I would have to pick the best players at the time and against France Dele Alli and Eric Dier were really good.
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The Tottenham midfielder won a crunching tackle in the build up to his maiden goal and did the same again for the second, dispossessing Juventus star Paul Pogba to start the move that led to Wayne Rooney’s close-range volley.
Braillard says French football league president Frederic Thiriez is “totally” in agreement with the decision.
“From a personal point of view, and from Manchester United’s point of view, I hope he is okay”, Rooney said after England’s win.
“I will try to ring him”.
Players like Jack Wilshere, Jordan Henderson, Danny Welbeck, Leighton Baines and Daniel Sturridge were regulars in Hodgson’s team at the beginning of the year, but in their absence the likes of Dele Alli, Eric Dier, Jamie Vardy and Ross Barkley have acquitted themselves well at global level. “I guess with any luck we will get that afternoon but it will have to be discussed with the clubs to make sure they think it is an afternoon that is right for them because I and (assistant) Ray Lewington are full timers and can go any time it suits them”.
The £83 million Spurs received from Gareth Bale’s sale in 2013 was largely wasted on foreign flops, so the club changed tack and Pochettino has put his faith in young English players.
Just six and a half months on from helping home-town club MK Dons out of League One, the 19-year-old has established himself at Tottenham and on Tuesday shone for Roy Hodgson’s men at Wembley. “Despite the circumstances we had to represent our country the best we could”.
“We feel very grateful because not just the people at Wembley, but the whole nation has supported us”.
As the rain lashed Wembley, it was clear in the build-up to kick-off that this was going to be a night of emotion, poignancy and defiance that would at times, inevitably, also be sombre.
France and England players mixed together for pre-match photos and then stood around the centre circle as a minute’s silence was observed in memory of those killed in Friday’s terrorist attacks in Paris.
“I think the occasion was handled quite brilliantly”, Hodgson added.
“We have had this outpouring of communal grief and it has been good for us”.
“Inevitably, like everyone. I am French and when something happens to the French people, it happens to me”. England do not play until March and for that reason he wants to spend an afternoon with his players to keep the team spirit generated because of this good run intact.
“This evening, it was the message we were sending out that was important”, Lloris said.
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“We are very disappointed that we didn’t play well”, he said.
