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England sustain World Cup ambition with goalless draw in Ukraine England sustain World Cup ambition with goalless draw in Ukraine
(about 3 hours later)
A draw, Roy Hodgson will inevitably say, represents a satisfying night and, in one way at least, he would be justified. England remain top of Group H, a point ahead of Ukraine and Montenegro, and the simple mathematics now is that if they win their final two games they guarantee a place at the World Cup next summer without the ordeal of having to go through the playoffs. A draw, Roy Hodgson happily declared, represents a satisfying night and, in one way at least, he was probably right. England remain top of Group H, a point ahead of Ukraine and Montenegro, and the simple mathematics is that if they win their final two games they guarantee their place at the World Cup without having to go through the ordeal of the playoffs.
The problem for England is that this result means they still have not beaten any of their opponents bar Moldova and San Marino, two of football's most notorious punchbags, so it is giving Hodgson's team the benefit of the doubt, to say the least, to expect that victory over Montenegro and Poland at Wembley next month is a formality. The problem for England is that this result means they have not beaten any of their opponents bar Moldova and San Marino, two of football's more notorious punchbags. It is giving his team the benefit of the doubt, to say the least, to expect victory over Montenegro and Poland at Wembley next month to be a formality.
England may have managed to nullify Ukraine but the lack of imagination or creativity on show should temper any premature sense of celebration. Hodgson's men played with all the resilience and structure that is always associated with his team. What they failed to do was create a single clear-cut opportunity and in the process they were just grateful for two things. First, that Ukraine did not take theirs and, secondly, that the occasion did not turn into another personal ordeal for Joe Hart. Another night, another referee, it could easily have gone that way. England may have managed to nullify Ukraine but the lack of imagination or creativity on show should temper any premature sense of celebration and, no matter how much Hodgson tried to dress it up, it is still startling to see how unrefined they are when it comes to attacking football in competitive fixtures. Their one decent chance came in stoppage time at the end of the match when Frank Lampard, on his 100th cap, could not get his header on target. That apart, this was a night that showed both England's strengths and limitations. A win here would have pretty much assured them of a place in Brazil. It is just a pity they did not do more to show they understood that.
The evening could certainly have taken a different complexion if Pedro Proença had not been so lenient when Joe Hart left his goal-line, in a straight race for the ball with Roman Zozulya, and brought him down before there was even a minute on the clock. Hart could be seen bellowing at his opponent to get off the floor, desperately trying to create the impression it was a dive. Hodgson's men played with all the usual resilience and structure that is associated with his teams. What they failed to do, as Gary Lineker scathingly pointed out, was attack with any cohesion or conviction and, in the end, they were just grateful for two things. First, that Ukraine did not take at least three very presentable opportunities and, secondly, that the occasion did not turn into another personal ordeal for Joe Hart.
He had actually clattered into Zozulya. It could easily have been a penalty, with half the England side yet to touch the ball. What a difference it could have made to the night and what an important moment it might be, ultimately, when it comes to deciding which team qualifies automatically as the Group H winners. Ukraine were certainly entitled to their grievances after Hart had left his goal-line and brought down Roman Zozulya before there was even a minute on the clock. Hart could be seen bellowing at his opponent to get off the floor, desperately trying to create the impression it was a dive. He had actually clattered into Zozulya and was mightily fortunate the referee, Pedro Proença, let him off. What a difference it could have made and what an important moment it might be, ultimately, when it comes to deciding which team qualifies.
England were subjected to some intense pressure during that opening period and there were times when they were just glad their opponents were not more accurate in front of goal. Zozulya missed with a free header, as did Artem Fedetskiy from an even more inviting position. The crowd were impassioned, brandishing thousands of yellow and blue coloured cards, and the volume went up every time Mykhailo Fomenko's team pressed forward. England were subjected to some intense pressure at times, in front of an impassioned crowd, and they had to play with nerve and togetherness to get through the more difficult moments. The truth, however, is that neither side looked particularly accomplished. England needed more wit and ingenuity in attack and Hodgson must dearly hope his team are not so badly affected by injuries and suspensions for next month's games. His front three of James Milner, Rickie Lambert and Theo Walcott gave everything but they just did not have enough penetrative quality. Hodgson described it as a "very high-quality game" but he was being generous in the extreme. The passing from midfield was too slow, too methodical — maybe not as "woeful" as Lineker stated, but not far off some of the time.
Hodgson had identified Ukraine's habit of starting matches with great vigour and energy, attacking in numbers and pressing the ball high up the pitch. This was precisely how it went and England had to play with great togetherness to get through this period. Hodgson likes to call this system 4-3-3 but for long spells it morphed into 4-5-1, with James Milner and Theo Walcott tucking in from the wide positions to congest the midfield. More than anything, this was a risk-free England performance and it will only be in mid-October, after the final round of matches, that we know whether that conservatism was a mistake. What we can say, though, is that it represents a dangerous tactic. Ukraine now host Poland before another inevitable goalfest against San Marino, a team they have just beaten 9-0.
The secret with this formation is not to leave the lone striker too isolated when there are actually chances to break and, to give them their due, England did this pretty well in the first half. Rickie Lambert was misspelt as "Riclie" on the official team-sheet and the only player on either side whose name was not accompanied by a picture when the teams were announced on the large screen. Yet the Southampton striker started the match well. Walcott eluded his marker for one early chance and Steven Gerrard, playing as the deepest-lying midfielder, let fly with another effort from 25 yards. Hodgson said he was "more than happy" but Montenegro will be, too. An England win would have opened up a three-point gap; as it is, Montenegro can leapfrog England by beating them at Wembley.
Gerrard had curled another shot on to the top of Andriy Pyatov before half-time and, at that point, Ukraine were starting to look a little bit subdued, struggling to get their dangerous wide players prominently into the game. At other times, however, England demonstrated great carelessness in encouraging positions. At one point Walcott had Frank Lampard in space, with the chance to do something, and passed the ball knee-high. Lampard miscontrolled and the ball went out for a throw-in. Hodgson could be seen giving his assistant, Ray Lewington, a little celebratory hug at the final whistle, but England will surely have to play better against Montenegro – or, at least, with more adventure. The manager likes to call this system 4-3-3 but for long spells it morphed into 4-5-1, with Milner and Walcott tucking in from the wide positions to congest midfield. Walcott had an early chance and, before half-time, Gerrard had let fly from 25 yards on a couple of occasions. At other times, however, England demonstrated great carelessness in encouraging positions. At one point Walcott had Lampard in space, with the chance to do something, and passed the ball knee-high. Lampard miscontrolled and it went out for a throw-in. Jack Wilshere was replaced midway through the second half after an ineffectual night, with Hodgson saying the midfielder was still short of fitness.
The truth is that neither side looked particularly accomplished. A better team than England would have exposed Ukraine's limitations rather than relying on their structure and organisation. Those traits were useful, of course, but England needed more wit and ingenuity in attack. On the brighter side, England were strong and organised in defence. Gary Cahill and Phil Jagielka played with authority. Cole was superb, as he so often is in the important fixtures, and Hart, who had looked anxious in the first 20 minutes, came under pressure in the second half far less than the Ukrainian crowd would have liked. If the home team suspected England's goalkeeper might be vulnerable, they did not do enough to examine it.
For long spells the front three of Milner, Lambert and Walcott just did not have enough penetrative quality. The passing was too slow, too methodical, and there was barely a hint of anyone playing the killer ball. Yevhen Konoplyanka put a free-kick narrowly wide and Artem Fedetskiy will reflect on two headed opportunities. Yet it was the penalty claim against Hart that will cause Ukraine the most anguish on a night when Hodgson acclaimed a performance that left others wanting more.
England, all the same, were coping pretty well. Gary Cahill and Phil Jagielka were playing with authority in the centre of defence and Hart, who had looked anxious in the first 20 minutes, was coming under pressure far less in the second half than the Ukrainian crowd would have liked.
They can still look back on the best chances of that period. Yevhen Konoplyanka put a free-kick just wide after Kyle Walker had fouled Zozulya just outside the penalty area and, shortly afterwards, Fedetskiy was completely unchallenged inside the six-yard area from a corner. That was probably the best chance of the night but it is the early penalty appeal that will cause Ukraine the most anguish.