5 England World Cup Decisions That Should Haunt Roy Hodgson

3. Exposing Steven Gerrard

Another noticeable flaw of Hodgson 4-2-3-1 system instead of using the Liverpool 4-4-2 was its effect on Steven Gerrard. Rafael Hoginstein of ESPN FC aptly noted the problem:

€œThe back four, an unremarkable collection of players who could have done with some midfield protection, were left exposed by Gerrard and Jordan Henderson, who themselves were always outnumbered in central areas. It was curious that an England team with a strong Liverpool slant didn't replicate the three-in-central-midfield formula that has so obviously brought out the best in Gerrard and the attackers ahead of him€.

Gerrard playing in a mid-field two at his age was very risky: he has good attributes as a playmaker, but he needed more protection, which is why Brendan Rogers always played two midfielders alongside him at Liverpool, as Hodgson should have noted in his numerous scouting trips to Anfield. It remains puzzling then, why in all the England warm-ups before the tournament Hodgson didn€™t notice and replicate this. Instead, he left the midfielder exposed, which lead directly to the mistake that cost England their World Cup place.