Euro 2012 Betting: Early conclusions about England

18May 2012

EURO2012

Mike Norman was far from impressed with some of the names that made England's 23-man squad, and some who didn't. Here's where Roy Hodgson went wrong..

The decision to omit Rio Ferdinand is wrong

Purely a football decision was the line that came from Roy Hodgson's lips during his squad announcement press conference. But I think we're all being very naïve if we believe that to be the case.

Hodgson is a very intelligent man who knows players' abilities inside out; he's been a Premier League manager since 2006 and has had his players face the best defenders England have to offer during his time as Fulham, Liverpool and West Brom boss. So is he really saying then that he believes all three of Gary Cahill, Joleon Lescott, and Phil Jones are better central defenders than Ferdinand? Not forgetting Phil Jagielka, who has also been selected (as a stand-by) ahead of Rio...

The England boss also cited Ferdinand's recent international appearance record (because of injury) as a key factor in his decision. It's perhaps worth pointing out then that 'new' England captain Steven Gerrard has managed just 33 minutes of international football in the last 18 months and played far fewer club games than Ferdinand this season... because of injury!

The decision to include John Terry is wrong

I suspect many of us, including myself, strongly believe in innocent until proven guilty. But in any other employment people would be suspended pending a full investigation if they were alleged to have racially abused someone. Yet Terry - despite being stripped of the England captaincy ahead of July's court case - is allowed to carry on playing football as normal.

The decision by Hodgson to include Terry in the England squad will be viewed in many quarters as the reason Ferdinand wasn't included, and if that's the case then there's a strong possibility that there will be a split in the camp.

Too many out-of-form players are in the squad

Liverpool have just endured one of their worst league seasons in modern history yet four of their players make the England squad. Stewart Downing (no goals, no assists this season) and Andy Carroll - despite a few good performances in April/May - have come in for much criticism this term for their form and it's difficult too see them turning it around 'overnight' ahead of Euro 2012.

Add in the fact that James Milner, uncapped Alex Oxlade Chamberlain, and Jermain Defoe were not regular starters for their clubs this season and it's easy to count seven or eight players in the 23-man squad who are out of form.

Taking just four strikers is a mistake

Wayne Rooney is suspended for the first two group games meaning Hodgson has just three recognised strikers in his squad for at least 33% of the tournament. Defoe was an infrequent starter for Tottenham this season whilst Carroll and Danny Welbeck are vastly inexperienced at international level, earning just seven caps and scoring just one goal between them. In-form Peter Crouch - 42 caps, 22 goals - would have been an ideal striker to include in the squad.

England are simply not good enough

The tried and tested midfield duo of Gerrard and Frank Lampard rarely works, our best striker is suspended for two games, we have insufficient cover in attack, the squad is littered with out-of-form players, and there's a possibility of player splits within the camp. But the most obvious reason why England won't win Euro 2012 is because they are simply not good enough.

Time and time again England enter big tournaments as one of the leading fancies to win it, and every time they fail. There is no bad luck attached, it's simply down to the fact that England are a poor side who are often overrated. The truth is we can't retain a football for long spells and our passing is dreadful in comparison to the likes of Germany, Spain, Portugal. The price on them going all the way isn't as ludicrously short as it has been before other recent major tournaments. Even so: do they deserve to be fifth favourites?