Abu Dhabi: Roy Hodgson must reach the European Championship semi-finals to keep his job as England manager, although his four-year tenure has been a success.
That's the view of Kevin Keegan, the England manager between 1999 and 2000, who also defended Hodgson over criticism of his decision to rest players in France and the fact that he ostensibly does not know his best team.
Hodgson has an impressive 60 per cent win record as England supremo from his 55 games in charge after the Euro 2016 group stage – but his major tournament track record is underwhelming.
England had registered only three victories in as many international competitions prior to their last-16 encounter with Iceland on Monday and failed to progress beyond the 2014 World Cup group stage.
The English Football Association chairman, Greg Dyke, suggested last week that Hodgson would only receive a new contract if he reached the quarter-finals in France – but Keegan told Gulf News that even that might not be enough for the 68-year-old to stay in his post.
“Is it enough to get to the last 16? Probably not. Last eight? Probably not. If he gets to the semis, yes,” Keegan, who resigned as England manager in October 2000 following a 1-0 home defeat to Germany after only 18 games in charge, said in a telephone interview.
“Do I think his tenure has been successful? Yes, I do. He's been a very good England manager. He's very mature.
“If you want to judge a manager on game ratio wins, it's right up there. In the major tournaments, he had excuses in those because he was pretty new to the job [in Euro 2012] and the World Cup is always tough.
“This [tournament] is the one he will be judged on.”
Hodgson came under fire in the English media for making six changes for England's final Group B game against Slovakia, which ended 0-0 to leave the Three Lions runners-up to Wales.
England now face the daunting prospect of playing the hosts France in the quarter-finals if they beat Iceland, but Keegan says criticism of Hodgson was excessive.
“I can see why he did it [made the changes],” the former England captain said. “He's still searching; he doesn't know what his best team is.”
Is that acceptable at such a crucial juncture?
“I think it's understandable," the Qatar-based beIN Sports television pundit replied. "Without wanting to protect Roy or any manager, I would say I understand because I've been in that position. Sometimes what you're thinking will work, won't.
“I think England had that with [Frank] Lampard and [Steven] Gerrard, for example. Everyone thought they were the two best midfield players in England, who were English, but they didn't really play that well together.
“We may not have seen the best England player in this tournament. He might still be sat on the bench.
“It might be James Milner. He could come in and set the team on fire, get a couple of goals and take a few corners that find heads and away you go.”
