Chantilly: Roy Hodgson is planning to restore Harry Kane to England’s starting line-up as he desperately searches for the goals to ignite their Euro 2016 campaign.
England progressed to the last 16 as runners-up of Group B after failing to finish off Russia and Slovakia, despite dominating both games. The only win came against Wales. Hodgson’s team scored just three goals in the three games, the same amount Gareth Bale netted on his own for group winners Wales, and are yet to score during the opening 45 minutes.
Much of Hodgson’s focus at the Chantilly training base ahead of next Monday’s last-16 match in Nice will be on finishing. Creating chances has not been a problem, as England have had 65 efforts on goal in the group stage, compared to France’s 48, but only 15 have been on target. Despite the fact he is yet to score and was dropped to the substitutes’ bench for the Slovakia game, Kane is still viewed by Hodgson as the best goal threat.
The manager hopes that by resting the 22-year-old, even though he had to bring him on against Slovakia, he will have Kane ready to make his mark on the tournament next week. One of Hodgson’s biggest decisions will be how to best accommodate Kane. Daniel Sturridge and Jamie Vardy were both on target in the victory over Wales, but Sturridge was ineffectual when he started against Slovakia.
Vardy played well in England’s final group game, but did not score after being put through on goal in the first half and did not make such a big impact in the second half when Slovakia dropped deep.
Asked what his best strike force was, Hodgson said: “That could be a headache we have to do deal with, all of them have shown a lot of qualities in the games but none, as yet, have really shown they are able to score the goals we need.
“We have a clear idea of the players we think we would like to play and we will have to wait and see in Nice. If I had bedded down a partnership and one of them had got injured, you would have been saying I should have tried others. All of these questions really are questions which are hypothetical and based on events in hindsight.
“I thought Raheem Sterling, Adam Lallana and Harry Kane did well against Russia. But in the second game, when we weren’t scoring goals, we gave Vardy and Sturridge a chance, and they scored two goals and won us the game. Against Slovakia, they started the game and now people might ask, why did you start with those, why didn’t Kane and Sterling start? That’s life.
“Before I came here, I thought Vardy and Kane were the goalscorers. Everyone was telling me Vardy and Kane had to play because one scored 24 goals and the other 25. I think all of them can score. It is difficult for me to defend them because we haven’t scored, but I believe all of them can score goals.
“The pecking order will come the next time we play. Whoever starts, whoever comes on as sub and scores the goals. Jamie Vardy and Daniel Sturridge scored and kept their place in the team, who knows next time? I believe they can all score.”
Lallana has started all three of England’s games in a forward position, but, despite performing well, is still yet to score a goal in his 26 international appearances. Hodgson has kept faith in Lallana in his front three, while moving record goalscorer Wayne Rooney into midfield.
Rooney, the captain, started the Slovakia game on the bench, but will step straight back into the starting line-up for England’s last-16 encounter. “Wayne can play anywhere,” said Hodgson. “We will have to decide what our best system is. But, when I announce the team to play in Nice, there will be at least three or four players left out who many here thought should have been in the team. We are fully aware of that.
Whoever Hodgson plays, Jordan Henderson admitted England must improve in the final third if they were to progress further. “For the complete performance, we definitely need to improve in front of goal,” said Henderson.
— The Telegraph Group Limited, London 2016
