I think we're now seeing why Hodgson was the right man for the job. He knows how to make the most of a team's strengths, account for its limitations and get previously under-performing players (eg Gerrard) to make genuine contributions.
Scott Parker is doing well. I don't understand why people are still criticising him for not doing things he isn't in the team to do. He's not Andreas Iniesta, he lacks either the vision or the skill to play truly incisive passes. But he can make simple passes and make himself available to receive the return - perhaps better than any other England defensive midfielder of recent times. After a difficult first 15 mins or so of last night's game, Parker was the hub of a 15(or so)-pass sequence. It didn't lead to a chance for his team, but it relieved that early pressure. He didn't give much away all night.
The 'goal that wasn't', meanwhile, only underlines what a waste of air miles and hotel space these goal-line officials are. Surely one of the situations they're most primed for is one where an attacker is through on goal and a defender is running back beyond the 'keeper(?) Even if it was 'too difficult' to see that the ball was in, that again suggests the role is useless.
Italy will probably be favourites in the QF. But even getting that far, and encouraging a slight growth in expectation in doing so, is more than most England supporters hoped for before the tournament started.
