Ukraine v England: Roy Hodgson on safe ground as he wins tactical battle in …
As the match wore on, though, Walcott’s game became a little ragged along with
that of the team in general. He did fail at times to track back on his
full-back, Vyacheslav Shevchuk, who was keen to raid forward in support of
Konoplyanka. Walker did not need that. The right-back was not having the
best of games anyway. A two-v-one he could certainly do without.
It was encouraging, however, to see Hodgson make a move midway through the
second half when it was obvious that England needed a lift. That was a
criticism of the manager in Montenegro in March. He was slow to react when
the home side took charge.
So, on came Ashley Young to replace a below-par Jack Wilshere. In fairness to
Hodgson, it was a positive substitution in an attempt to bring some life to
a contest that had grown stale. An unsuccessful attempt as it turned out.
England could not find any kind of rhythm going forward and they were not
prepared to take chances in search of that shortfall.
So, the match, in the end, panned out as many expected. A tight, tense affair
was negotiated safely enough by a manager well qualified in grinding out
results. The performance can quickly be consigned to the trash can of
history. The point that performance earned, on the other hand, can be
celebrated.
Hodgson, in essence, had done his job. Handicapped by the absence of key
strikers, he did what he had to from a tactical standpoint.