Ukraine vs. England Post Match Reaction-  Ola Adeotoye (12/09/2013)

Roy Hodgson and his England went to Ukraine’s capital Kiev in need of a result, with a draw being the bare minimum, and yes they succeeded albeit with a rather tame second half display. Having watched England for many years now it rarely comes as a surprise when the national team make hard work of their qualifying group. This coincides with the fact that this group of players haven’t beaten any of their main rivals in the group (Poland, Ukraine, and Montenegro). But we’ll put that to the side for the meantime, things started rather positively for the three Lions in the first half as they searched for that breakthrough goal. They were somewhat fortunate not to concede a very early penalty after Joe Hart appeared to make contact with Ukrainian forward Roman Zozulya.

I am writing this not just from a journalistic aspect but also as a fan of the England team. Hand on my heart the second half was the most tragic I have seen an England team play for a while. No creativity, borderline average passing, and so on and so forth. Yet the team on the opposite side of the pitch for a large portion of the half outplayed the men in red. But as we will be reminded and reminded by Roy Hodgson ‘only a point was needed’, nevertheless come on Roy the best players in England looked like a Conference South outfit. But doom mongering aside they got the job done and just have to take four points from the Poland match and the tie versus Montenegro.

Both taking place next month at Wembley and with the likes of Rooney, Sturridge and Welbeck available (barring injuries) it should be a straightforward task. Yet I almost forgot nothing as we’ve seen over the years is straightforward with any England side.