da aposte e ganhe： Well there you have it. England (without the bells and whistles attached) beat Ukraine to finish top of Group D and set up a date with those ruggedly handsome Italians on Saturday. Who could have imagined this two-years ago as a despondent group of individuals trudged off the Free State Stadium pitch in South Africa after being given the humping of a lifetime by arch rival Germany? Fairytale stuff.
da dobrowin： Of course the Three Lions have won nothing yet but the way they’ve gone from strength-to-strength in the eight weeks since Roy Hodgson’s appointment has given supporters reason to be optimistic. Playing the co-hosts in their own backyard was never going to be easy and it’s fair to say that it wasn’t a vintage England performance. But once again they just got the job done. No thrills.
Hodgson’s decision to stick Wayne Rooney straight into the starting lineup was rewarded as he scored the deciding goal in the second half but once again his defensive organisation shone through. England are structured at the back for the first time in years and repelled everything Ukraine threw at them. Scott Parker and Steven Gerrard were immense in the engine room for a third successive game while John Terry and Joleon Lescott were unruffled when under the cosh. Then theres Joe Hart. He saves EVERYTHING.
What more can we say? It was another disciplined display that should stand England in good stead later in the tournament. The feel good factor is back. Confidence is visibly soaring. Can they go all the way?