Roy’s Reign Begins with Win

Norway vs. England
Saturday 25^th May 2012
Ullevaal Stadium, Oslo
Att: 21,496
K.O: 7:45pm
Ref: Weiner (GER)


Long since are the days of Sir Alf and the boys of 66’ affording England’s last victory on Norwegian soil in the guise of international football.

Fast forward 32 years, and England arrive in Oslo, on the cusp of a new era under newly appointed England manager Roy Hodgson.

Roy’s Reign at the helm pertained to an England Victory thanks to an early individual effort by Ashley Young inside 10 minutes, in this relatively low key affair.

This being our nations first of two warm up games, (the second against the Belgians at Wembley next Saturday) and England’s latest managerial appointment admitting to a restrictive three training sessions, albeit demanding, gives off the feeling that the ink on Mr. Hodgson’s 4 year contract has yet to dry. Resonating a surprisingly fresh feel after a long hard season for all concerned, with Roy’s tenure still in its immediate infancy.

Prior to the game, their was a number of omissions’ from Roy’s preliminary squad for the Euros’ in Ukraine and Poland which kicks off in June.

Defender Glen Johnson limped out of training on Thursday with an infected toe while elsewhere Danny Welbeck trained on his own, subsequently leaving the session early.

England are also without international debutant John Ruddy, the Norwich City stopper broke a finger in Thursdays training session and will miss Euro 2012.

Scott Parker, named captain under caretaker Stuart Pearce for the Netherlands game at Wembley in April, was considered a doubt for the tournament but starts in Oslo.

Other notable absentees are the Chelsea trio of John Terry, Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole after their exploits in Munich and will join up with the squad on Tuesday.

Liverpool’s Jordan Henderson and Manchester City’s Adam Johnson remain on standby and could figure this evening in Norway.

Norway, the second highest ranked team not to make the trip to Poland and the Ukraine, go into this friendly fixture after narrowly missing out on qualification to Euro 2012, having been pepped to a play off spot by Portugal on goal difference.

　
　

　
England set out their stall in a 4-5-1 formation, with misseurs Parker and Gerrard Suring up midfield in holding defensive roles in front of the back four, allowing the likes of Milner on the right, Downing on the left and Ashley Young through the middle to push on and support Andy Carroll as the lone striker up top.

Defensively England weren’t altogether a new proposition with Phil Jagielka and Joleon Lescott slotting into centre back, a sight familiar to Everton fans in years gone by, with another Everton favourite at left back, Leighton Baines in the absence of Ashley Cole.

At right back Phil Jones deputises for the injured Glen Johnson, whilst between the sticks a welcome return out of international football exile in the form of Robert Green, the West Ham keeper having attained a consistent season in the Championship with West Ham, reaping the rewards of promotion back to the Premier League.

Norway’s formation a similar 4-5-1 formation, however with 3 holding midfielders and 2 wide men.

Familiar faces in this nowegian side include Fulham’s Brede Hangeland at the back, alongside John Arne Riise, as well as Morten Gamst Pedersen of Blackburn in midfield in addition to the number twenty one, Daniel Braaten who spent a solitary campaign at Bolton in the 07/08 season.

The number seven Henriksen in midfield is one to watch for the future.