Euro 2012 team guide and squad: England

Draws with the United States and Algeria, coupled with a narrow win over Slovenia meant England sneaked into the knockout stages, where they were outclassed and outplayed by the Germans, in a 4-1 defeat, famous for Frank Lampard’s ‘goal’ that wasn’t.

Fast forward nearly two years to new manager Roy Hodgson. Seen as a surprising appointment given his less-than-impressive time in charge of Liverpool and West Brom in recent months, Hodgson got things off to a good start with a 1-0 win over the Norwegians in Oslo.

The loss of Gareth Barry was a blow but England will have to be at their best to overcome a revitalised French team, and a Swedish side who automatically qualified as the ‘best runner-up.’

KEY PLAYER: Wayne Rooney’s two-match suspension will leave England short of firepower up front, but his Manchester United team-mate Ashley Young, who scored the winner in Norway, could fill that gap. With Andy Carroll as unpredictable as ever, if Young is on form, England could have an easier ride against tough opponents.

ODDS: 12-1

WORLD RANKING: 7

GROUP D

FIXTURES:

June 11, 2012 France (Donetsk, Ukr)

June 15, 2012 Sweden (Kiev, Ukr)

June 19, 2012 Ukraine (Donetsk, Ukr)

COACH: Roy Hodgson - Football’s Mr Nice Guy? Up to a point. Refused to engage in the customary bitter rivalry with Sir Alex Ferguson whilst managing Liverpool but publicly criticised the performances of his right back Glen Johnson whilst at the Anfield helm as well. Despite a rather underwhelming playing career, Hodgson has managed 16 teams in eight different countries and can speak fluent Norwegian, Swedish, German and Italian, as well as his native English and a smattering of Danish, French and Finnish.

He said it...

“I think we are a good side, it’s just we keep losing.” (on Liverpool’s atrocious form during his tenure)

SQUAD

Goalkeepers

Jack Butland (Birmingham City FC)

Robert Green (West Ham United FC)

Joe Hart (Manchester City FC)

Defenders

Leighton Baines (Everton FC)

Gary Cahill (Chelsea FC)

Ashley Cole (Chelsea FC)

Phil Jagielka (Everton FC)

Glen Johnson (Liverpool FC)

Phil Jones (Manchester United FC)

Joleon Lescott (Manchester City FC)

John Terry (Chelsea FC)

Midfielders

Stewart Downing (Liverpool FC)

Steven Gerrard (Liverpool FC)

Frank Lampard (Chelsea FC)

James Milner (Manchester City FC)

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Arsenal FC)

Scott Parker (Tottenham Hotspur FC)

Theo Walcott (Arsenal FC)

Ashley Young (Manchester United FC)

Forwards

Andy Carroll (Liverpool FC)

Jermain Defoe (Tottenham Hotspur FC)

Wayne Rooney (Manchester United FC)*

Daniel Welbeck (Manchester United FC)

*suspended for first two matches