AFTER a perfect 10 in qualifying for Euro 2016, things are about to become more complicated for Roy Hodgson and England. Spain provide the opposition tomorrow and then France on Tuesday. Paul Joyce looks at five areas Hodgson must explore over the two games.
Can Barkley cut it?
The irony of Roy Hodgson's terse assessment of Jamie Vardy's prospects of playing as a central striker was that he initially thought the question was about Ross Barkley. "I don't understand where the Ross Barkley thing comes from," said Hodgson.
"Oh Vardy, I am sorry. I thought you meant Ross Barkley. I am a big admirer of Barkley and if anyone deserves any credit for putting faith in Ross Barkley it is Martinez and myself."
Still, it seemed clear the England coach was agitated over the suggestion Barkley should also be starting the looming games with Spain and France.
The Everton midfielder's performances were the overwhelming positive to emerge from last month's wins over Estonia and Lithuania and it would be depressing if he disappeared from the picture now. It is time to see what he can do against A-list opposition when England will be far less territorially dominant.
Are Smalling and Stones the future?
Hodgson has said he will bed down his centre-back pairing in next March's friendly matches with Holland and Germany, so all the more reason to try out Chris Smalling and John Stones in the interim. Gary Cahill's form at club level does not warrant his inclusion for Chelsea right now, while Phil Jones has not been starting for Manchester United.
Games against Spain and France would be invaluable for the duo and, in the case of Smalling, put Wayne Rooney's theory to the test that his team-mate has developed into one of top three defenders in the world.
England have used five different centre-back permutations in eight matches in 2015, but so far the axis of Smalling-Stones has not been one of them. It is time for that to change.
Will Rooney and Kane hit it off?
The perception is that Rooney and Harry Kane are England's first choice strike-force and yet in reality they have played just 32 minutes of competitive football together.
They started the friendly stalemate with Italy back in March, when neither particularly fired, but otherwise the final segment of September's win over Switzerland was the only time they have shared a pitch. They both scored that night, Kane breaking the deadlock and Rooney England's goalscoring record, but more evidence is required that they are, in fact, a convincing partnership.
This international get-together feels more important for Rooney than Kane. He has beaten up Europe's minnows in qualifying, but a performance against the elite would be timely to re-emphasise his class.
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| Wayne Rooney and Harry Kane are the likely first-choice strike partnership |
Play Vardy in his proper position
With that in mind, Hodgson must look at Vardy in the central striking role for which he has thrived with Leicester, scoring in nine consecutive Premier League games.
The England coach's mood last week indicated he is not minded to do that from the outset of a game, but there will be an opportunity against either Spain or France for Vardy to play through the middle rather than on the flank. Vardy possesses the blistering pace to worry defences and while he can play wide, he deserves an opportunity to show whether he is good enough to be the spearhead at this level.
A brief run-out will not settle the argument, but he has earned the right to play in his favoured role.
A change of shape
England's qualifying campaign for Euro 2016 started on the front foot with a bold switch to a 4-4-2 diamond formation, but ended with 4-3-3 in vogue.
This was partly to do with personnel with the likes of Jack Wilshere, Jordan Henderson and Fabian Delph and Danny Welbeck, who all started in Basel in September 2014, out injured. But one way of Hodgson using Rooney and Kane in their best positions would be to revert to type. Barkley or Raheem Sterling could then play at the tip of the diamond with Michael Carrick at the base and Delph and Dele Alli, or Adam Lallana, on the sides.
An alternative would be 4-2-3-1 with Rooney behind Kane, but in 4-3-3 it is likely Rooney would have to play wide if Kane is central.
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| England boss Roy Hodgson at the squad announcement press conference |
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