Of his striking options Hodgson said: “All of them have shown a lot of qualities in the games but none of them, as yet, have really shown they are able to score the goals we need”.
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Both Wales and Northern Ireland have done that at Euro 2016.
“I don’t think France will play the same way as Russia, Wales and Slovakia”.
“I’m immensely proud on nights like tonight, when you see that support”, said Coleman, “and the feeling of pride as a nation”.
“Even after this tournament is over, this group are on the way to something else”. I might have had some regrets if Jordan Henderson and Nathaniel Clyne were not candidates for man-of-the-match and I certainly would have had a few regrets if I had given Kyle Walker and Danny Rose another game on the bounce and they had been injured. We have no fear.
Before a ball had been kicked, England would have fancied their chances against Hungary, Iceland or Portugal – the three teams they could face in the next round.
Greg Dyke, the FA’s chairman, has already made it clear that England may have to reach the semi-finals if Hodgson is to continue in the job through to the 2018 World Cup. But the goals haven’t come.
Not since beating Trinidad and Tobago 2-0 at the 2006 World Cup have England won a match by more than one goal at a major tournament. Come the 11th-minute mark they led as Joe Allen’s ideal ball sent Aaron Ramsey clear to calmly chip over the challenging Akinfeev and in.
Chester, 27, owes his Welsh qualification to his Rhyl-born mother and only made his global debut two years ago, before the start of the Euro 2016 qualifiers.
The rot started on the field in the 11th minute. The Arsenal midfielder beat the offside trap and lifted the ball over Igor Akinfeev.
Slutsky only took over last August after Italian Fabio Capello was sacked with the country’s Euro qualification at risk. Taylor doubled the advantage nine minutes later after slotting in a rebound, his first global goal.
Though they sat back for the second half against England, it took an Ashley Williams mistake and an injury-time victor to defeat them.
England manager Roy Hodgson says he has no regrets over his team selection against Slovakia despite captain Wayne Rooney’s surprise at being dropped.
England fans suffered another night of frustration after seeing their side dominate but held to a 1-1 draw by Slovakia in Marseille.
England first went close in the ninth minute after a scramble in the box when Sturridge could not make the most of Vardy’s clever flicked header and saw his shot blocked by right back Peter Pekarik. And Adam Lallana was denied by Kozacik’s reflex save with half an hour gone.
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There was a big cheer from travelling England supporters – the loudest of the night – when Wayne Rooney came on for Jack Wilshere with 56 minutes gone. He was a constant menace but the pressure came to nothing. “We scored three in one game against Sweden [in Euro 2012] and I do believe that, if the players keep this intensity and positivity, then someone will be on the end of a heavy defeat”.
