What did Roy learn?

England got their pre-Euro 2016 preparations off to a winning start with a 2-1 victory over Turkey. But what did Roy Hodgson learn from the friendly?

With the England manager needing to cut three from his group ahead of the finals, this was an opportunity for players to state their case for inclusion.

So who seized their chance? Who will hope for another opportunity to impress? And how will the performance affect Hodgson’s tactical thoughts ahead of this summer’s showpiece? We take a look…

Kane and Alli combination is essential

Dele Alli set up seven of Harry Kane’s Premier League goals for Tottenham this season – the joint-most productive combination between any pair of players in the division. And it took the duo just two minutes to click against Turkey, with Alli slipping a pass through the legs of his marker for Kane to slot in the opener – albeit from an offside position.

Of course, both Alli and Kane have strong cases for inclusion in Roy Hodgson’s starting line-up in their own right. Kane was the top scorer in the Premier League and has delivered repeatedly in the early days of his England career. Alli, too, has shone on international duty and picked up the PFA Young Player of the Year prize for his efforts with Tottenham this term.

But together they form an incisive partnership – and Hodgson must find a way to make the most of their mutual understanding. That could mean playing Alli in a more advanced midfield role, so he is closer to Kane, or by handing the pacey 20-year-old license to burst forward from a deeper position. Either way, Kane and Alli together provide a potent threat for this England side.

Vardy’s best position is through the middle

This was just the second time Kane and Jamie Vardy had started in the same match for England and just seconds after the first whistle they almost combined to open the scoring. Kane, stepping in from the right with the ball, slipped a pass through the Turkey defence which was fractionally too heavy for Vardy’s run.

However, Vardy spent much of the next 55 minutes wide on the left, holding his position as part of England’s attacking trio at the top of a 4-3-3. After firing Leicester City to the Premier League title with 24 goals as a central striker this season, it seemed like a waste. Rather than causing problems for Turkey’s centre-backs, Vardy was restricted to showing off his less-than-impressive crossing …

continue reading in source www.skysports.com