England vs France: England’s young talent fall short

Hodgson will be aiming for the quartyer-finals at the Euros - and hope for the best

England manager Roy Hodgson (Getty Images)

Roy Hodgson did not pretend that England will be aiming for anything more next summer than they were when Europe’s best nations last congregated three years ago: getting to the quarter-finals and hoping for the best.

“Until we get through the group stage, the last 16, maybe then I will start worrying about it,” he observed. Hardly the words of a man who believes he can win the competition.

It was an evisceration at times on the Spanish east coast and though the England injury toll must form a substantial part of the consideration, the game told us that we must wait longer than next summer for a maturing of the great young talents at the nation’s disposal.

Hodgson was pessimisitic about Jamie Vardy recovering from fluid on the knee to face France on Tuesday. You wonder whether Michael Carrick, who may be out for weeks with suspected ligament damage, will surface in an international shirt again after his struggle to make any contribution to the counter-attacking game Hodgson planned in Alicante. Ross Barkley (left), who was to be a key part of it behind Harry Kane, only threatened intermittently.

The positives were a defence that looked more secure, with Chris Smalling and Phil Jones doing well. Raheem Sterling – England’s best player – and Ryan Bertrand linked well but Sterling conceded possession cheaply on a number of occasions.