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The immediate reaction inspired by Roy Hodgson’s selection for the friendly against Italy was to lower expectations and come to terms with the likelihood it was going to be an evening of the purest English stodge. Phil Jones was going to offer his unique take on a role perfected by Andrea Pirlo, Wayne Rooney was in midfield, Theo Walcott was up front and it was not obvious how England were planning to penetrate a side who were set up to squeeze the space in front of their defence and counterattack swiftly.
All of which meant there could be no surprise about a first half in which England’s flaws – the skittishness in possession, the predictable movement, the lack of imagination – were sorely evident. Italy deservedly led at half-time through Graziano Pellè’s header and England were fortunate it was only 1-0. You could hear the alarm bells ringing in Hodgson’s head. England were sleepwalking towards another kicking. “We were definitely told at half-time that we needed to change that,” Kieran Gibbs said. “We did.”
Related: Euro 2016 qualifiers and friendlies: 10 talking points from the latest action
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from Sport | The Guardian http://ift.tt/1F2PSrB
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