Roy Hodgson began his reign with a win but this was only a qualified success two weeks before the start of Euro 2012
Not even the prospect of Roy Hodgson's debut was enough to draw a capacity crowd in the Norwegian capital Oslo , although a day of flawless weather drawn from high summer and the prospect of daylight lasting almost until midnight in this northern latitude may have kept some less committed local fans basking on the sundrenched banks of the Oslofjord.
For England, however, this was nothing less than the start of yet another new era, their third attempt at self-renewal since the reign of Sven-Goran Eriksson, which lasted six years and three major tournaments, came to an end in 2006. As we have been reminded so often in recent days, the only England manager to lose on his debut was Alf Ramsey: auspicious beginnings are not necessarily the augury of good times around the corner.
Forced by injuries and holidays to make significant compromises in his selection, Hodgson made the decision to start the match with Steven Gerrard, his new captain, alongside Scott Parker, who had worn the armband in Stuart Pearce's sole match as the caretaker manager, in the middle of a line of four midfield players, with Stewart Downing and James Milner on the flanks. This reversion to a straightforward 4-4-2 – something of a nostalgic sight – was presumably chosen in order to allow Ashley Young to play as a straightforward second striker, keeping close to Andy Carroll.
When England face France in their first group match of the Euro 2012 finals next month, however, or perhaps even against Belgium in their second warm-up match on Saturday, it would be no surprise to see them take the field with a 4-2-3-1 formation, the two shielding players most likely to be chosen from the trio of Parker, Gareth Barry – who started on the bench – and Frank Lampard, whose abilities in a defensive role were on display in the recent Champions League final. At that point Gerrard, who seldom performs well for England in a predominantly defensive role, may be pushed up behind Carroll, with Young moving to a wider position.
With a deftly volleyed reverse-angle pass reminiscent of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Carroll made the opportunity for Young to score the opening goal with a composed shot across Rune Jarstein. But for all their wonderful start, and other promising signs of interplay between a pair of strikers who stayed close to each other and seemed to be on the same wavelength, England were certainly missing something in midfield. It was there that they conceded the bulk of possession to the home side and relied on quick counterattacks with long balls driven at the front two.
Five minutes before the interval Gerrard challenged Tom Hogli for a 50:50 ball with a tackle that could charitably be described as unduly robust, and which might have seen him dismissed on a night with something at stake. It removed the Club Brugge right-back from the match and thereafter the new England captain's every touch was enthusiastically booed, with an extra cheer when he gave the ball away to Morten Gamst Pedersen in his own half a couple of minutes after committing the offence. Being Gerrard, he got himself into position to head away the resulting corner, but it was his final contribution to the match as he gave way to Barry for the second half. The Manchester City man also inherited the armband, with no change in a formation that had given some cause for concern, not least because the latitude given to Pedersen, Markus Henriksen and Tarik Elyounoussi in the Norwegian midfield had induced lapses of concentration in England's defence.
Nor did the arrival of Theo Walcott in place of Parker 10 minutes into the second period lead to a modification in the team's shape. The Arsenal winger took up his usual station, while Milner – who had wasted a good opening late in the first half, when he cut inside and shot tamely rather feeding an expectant Carroll – moved inside to partner his City team-mate Barry.
If Hodgson had been hoping to cure the creeping stodginess through the injection of a bit of zest, it did not have an immediate effect. England were left exposed when John Arne Riise nutmegged Walcott outside the England penalty area and blasted a typically ferocious left-footed shot that Robert Green was forced to parry at some risk to his own safety.
England's shape was making them look distinctly old-fashioned, and at times the presence of Ray Clemence among the coaching staff was not the only reminder of that famous 2-1 defeat on this ground 30 years ago. England also took an early lead on that occasion, through Bryan Robson, and their successors were forced to repel waves of Norwegian attacks launched with increasing intensity.
The promise of Carroll and Young apart, the evening's principal gain for England may have come with the performance of Robert Green, destroyed two years ago by the calamitous error that handed a goal to Clint Dempsey in Rustenburg two years ago. Green made one excellent save in the first half and had an increasing amount of work to do as the evening went on, and came close to embarrassment only when Pederson's inswinging corner smacked against an unattended goalpost.
At least the evening will have restored his confidence, while Hodgson and his lieutenants could fly home in a mood of moderate satisfaction, given the restrictions on their choice of personnel. Read More
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