Adding to the list of former England stars attacking now-former England manager Roy Hodgson for his team’s effort against Iceland is striker-turned-pundit Alan Shearer, who pulled no punches when discussing his team’s numerous failures in their 2-1 loss that resulted in Euro 2016 elimination.
According to The Sun, Shearer was highly critical of Hodgson, going so far as to accuse him of ‘making it up as he goes along’ and calling the performance the worst he had ever seen from an England team.
“That was the worst performance I have ever seen from an England team – ever,” Shearer said.
“From start to finish from the game.
“We were out-fought, we were out-thought, we were out-battled and we were totally hopeless for 90 minutes.
“I said after the three group games that I didn’t think England were good enough. I didn’t see enough in those performances.
“It looked to me like as if Roy was making it up as he was going along. He didn’t have a system, he didn’t know his best players, tactically inept, we had players in the squad who didn’t deserve to be in the squad.”
Shearer also complained about Hodgson’s decision to insert Jack Wilshere into the game, as well as bring him to France in the first place after the Arsenal midfielder had gone the better part of eight months without significant playing time.
“How on earth can he pick Jack Wilshere? He hasn’t played 90 minutes for over a year and played 141 minutes in a season, how on earth can he be deemed fit enough or good enough to come in and represent England?
“And he brought him on at half-time to try and save the game after taking him off after 50 minutes the other day because he wasn’t good enough.”
Other complaints from Shearer included Hodgson’s decision to use Harry Kane on corners and keep giving starts to an underperforming Raheem Sterling.
“Raheem Sterling, he’s put his neck on the line for him and he hasn’t performed. He hasn’t been playing for his team.
“Harry Kane on corners in the first game…we can go on and on. The list is endless.
“From start to finish it has been pretty hopeless.”
Hodgson was at the helm for three successive early exits in major tournaments: A knockout round loss to Italy in Euro 2012, a group stage elimination in the 2014 FIFA World Cup, and the aforementioned loss to Iceland in the knockout round of Euro 2016.
In 63 caps for England, Shearer netted 30 times – sixth-most in team history.
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