Roy gives England strikers ‘public dressing down’

Matt Stead

Roy Hodgson gave England’s forwards a ‘public dressing down’ after they scored only nine goals from 47 shots in an open training session.

England face Iceland in the last 16 of Euro 2016 on Monday, but questions remains over their profligacy in front of goal.

Hodgson’s side have scored just three goals in their three group games, having had 64 attempts against Russia, Wales and Slovakia.

In an open training session at their Chantilly base, England concentrated on shooting drills, knowing that Iceland will herald another side who intend to defend.

But, between them, England’s attack scored just nine times from 47 attempts. To be fair, it is a better conversion rate than three in 64.

According to the Daily Telegraph, Jamie Vardy, Harry Kane and Jack Wilshere all scored twice, while Dele Alli, Raheem Sterling and Daniel Sturridge all scored once.

In front of the watching journalists, Hodgson told his players: “The quality at the moment has to be better than this.”

Hodgson’s assistant Ray Lewington added: “Concentrate, get off the line and join in. Movement.”

When the strikers improved somewhat, he said: “That’s slightly better. Keep concentration going. Get in some better crosses.”

Matt Law reports that captain Wayne Rooney reprised his deeper midfield role in training, but ‘could not help showing the England forwards how it should be done by directing the ball into the top corner of the net from 25 yards once one of the drills had finished’.