England’s reactive, defensive display v France secured Hodgson’s men a point, however it wasn’t the only time possession-based, proactive football failed to be fruitful so far; the top three teams for pass accuracy, France 91.7%, Netherlands 89.7% and Spain 88.3% all failed to win their opening game. The technique of English footballers might be distinctly below average, but the examples of reactive, ultra defensive sides stifling better teams is plentiful.
This is good news for Hodgson’s England. Afterall with a disipline and sizeable luck this can happen:
433 Balfour Road 