Few international teams go into knockout games with such pressure on their shoulders as England carrries.
Always hoping that every appearance at a major tournament will be the one to erase decades of pain, the Three Lions’ face nearly as much opposition from their own history as they do from the other team on the pitch.
With Tuesday morning’s round of 16 meeting with Iceland the next hurdle in France, the gang at oulala.com have taken a look at how England rank against the other 23 nations in 13 areas, based on their group stage performances.
Illustrated by the results which saw them finish the group stages with a win and two draws – it has been a mixed bag across the pitch for Roy Hodgson’s men. They go into the round of 16 as leaders in terms of chances created, and second for overall attempts, but with only three converted, England sit ninth in terms of goals scored – something that will surely need to improve given their half of the knockout draw.
Ranking an impressive fifth in both possession and pass completion, it is in their defensive duties where the side is lacking, sitting at 23rd for interceptions and success of tackles – although they have still conceded just two goals.
Will Hodgson’s men find the right balance to steer themselves toward the final?
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