Germany vs England: Five things we learnt, including why Harry Kane and Jamie Vardy must start at Euro 2016
Butland needs to learn to put team before his pride, Cahill looks past it compared to Stones and why England genuinely have a chance of success
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Your support makes all the difference.Players must put the team before their pride
You can understand why Jack Butland, making a rare start in the England shirt due to Joe Hart’s absence, did not want to put the ball out and accept that his game was over when he pulled up with injury in the first half. However, if England are to make any impression at the Euros this year, they need everyone working together as a team, even if that does mean personal sacrifice.
Seconds after it became clear that Butland was hurt, Toni Kroos fired off a long-range effort that the Stoke goalkeeper – under normal circumstances – would easily save. But he was clearly uncomfortable and did not react as quickly as has become expected, allowing the ball to sneak into the back of the net at his near post. On another night, it’s the type of decision that could cost England much, much more.
Alli proves he can make the grade at international level
Answering every question thrown at him seems to be Dele Alli’s only way of proving he belongs at the highest level of the game. The Tottenham midfielder was the most prominent going forwards of the three midfield players Hogdson selected, with Eric Dier and Jordan Henderson playing much deeper to try and shield the back four.
It allowed Alli to impose himself on the German defence and link up well with Kane, as the pair have done so all season for Spurs, and suggests that he will be one of the first names on the team-sheet come the Euros.
Vardy gives Hodgson much to ponder with return of the 4-4-2
The decision over whether to start Harry Kane or Jamie Vardy may no longer be a straight-forward decision given the form of both players, but Hodgson will also have to ponder whether to revert back to a 4-4-2 formation that failed to fire at the World Cup.
Kane demonstrated his brilliant technical ability, performing a beautiful Cruyff turn inside the German area before firing the ball past Neuer in the only spot the goalkeeper couldn’t reach. However, he was immediately trumped by Vardy’s delightful back-heel that left Neuer stranded, and Hodgson needs to take time to think about playing both strikers from the start.
Cahill adds experience, but the quality appears to have disappeared
In Wayne Rooney’s absence, Gary Cahill led the team having been preferred by Hodgson to John Stones, despite the centre-back disappointing for Chelsea this season. Cahill didn’t enjoy the best of games, as he missed an early chance on goal when he sent a free header wide, and later lost Mario Gomez for Germany’s second – the striker leaping well above Cahill as he struggled to make up the ground he afforded his opposite man.
With Chris Smalling almost certain to take one of the two centre-back berths and Stones pressing his claims for regular inclusion, Hodgson needs to ask whether Cahill is up to the task of marking the best players in European football. Gomez is hardly that – his headed goal is his first international strike in nearly four years.
England genuinely have a chance with Kane and Vardy in form
If England can find a way to defend, they’ll have a chance against Russia, Wales, Slovakia and anyone else they face in the summer, such is the form of their two most important strikers.
The talk before the match was whether Hodgson should drop captain Wayne Rooney when he returns to fitness in favour of starting Harry Kane or Jamie Vardy – or even both. Now, after such pivotal impressions on the win in Berlin, even Hodgson must now believe the Spurs and Leicester double-act will give his side a chance against the very best.
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