Lineker - 'He Got It Wrong'!

Last updated : 23 June 2014 By Footy Mad - Editor

Gary Lineker: "Personally, I think Roy got it wrong.

"The system that suits this kind of England better, with the lack of experience in it, is probably a 4-3-3.

"He tried to just play with two players in the centre of midfield. In the first game I thought it was better because he had (Raheem) Sterling behind (Daniel) Sturridge, and that gave us three because Sterling is more of a natural midfield player, certainly than (Wayne) Rooney.

"But I just think it is too big an ask for just two central midfield players and once again we were outnumbered.

"The problem with this 4-2-3-1 is that it very quickly becomes a 4-4-2 or at least a 4-4-1-1 and we end up with flat lines and people getting between us.

"I think we would have been better - and I said this before the tournament - with three midfield players because you've got to give yourself a chance defensively.

"Steven Gerrard, wonderful player that he is, has always been an individual in many ways.

"He's not really a player that can organise or spot problems.

"He didn't spot the danger on England's left side in the first game, which was pretty obvious after a few attempts.

"We don't have the players who can spot something and deal with it. In my era we had Terry Butcher, Ray Wilkins and Bryan Robson - players who could spot problems on the pitch and that is something that is missing from this crop.

"Defensively we were not good enough.

"It was always the fear before the tournament that we were lightweight at the back with little depth, neither of the full-backs were defensively-minded full-backs.

"You admire him (Hodgson) in many ways for giving youngsters a chance.

"I applaud the fact that he had a go and that's what we all asked for wasn't it, that he played faster, positive football, so we can't complain too much."