Young Three Lions Stake Claim For Top Spot.

BY EWAH CHIKA

"I'd have been less ecstatic had we not conceded late on against Russia. It's always going to be important to win today and we thought we might if we put in a similar performance. 

"It took a lot of probing and effort but I was pleased to see both changes go in. Four points is the minimum we deserved from the two performances, " were the words of Roy Hodgson  the Three Lions coach after his team beat Wales 2-1 in the evening as substitutes Jamie Vardy and Daniel Sturridge scored .

Though it is still too early to judge , the statement of the coach is spot on as the young Three Lions team dominated and dictated the pace of their two games. This is a departure from the old style where the English team depended on counter-attack and feared holding the ball. Though not as talented as the Golden Generation of Paul Scholes, David Beckham, Steven Gerard, Frank Lampard and John Terry, this squad appears complete and ever willing to work together. 

Though they do not possess the finishing abilities of the likes of Michael Owen and Alan Shearer, the likes of Jamie Vardy and Harry Kane play to the team strength's rather than that of individuals. Though Kane is yet to score a goal, the Tottenham forward often drifts into space distracting and creating ample chances for the likes of Adam Lallana, Dele Ali and captain Wayne Rooney to take advantage of. The team have shown that the 10 wins recorded in the qualifiers is no fluke with the display against both Russia and Wales. 

One fact is that there is still need for improvement as Manchester City's Raheem Sterling is the weakest link in the team. And Though fast and tricky , the former Queens Park Rangers player has a poor decision making ability which has seen most of his passes intercepted or his final ball abysmal after beating his marker in the left side of attack. This is not to say that Sterling is not good enough but Hodgson should know that a single mistake in a big tournament like this might cost you :  a bitter lesson Wayne Rooney must have learnt after bringing down Robson-Kanu which resulted in Bale's free-kick which ended up in the bottom of the net for the opener . 

England now have four points in two games and this is a result no one could envisage considering the lack of experience in Hodgson's side as the likes of Dele Ali, Eric Deir, Harry Kane and Danny Rose who all start are making their debuts . Hodgson has demonstrated he was right with his team selection as his team display and results have so far shown also a single point against Slovakia and England will top the group if Wales fail to beat Russia in the last game of the group stage. 

One thing is for sure and that is that this young English side are not yet at the top but with their tactical , fast and physical game plan surely most big football nations in the tournament would dread to play them.