Too much tinkering

ENGLAND manager Roy Hodgson needlessly tinkered with his starting line-up last night and paid the price.

In the modern game, full-backs are a potent attacking weapon and changing both of his previously well-performing duo of Kyle Walker and Danny Rose stunted the attacking prowess for the goalless draw against Slovakia.

A second-placed finish in the group behind Wales means it looks like probably being Hungary or Iceland for Hodgson's boys in the next round, before a likely quarter-final meeting with France in the capital.

England traditionally struggle in the knock-out stages against decent opponents.

But even so, they should not be feeling inferior to anyone.

Spain are clearly the best side in the competition, but of the other leading contenders, the French have not found top gear either and Germany look vulnerable at both ends of the field.

A repeat of Slovakia's bus-parking in the knock-out stages is unlikely and if they play with concentration at the back, with freedom further upfield and without an inferiority complex then Hodgson (above) and his England side could, honestly, get beyond the hosts and into at least the semi-finals.

Meanwhile, a reporter on a tram in Lyon tweeted that there was a group of supporters on a tram heading to watch Albania take on Romania chanting "we all play in blue and tangerine".

From the 'Grand Stade' to good old Boundary Park, it seems every corner of the world contains at least one person eager to describe their undying love for old-fashioned kits, Andy Ritchie and puddings on muffins.

Last night's results -

Group 'B': England 0, Slovakia 0; Wales 3, Russia 0.

Tonight's fixtures -

Group 'C' (5pm): Northern Ireland v Germany, Ukraine v Poland. Group 'D' (8pm): Croatia v Spain, Czech Republic v Turkey.