Why the tough half of the EURO 2016 draw may be a blessing for England

England’s failure to win Group B, coming second to Wales, resulted in Roy Hodgson’s side entering the side of the draw which included favourites France, holders Spain and world champions Italy.

However; it is perhaps, possible that this is a blessing in disguise for the England side.

There is no doubt that Hodgson’s England squad have matured quickly into a slick and stylish side. Although clearly, the results have not matched that with a last-minute win against Wales their only victory of the tournament so far.

England face Iceland in their EURO 2016 Round of 16 clash on Monday night – Photo: Simon Stacpoole / Offside.

In all three matches, the Three Lions struggled against sides who sat back and crowded their own penalty box. Indeed, looking at the average position maps, they certainly prove this.

Against Wales, for example, the average position of all England players, apart from the two centre-backs Gary Cahill and Chris Smalling, was inside the Wales’ half. That shows the attack-minded play Hodgson encourages, yet it took so long to grab a winner as the side struggled to break down a Wales side of which the average position of nine of their 11 players was inside their own half.

Against Slovakia, it was more of the same with the two English centre-backs again the only ones to have an average position in their own half and, in fact, not a single Slovakia player managed an average position outside of their own half.

Playing against sides like this is extremely tough. England boast players with pace, creativity and flair. The likes of Jamie Vardy and Daniel Sturridge are at their most dangerous when running at the back four and midfielders such as Adam Lallana, Raheem Sterling and Dele Alli, who have all averaged significantly less minutes per chance created than in the Premier League, excel when they have space to pass.

However, when the opposition refuse to move out of their penalty area, this is impossible!

Although the calibre of player that sides such as France, Italy and Germany have is much higher, it will result in more space for England. The average positions of players in all three of these sides, although Germany prove to have been slightly more defence-minded than the other two, is more offensive than the sides England have faced so far in the tournament.

Leicester City striker Vardy bagged the equaliser in the Three Lions’ 2-1 victory over Wales in Group B – Photo: Marc Atkins / Offside.

The gap behind the back four is much bigger than Slovakia and Wales. This will allow the midfielders such as Wayne Rooney, Lallana and Alli to play through balls which Harry Kane, Sturridge and Vardy can capitalise on. This will, without doubt, play into Hodgson’s side’s hands.

That said, the England defence will have to withstand more pressure than they have so far this summer and do look a little error prone. If they do cope, however, then it sets the side up with a good chance of getting a result.

Although playing teams such as Switzerland, Hungary and Northern Ireland may have sounded much more appealing to the England fans, it is very possible, if not likely, that the country will stand a better chance of progressing against the better sides.

However; the match against Iceland, despite being a tiny country, will pose a huge obstacle for England. The minnows came second in Group F, unbeaten, and have shown a lot of heart in their performances.

Their refusal to lose could be, and has been, compared with Premier League Champions Leicester City. The Iceland side are, again, very defensive.

In all their Group Stage fixtures, no more than three players in each match had an average position outside of their half. Hopefully manager Hodgson will have been working on his side’s creativity when faced with a wall of defenders as now, clearly, a draw is not good enough.

If England do manage to overcome a stubborn Iceland defence, then there is definitely hope for them at the Euros. There is very little reason to fear the big names that inevitably wait the Three Lions.

Hodgson’s youthful team are classy, fearless and when given the chance to run at even the biggest of stars will, without doubt, cause even more problems than they have so far!