested he is ideally suited to the tucked-in left side role in this diamond formation. Jordan Henderson saw less of the ball mirroring him on the right but the two men had the energy to perform a dual role inside and out that gave England far better shape.
Of course, the purpose of this formation change was principally to get Raheem Sterling playing as a No 10 and he showed just why that move makes perfect sense. Wayne Rooney may have mischievously suggested the youngster reminded him of winger Marc Overmars, but Sterling is clearly capable of more when not restricted to the flanks.
He didn’t always pick the right option in Switzerland but the prodigiously gifted 19-year-old didn’t have to – his performance offered more than enough to indicate he can have a transformative effect on England’s fortunes if he continues to get opportunities to play behind the front two.
Rooney himself impressed as well, giving a timely reminder of his qualities. Far more involved than against Norway, he created twice as many chances as any other player on the pitch - providing the run and pass to Sterling that allowed the Liverpool man to skilfully set up Welbeck’s opener.
Welbeck shinned that in before finishing with real class to seal the win in stoppage time. Always a willing runner, he showed plenty of evidence here to suggest he can be a force through the middle of the pitch. That’s now 10 in 28 at international level. His pace and movement was just too much for Switzerland and gives Hodgson a decision to make when Daniel Sturridge returns to fitness.
That’s the sort of problem that the England manager can now consider at his leisure. Such is the nature of the group now that England have safely negotiated by far the trickiest of the 10 fixtures on paper, it now seems certain Hodgson will be staying on until Euro 2016.
While it will take far more than an away win against Switzerland to repair the damage of the World Cup, this was a result to challenge the apathy and lance the boil of growing frustration that was beginning to build. After all, while Hodgson might not be the young and progressive coach that some demand, perhaps that need not mean a young and progressive team is out of the question.
