Andy Williams (right) celebrates Centenary Shield success in April 2012
Andy Williams guided England Under 18 Schoolboys to Centenary Shield glory this year, in what was his final season in charge at international level. esfa.co.uk caught up with Andy to gain his views of the current European Championships being held in Poland and Ukraine this summer. Here is what Andy had to say:
“Think you're a fan of football? Then you will have been glued to the Euros. Twenty four games on and sweet sixteen is now down to the elite eight! It is fair to say that the competition has seen the complete mixed bag up to this stage - the good, the bad, and at times, the ugly! I don't think any of the remaining teams will be entirely happy with how they performed in the group phase, including Greece! They will all believe there is more still to come.
I suppose the biggest surprise was the elimination of Holland, they didn't even register a single point. Classic Dutch I suppose - seemingly a team of individuals amid rumours (from Arjen Robben) that the World Cup runners' up egos have soared! A hidden surprising fact for statos amongst you, did you know there hasn't been a single goalless draw yet?
Gerrard & Johnson
Roy Hodgson and England will be delighted so far; unbeaten, two wins and top of the group. Not many people would have predicted that before we started, but Hodgson has hit a successful formula. Setting the team up largely in a 1-4-4-1-1 formation, the message seems to bedefend first and take a chance when it comes along. However, the manner of the performances may also suggest we are still searching for cohesion and understanding - it will take time for him to get his messages across but there is emerging light.
I thought at this point I would try and draw your attention to some details that may have escaped your attention.
Headed goals - the number of headed goals has all reaching for Andy Carroll's hair products - 17 at the last count (there were 15 in 2008 Euros). We will all have our own reasoning to this, but look at the set pieces (see Steven Gerrard v France), justifying the notion that giving set-pieces away at this elite level will hurt you. The other reason of course is that many countries have tried to follow Spain's example of dominating the central midfield area; in doing so you open more space and opportunity in the wider areas where top quality players can execute stunning delivery (see Steven Gerrard v Sweden and Ukraine).
A full shift - you will be very lucky if you win games by only delivering a one half performance. We see teams or individuals start a game well getting us excited before inexplicably disappearing in the second half. England managed something similar against Belgium at Wembley recently; to consistently win a game of football at the highest level you must perform over the course of the game. Poland have been victims of this during the first phase, after a blistering first half against Greece where they looked like a well oiled machine, they came out second half against ten men unable to sustain their level of performance. Arguably that second half performance was their downfall.
The first goal is important - statistics are beginning to play an ever increasing part at the elite end of the game, from the games so far, the team scoring the first goal went on to win the game on 75% of occasions, and from the remaining 25%, the team scoring the first goal drew 21% losing only 4% (one game). The only time a team won when conceding the first goal was Ukraine vs Sweden. Scoring the first goal in the group phase you were 96% certain not to lose!
Seven games remaining - straight knockout from here on in; time to be brave!
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