Ilkay Gundogan to Manchester United

An impressive performance against Real Madrid has fueled speculation surrounding the midfielder’s future.

This morning, The Express reported that Ilkay Gundogan is a target for Manchester United this summer as they look to bolster their midfield before next season. With Borussia Dortmund taking over the headlines in recent weeks, it is no surprise to see another one of their players’ futures being questioned, following the news that Mario Gotze will be departing for Bayern Munich this summer, and rumours that Robert Lewandowski would be joining him.

The deal would be fantastic for United; Gundogan is still only 22, and plays the box-to-box midfield role as well as anybody has done this season. Comparisons to Claudio Marchisio and Xabi Alonso are understandable, but Gundogan’s athleticism makes him an all-round performer, who would be a great asset to any team.

However, Fergie has today revealed that he only expects to bring in one or two new faces this summer, and suggested that he will be keeping faith in his younger members of the team instead of replacing them. Unfortunately for United fans, it is likely that the rumour has little substance to it, and is based on speculation as a result of his impressive performances on the European stages over the past few weeks, much like the rumours that Lewandowski has agreed to join Bayern.

Marouane Fellaini to Real Madrid

Fellaini, who has vowed to dye his hair silver if Everton fans meet a charity target, could be leaving Goodison this summer.

The Daily Mail claimed yesterday that Real Madrid are keen on the Belgian, and will look to him as a replacement for Xabi Alonso, who looks set to leave the club this summer. A clause in Fellaini’s contract means that an offer of £22m from a club participating in the Champions League must be accepted, and Real are reportedly interested in triggering this clause.

Barcelona look set to wrap up the Liga BBVA title in the next couple of weeks, and following their Champions League exit, Real have had another forgettable season by their high standards. It is no surprise that they are looking to strengthen their side ahead of next season. Everton meanwhile face a struggle for a place in the Europa League, and should they miss out, a player of Fellaini’s calibre would surely owe it to himself to look elsewhere for European football. With David Moyes’ contract expiring at the end of the season, there is an air of uncertainty around Goodison Park, and I would not be surprised to see him make the switch to the Bernabeu this summer.

David Luiz to Barcelona

Rumours suggesting Luiz is wanted by Barcelona have emerged after his wonder-strike against Basel in the Europa League last night.

Another rumour posted by the Mail, involving another Afro-clad Premier League star, David Luiz. However this one seems less credible than the Fellaini rumour, even more so considering that it has only surfaced in the wake of his fantastic strike against Basel last night.

The article cites “managerial unrest” at Stamford Bridge as a reason for Luiz to make the switch to the Catalan club, however as they also reported this morning, the arrival of Jose Mourinho looks imminent, and this would be no reason for the Brazilian to pack his bags; if anything it would be an incentive for him to stay. This one looks like a non-starter.

The Royals celebrate Pogrebnyak’s last gasp winner – will they be celebrating survival come the end of the season?

After a catastrophic first half of the season, picking up a mere 9 points in 18 league matches, Reading seem to have finally got into their stride. Having gained up 7 points in their last 4 matches, they find themselves within three points of the precious 17^th spot, which numerous teams including QPR, Wigan, Southampton and Aston Villa will all be desperate to secure come the end of the season.

Christmas was a rare period of joy at the Madejski Stadium, as Swansea and then West Ham visited Royal Berkshire and left without scoring a single goal respectively. Although the Royals couldn’t break the deadlock against a Swansea side who kept possession well throughout, they struck early on against the Hammers through Pavel Pogrebnyak. Grit and determination saw the boys in blue and white hold on for only their second win of the campaign.

A tricky fixture away at White Hart Lane on New Year’s Day proved difficult, although Pogrebnyak again struck within the first five minutes to gift the away side an early lead. However, Spurs struck back twice, and as the Royals were pushing for what would have been a fairly deserved equaliser, Clint Dempsey found the net. His long range effort took a wild deflection off a Reading player and sailed over the hapless Adam Federici, who has improved immeasurably over recent weeks, and looks to be back to his best.

The day was also marked by the signing of Sporting Lisbon captain Daniel Carrico, for an estimated £500k – a miniscule fee to pay for a player with experience in both major European club competitions. Fans received the signing well, and McDermott certainly seemed chuffed with the astute piece of business conducted by Director of Football Nicky Hammond and co.

A trip to Crawley followed, and despite an early setback within the first minute, Noel Hunt and Adam Le Fondre were on top form to secure a 3-1 victory, and progression to the next round. A few days later, Hope Akpan signed for the Royals from their cup opponents, a young midfielder with an impressive range of passing. Understandably, a number of fans questioned the club’s ambition after signing a player who is unlikely to make an instant impact in their bid for survival, however there is no reason a club shouldn’t look to secure talented and hungry young players for the future as well as strengthening their starting eleven.

Next to sign was Fulham full-back Stephen Kelly, an experienced Irish international with over 100 Premier League appearances under his belt. Many fans had criticised summer signing Chris Gunter following a number of mistakes leading to goals, and Kelly would have been bought to patch one of the side’s main weaknesses. However, many fans’ evenings were tainted by rumours that midfielder Jay Tabb would be allowed to leave the club. The former Coventry man was never the most technically gifted, however his work rate and commitment to the club has been simply astounding during his time in Berkshire. Wherever his future lies, he will surely leave with the best wishes of Reading fans everywhere.

After an abundance of transfer talk, the focus was switched back to events on the pitch as West Bromwich Albion visited the Madejski Stadium. Romelu Lukaku looked the best player on the pitch until he was substituted late on, scoring twice to give the Baggies a seemingly comfortable lead – he could have had two more goals if it wasn’t for the interference of the woodwork. The Royals never gave up however, and netted first through a Jimmy Kebe diving header, and then in the form of an Adam Le Fondre penalty, after Kebe was sandwiched by two West Brom defenders. While Reading fans were praying for the final whistle, Pavel Pogrebnyak had his eyes on the three points as he stabbed home from close range, giving the home side an unlikely lead which they held onto until the final whistle.

This incredible turnaround was a proud moment for players and fans alike. Three goals in eight minutes completely changed the game, and the three points could prove to be valuable come the end of the season. The passion from everybody wearing the hoops was evident as Pogrebnyak wheeled off shirtless to the corner flag, followed by the rest of the team. It wasn’t hard to recognise that the players still have fire in their belly, and the belief that they can stay afloat this season.

Pogrebnyak has now scored in each of his last three appearances, and appears to be finding the same form that earned him rave reviews at Fulham last season. Some tough fixtures await, however the Royals still have to face QPR, Southampton, Aston Villa and Wigan at home, and they are only three points adrift from safety – it’d be foolish to write them off at this point.

Could Arshavin’s days at the Emirates be numbered? (Photo: Getty Images)

Arsenal winger Andrey Arshavin could be offered a way out of the Emirates in January.

Arshavin, who spent a portion of last season on loan in his homeland with Zenit St Petersburg, seemed reluctant to permanently relocate his family from London in the summer, and opted to stay with the Gunners despite not being at the top of the pecking order.

However, having been left out of the national team because of a lack of domestic appearances, the situation looks to have changed for Arshavin who is looking to save his international career.

Arsenal are also eager to remove him from their strained wage bill to pave the way for potential new signings, as long as he doesn’t join a Premier League rival. A switch away from the London club would be beneficial to both parties, and the MLS look set to give him the lifeline he needs.

Officials from Major League Soccer are in search of international stars to join the league for the 2013 season, and alongside Inter midfielder Dejan Stankovic, the Russian is rumoured to be one of their prime targets.

The league which features clubs from both the USA and Canada has a designated player rule, allowing clubs to pay larger salaries to star players – this rule enabled MLS clubs to attract big names such as David Beckham, Thierry Henry and Tim Cahill.

The 31 year old has scored 31 goals in 317 games for the Gunners, and if he does leave the Emirates in the near future, will be fondly remembered among Arsenal fans for his magnificent four-goal haul against Liverpool in April 2009.

Wayne Rooney decides that £250,000 a week isn’t enough and refuses to stand up until he’s given a pay-rise. (Photo: Getty Images)

As the summer draws to an all too soon close, we, as British people can reflect upon the glories of a summer that will live long in the memory. Bradley Wiggins in yellow in Paris, breaking the tradition that a British man can never win the Tour de France, Andy Murray finally claiming that elusive slam and of course what has now been christened the ‘Golden Summer of Sport’, where Britain scooped 29 gold medals in one Olympic Games. With the Ryder Cup still to come, it appears that one final swansong could be on offer before we enter the relative tedium of autumn. However, it seems that one sport decided not to join the party, instead resting on its laurels of mediocrity and at times mind-numbing stupidity.

Football has always been my sport of choice; I have flirted with rugby and courted cricket but I ultimately return to 22 men chasing around a small ball. This summer, I felt something change. Before the splendour of this summer truly began, I watched the England team fall once more at the quarter-final stage of an international tournament. Despite the obvious disgust, I vowed to stick with them (at least until Rio 2014). The gormless replies in press conferences and hap-hazard passing was once again ignored, and the majesty of Wonder Woy Hodgson was highlighted, presumably because the press had nothing else to highlight anymore due to the woeful defensive set-up preferred by the aforementioned Hodgson. The Premier League season was less than 2 months away; the time would fly and before I knew it we would be back on the treadmill.

Then, out of the blue, something changed.

Almost from nowhere, Bradley Wiggins won the hardest cycling challenge in the world, the epic Tour de France. This triumph was all the more impressive because it was achieved by the British cycling team, Team Sky; Britain used to be the laughing stock of the cycling world. Furthermore, Team Sky had not just met a target but beaten it, achieving the victory in 3 years when 5 had been allocated. Can you imagine an England football team achieving anything, let alone setting and beating a difficult target? Wiggins showed a sense of humour, immense courage and a stomach for a fight in his triumph; England showed absurdity and senselessness in their demise. Wiggins was everything that the English football team was not.

The brief interlude of achievement was preceded by the annual disappointment at Wimbledon (similarities between the English football team were duly noted). However, to reach a final was a success for Angry Andy Murray, and many were saying that it was something to build upon. I was just hoping that we would have some credible candidates for Sports Personality of the Year at this point, remembering with a shudder Ryan Giggs winning the award in 2009.

When the Olympics duly came around, the nation was united in their unconvinced tone as to whether the country would actually pull off hosting the greatest show on Earth. Despite my obvious pessimism in regards to British sport, I genuinely believed that Britain would dazzle the world, and not just through the new stadiums and smooth tube networks – and dazzle they did. Triumph in the velodrome, conquest in the Olympic Stadium and success in the boat. And all of this achieved by ‘normal people’, not multi-millionaires who sit around all week before not doing what they are paid such an enormous amount to do on Saturdays (kick a football). The humility displayed by the athletes was such a breath of fresh air, and as many people say, fresh air does indeed clear the mind. It was at this point that I seriously asked myself: why do I love football so?

The final straw for me was Andy Murray winning a slam for the first time in his tennis career. A moment of true sporting achievement was immediately overshadowed by the ‘major’ news story that Peter Crouch was in “international exile”. Why did this deserve to claim such high-profile status, while Murray already drifted down the pecking order of sports news? Then, to cap it all off, Liverpool youngster Raheem Sterling (17) was picked to play for England. Not England U21’s. Full on England, with Lampard, Gerrard and the rest. My support was broken. Elite sport should be exactly that: elite! Can you imagine someone being drafted in to the Olympics, or to cycle in the Tour de France, after making the equivalent of 5 Premier League appearances? Of course not, it would not happen. The usual murmurings were released, mainly about ‘Experience being gained’ and ‘how it can’t be detrimental’. This was all irrelevant; England had proven to me at long last that they do not warrant such a high profile status; instead it should be perceived as a crèche for professional footballers who will be hyped up when young before drifting into the wilderness (previous members include Jermaine Pennant and even Adam Johnson). Was Jessica Ennis brought along for the ride? Was Mo Farah given time to “Experience the British set-up”? They were not, primarily because British Olympics is focused on sport and achievement, rather than whatever England football decides to focus on this week.

Although many will, I cannot see a successful future for English football at present. Whilst Britain flourishes at other sports, football must take a back-seat. Only then may we be able to bring the basics back to English football, and build a team around leadership, raw talent and teamwork rather than the current incoherent, egotistical air-heads that populate the British game at present.

Chelsea’s new star man Eden Hazard celebrates his first goal for the club against Newcastle.

After months of anticipation, the start of the new Premier League season has certainly lived up to expectations. The shock results that lit up the previous campaign have already began to arrive, with West Brom toppling Liverpool, and Manchester United slipping to defeat against Everton. Some new signings have shone, while others are yet to prove their worth – here are some thoughts about how the summer arrivals have introduced themselves this season.

In terms of the sides expected to challenge at the top end of the table this season, Chelsea have been fastest out of the blocks with three convincing victories. Their Belgian summer signing Eden Hazard has already confounded his doubters, having been officially named man of the match in each of his three league appearances to date. Chelsea’s other two high profile signing haven’t had their chance to shine yet however, with Marko Marin sidelined through injury, and Oscar making only brief and uninspiring cameo appearances off the bench.

Manchester United on the other hand made two very high profile signings – the Japanese playmaker Shinji Kagawa, and the former Arsenal talisman Robin van Persie. The former has looked impressive in the midst of a lacklustre United midfield, while the Dutchman’s goal in his first start for the Red Devils was the best way to announce his arrival at Old Trafford.

However, the man who led the goalscoring charts last season has left Arsenal in a bad way. Their new signing Olivier Giroud, who joined from French champions Montpellier for a fee in excess of £10m, has looked nervous in front of goal, spurning chance upon chance. Lukas Podolski has looked just as unconvincing, with performances that even made Gervinho stand out in a toothless front three. However, Arsene Wenger can take encouragement from the performances of their new Spanish pocket-rocket, Santi Cazorla. The midfielder was the Gunners’ main creative outlet in both matches, and looks as if he will revel in the free role Wenger seems to have given him.

Liverpool also made some changes to their squad, with Fabio Borini and Joe Allen arriving from Roma and Swansea respectively. The former hasn’t quite found his feet in the Premier League as of yet, however the latter performed magnificently against Manchester City, helping to earn his side a 2-2 draw in a very tricky fixture.

Swansea’s new midfield man, Michu, has made an instant impact for the Jacks, netting three times already. He seems to be filling the void left by former loan signing Gylfi Sigurdsson as the creative spark in the middle of the park.

Fulham also look revitalised, having replaced the Berkshire-bound Pavel Pogrebnyak with Mladen Petric of Croatia – two goals in two games isn’t a bad way to introduce yourself at all. Meanwhile Pogrebnyak himself has become the focal point of Reading’s attack, scoring an impressive header during their 4-2 defeat at the hands of European champions Chelsea.

With only two days left in the transfer window, anything could happen. Will we be seeing any more of Europe’s top players in the Premier League? 

Championship winners Reading celebrate their triumph, but will their fortunes be as fair this coming year? (Photo: Getty Images)

Reading, Southampton and West Ham all sealed their returns to the big time over a month ago, and will be hoping to emulate the successes of last season’s new boys Swansea and Norwich.

They each have had fairly large transfer kitties at their disposal, and have dipped into the market already. The common misconception is that upon getting promoted, spending too much money and changing the team excessively will result in relegation straight away. Reading’s 8^th place finish in the 06/07 season proved that a promoted team could succeed in the Premier League with minimal alterations, however in the past ten years, the vast majority of first season survivors have spent in excess of £10 million on new signings.

Last season, two of the three newly promoted sides made wholesale changes, however those made by Norwich seemed to slip under the radar when compared to the high profile names that arrived at QPR. Most of the Canaries’ top performers were purchased last summer, for example Steve Morison, Anthony Pilkington and Kyle Naughton. Swansea were praised for their continuity, however the likes of Danny Graham, Michel Vorm and Steven Caulker were all pivotal to their success, having joined in the summer transfer window too. Without such influential players, would the two sides have fared as well as they did? Undoubtedly the addition of such quality players helped keep both sides afloat, and the Premier League new boys will surely look to these two sides as inspiration for next season.

With money at their disposal, the three sides have looked to bolster their squad with young, hungry players, and also those with experience in the top flight. There’s a whole month left of the summer window, however all three sides have significantly strengthened themselves.

Champions Reading have acted quickly to secure the services of a number of Premier League quality free agents, Pavel Pogrebnyak and Danny Guthrie to name two, whilst also recruiting promising talents from the Championship such as Adrian Mariappa and Chris Gunter. They put together a scintillating run of form towards the end of last season to steal the title, and they’ll need to carry that momentum over into the approaching season. They showed defensive resilience and counter-attacking ability last season, two crucial traits a team requires if they wish to survive in the English top flight. Brian McDermott has also guided his Royals side to victories over Premier League sides Liverpool, Everton and West Brom in the cups in recent years, and certainly knows how to motivate his players for such important matches. Few players jump out at you from the Reading squad list, however their ability to function as a team shouldn’t be underestimated – a mistake Premier League sides made the last time the Berkshire club won promotion.

On the other hand, Southampton’s two major signings of the window so far have been promising Englishmen from the Championship – out of contract Nathaniel Clyne from Crystal Palace, and £7m rated Jay Rodriguez from Burnley. Both players could be instrumental in their battle for survival next season, the same goes for ex-Rangers midfielder Steven Davis who they picked up on a free transfer following the tragic financial collapse of his previous club. New signings aside, there are two players in the Southampton team who oozed quality in the Championship, and look capable of excelling in the top flight – creative midfielder Adam Lallana and talismanic striker Rickie Lambert unlocked many a tight back-line last season and will look to do the same again this time around. They are central to the way the Saints perform, and Premier League defenders would be foolish to ignore the threat they will provide. Their credentials for survival look fairly solid; however they could do with strengthening their defence further as they looked fragile at the back towards the end of last season.

West Ham on the other hand will have their sights set higher than merely surviving relegation. If their attempts to bring towering Liverpool forward Andy Carroll to the club on loan are successful, he will surely become the focal point of their attack. Sam Allardyce is often criticised for his preferred long ball style of play, and the Hammers did play some decent passing football at times last term, however the over-the-top approach could be exactly what they need in the Premier League – it’s worked for Stoke City numerous times, and during Allardyce’s stints at Bolton and Blackburn. They boast an impressive amount of attacking firepower, with the likes of Carlton Cole, John Carew, Nicky Maynard and Ricardo Vaz Te already fighting over first team berths. Mark Noble and Kevin Nolan both have Premier League pedigree, while Mohamed Diame looks to be a bargain signing on a free transfer. Additionally, the acquisition of James Collins from Aston Villa means that he looks likely to partner the promising James Tomkins in the centre of defence, which looks solid on paper. The Hammers could well be aiming higher than the other two clubs, but they must ensure that they stay up primarily, as another shock relegation would rattle the club massively.

Robert Lewandowski impressed for Poland and is attracting interest from Premier League sides. (Photo: Getty Images)

Poland and Ukraine provided football fans immense entertainment this summer, and also provided the scout of footballs biggest clubs some new names for their shortlists. Many lesser-known players made names for themselves – here are a few that caught my eye, and a look into where they might be playing their football next season following a transfer window bound to be full of exciting moves.

Alan Dzagoev, Russia, CSKA Moscow

The tricky attacking midfielder caught the eye of the public after netting two quality goals on the tournament’s opening day. He was subject to strong interest from Arsenal and Tottenham, who were reportedly lining up £10m bids to contend with Inter Milan and Juventus for his signature, however his club have told him that he won’t be allowed to leave this summer.

Michael Krohn-Dehli, Denmark, Brondby

The Danish winger looked dangerous during the group stages and scored a vital goal against Holland to give them the win. Last season he plied his trade in his domestic league, however he has expressed an interest in joining former Denmark legend Michael Laudrup at Swansea. The club are believed to be eager to secure his services, and it’s likely he will be playing in South Wales next year.

Theodor Gebre Selassie, Czech Republic, Slovan Liberec

Another player who was playing in his homeland last term, Gebre Selassie became the first coloured player to pull on the Czech Republic shirt, and his performances certainly did him justice. Teams in the lower half of the Premier League were interested; however he has signed for German side Werder Bremen, and will join fellow Czech stars Petr Jiracek and Vaclav Pilar in the Bundesliga.

Mario Mandzukic, Croatia, Wolfsburg

Mandzukic scored some impressive goals despite Croatia being placed in a difficult group involving the two eventual finalists, and deservedly has earned himself a move to German giants Bayern Munich. It will be interesting to see whether or not he can dislodge Gomez from the starting eleven and become a regular for them, as he was probably the better of the two Marios in Poland/Ukraine.

Jordi Alba, Spain, Valencia

The marauding left back just about pipped Portugal’s Fabio Coentrao to the left back spot in the Team of the Tournament, scoring a fantastic goal in the final against the Italians. The ex-Barcelona youth product only earned his first cap in September of last year, and has come a long way since then, earning a return to his previous club as a replacement for Eric Abidal.

Robert Lewandowski, Poland, Borussia Dortmund

Four of England’s largest clubs are keen on securing the signature of Polish talisman Lewandowski, who has won successive Bundesliga titles with Borussia Dortmund in the previous two years. Chelsea and Tottenham are both reportedly interested, however Arsenal and Manchester United are extremely eager to add him to their squad, and he could well be playing in red next season.

The enigmatic Mario Balotelli celebrates a goal against favourites Germany. (Photo: Getty Images)

After 30 fantastic matches, Euro 2012 is finally coming to an end, with Spain and Italy set to meet in the final tonight. Between them, they’ve knocked out Portugal, Germany, France and England, and in Italy’s case, they upset the odds by beating favourites Germany fairly convincingly. The game tonight should be closely contested, with Italy progressively improving as the tournament went on, and Spain performing consistently as usual. The two teams encountered each other in Group C, in their very first match. Neither team had the upper hand, and the game ended in a 1-1 draw, with Antonio Di Natale cancelling out Cesc Fabregas’s opener.

Spain – Star Men: Iniesta, Xabi Alonso, Cesc Fabregas

Spain’s trademark brand of ‘tiki-taka’ football has won them many admirers in recent years, and this hasn’t changed this summer as they have continued to mesmerise fans and neutrals alike with their outstanding pass-and-move playing style. Xabi Alonso has begun to draw level with the two Barcelona midfielders that have often overshadowed him at international level, Xavi and Iniesta, while their winger-turned-fullback Jordi Alba has looked hugely impressive despite his relative inexperience. Their switch to an unusual 4-6-0 formation has surprised many; however it is hardly different from the style that Barcelona play, with the attacking players rotating and having fairly free roles. Everyone knows what to expect from the Spanish tonight – whether or not the Italians can cope with them is a different story.

Italy – Star Men: Andrea Pirlo, Mario Balotelli, Riccardo Montolivo

The Italians have grown in confidence with every passing match in Euro 2012, and their star players have begun to come to the fore. Andrea Pirlo rolled back the years to put in some commanding performances, while Mario Balotelli’s impact against favourites Germany cannot be ignored. The likes of Marchisio and Montolivo have shown their creative side too, and they look a force to be reckoned with. The traditional ethos of defence over attack is still in place, but nonetheless they have sufficient firepower to trouble any backline. Their confidence will be sky high after a fantastic victory over the Germans, and Cesare Prandelli’s side might be able to bring joy to a nation currently in football turmoil, ravaged by match-fixing scandals and violent ultras.

Theo Walcott changed the game when he came on against Sweden, so why didn’t we see more of him? (Photo: Getty Images)

The phrase ‘penalty heartbreak’ has become synonymous with England at major tournaments in the past couple of decades, so there was little surprise that it was a dreaded shoot-out that sent England packing at Euro 2012. You could say they were resilient and efficient, however you could also accuse them of being too defensively-minded and not ruthless enough in attack. Seeing a side blessed with talented players like Wayne Rooney, Ashley Young and Theo Walcott focus so heavily on shutting opponents out wasn’t what England fans would have expected this summer, and sadly for new manager Roy Hodgson, his defensive methods couldn’t guide England to the semi-finals.

It could be said that nobody was expecting much from England this summer, which is true. However, if you look at the appointment of Hodgson by the FA, it could just have saved them a lot of criticism. Had fan favourite Harry Redknapp been named as the new boss, fans would be filled with optimism and expectation, hoping for an appearance in the semi-finals at least. However, the appointment of the fans’ second choice slashed expectations, and the public would all of a sudden settle for progression into the knockout stages. But why? Both managers have the same pool of players to work with, so why should a Roy Hodgson England side be expected to do less than a Harry Redknapp one?

Realistically, England were unconvincing in each of their games. Against France they were totally outplayed, and relied heavily on a stern performance from the defence. However, the two central midfielders spent the whole match shielding the back four and offered nothing going forward, which contributed to the toothless attacking display. Credit to the attacking players for putting three goals past Sweden, however when they performed, the defence failed to, looking very frail at times. The Ukraine game was filled with good fortune for the English, as they progressed without dominating the game. The wrongly disallowed Ukraine goal should have been ruled offside anyway, but the linesman didn’t flag for it, so they could easily have dropped two points in that match and faced Spain instead of Italy.

For me, a prominent cause of England’s troubles was the selection of players on the right hand side. Glen Johnson is the most experienced of the right-backs Hodgson had to choose from, however he has trouble disciplining himself in terms of positioning, and would leave his centre-backs exposed at times. So, how did Hodgson compensate for this? By playing James Milner, a very defensively capable winger, in front of Johnson. The presence of Johnson at right-back  meant that Walcott wasn’t an option in the starting line-up, and he proved his worth after coming off the bench against Sweden. Without him, England looked one-dimensional and predictable in attack.

Milner offered little going forward, and Johnson’s presence on the pitch was ultimately the cause of this lack of threat on the right wing, despite him actually playing fairly well throughout the tournament. Of course, the injury to Kyle Walker did give Hodgson one less right-back to choose from, however I can’t help but think that Manchester City’s Micah Richards would have been a more appropriate choice, allowing Walcott to play in front of him and terrorise defenders with his blistering pace.

So, the focus turns to Brazil in 2014. Hopefully by then the likes of Kyle Walker, Gary Cahill and Phil Jones will have all cemented places in the squad, and that players such as Daniel Sturridge and Danny Welbeck have become genuinely threatening, as opposed to merely showing streaks of potential. Hodgson will need to change the centre of midfield too in my opinion – Gerrard isn’t the marauding attacking player he used to be, and despite managing an impressive number of assists, he had a tendency to sit in a deep position for most of his time on the pitch, doing a very similar job to Scott Parker. One of the two will need to make way for ‘future England captain’ Jack Wilshere, who can provide the attacking threat needed from the centre of the pitch, while still defending responsibly when needed. It’s not all doom and gloom though – at least the reliable Joe Hart will most likely be a regular between the sticks for years to come. However Hodgson will need to get his side playing with more freedom and flair, or he may lose the backing of the fans that were willing to give him a chance.

Cristiano Ronaldo (left), the man who makes Portugal tick, attempts a bicycle kick against quarter-final opponents Czech Republic. (Photo: Getty Images)

Within the space of four days, eight teams became four, and England were sent packing. Portugal, Germany, Spain and Italy will all feel that the title of European Champions is firmly within their reach, and that they are only two wins away from glory. The Portuguese overcame a tame Czech side, Germany’s second choice attack was still too much for the Greeks to handle, Spain showed their class in a win over Laurent Blanc’s France, and English hearts were once again broken after a penalty shootout against the victorious Italians. Four will become two over the next couple of days, and with the final on Sunday, the tournament seems to have flown by.

Portugal v Spain

The Portuguese have grown into the tournament, and with national treasure Cristiano Ronaldo finally firing on all cylinders, their fans have a genuine cause for optimism. Manchester United winger Nani seems to have put a poor season aside, and has reverted to the sort of impressive performances that he showed during 2010/11. They have threats on either wing, however their lack of creativity in midfield, and the absence of a world class striker, could prove their main issue against a resilient Spain side who have conceded only one goal so far. The Spaniards boast consistent performers in Xavi, Iniesta and David Silva, while Fabregas and Torres have also found form. The Portugal centre-backs, Pepe and Bruno Alves, will be under huge strain from Spain’s attacking players, while full-back Fabio Coentrao will need to discipline himself and limit his attacking freedom, to keep his defence out of trouble.

Germany v Italy

Joachim Loew’s men have shown attacking prowess so far, with 7 different players finding themselves on the score-sheet. They aren’t reliant on one player either, as they showed against Greece, where they gave some of their second choice attackers a chance to prove their worth. They took their chance and knocked 4 goals past a frail Greek back-line, with veteran striker Miroslav Klose showing that he still has the ability which saw him top-score during the 2006 World Cup. However, talismanic forward Mario Gomez is expected to regain his starting berth, and will provide the focal point for their attacks. The Italians have progressed to the semi-finals without playing their best football – could the best be still to come? Mario Balotelli has bags of ability, while experienced playmaker Andrea Pirlo will undoubtedly pull the strings for them in midfield. Their defensive policy may have to change however, as Greece were pieced apart by the Germans when they adopted a similar tactic.