• England news

Hoddle slams Capello's 'rigid' tactics

ESPNsoccernet staff
March 21, 2011
Glenn Hoddle was England manager from 1996 to 1999 © Getty Images
Enlarge

Glenn Hoddle claims England will win nothing if manager Fabio Capello continues to stick rigidly to his favoured 4-4-2 formation.

Former England boss Hoddle, who succeeded Terry Venables after Euro 96 and was dismissed in February 1999, considers Capello's set-up too inflexible and too predictable for international football.

And he warned that England, who face Wales in Euro 2012 qualifying on Saturday, will have little chance of triumphing at major tournaments unless there is a change in formation.

"I think [Frank] Lampard and [Steven] Gerrard are made for three in midfield," Hoddle said on a live video chat on ESPNsoccernet. "Those two, with a sitting player behind, are tailor-made to get in the box and do what they're good at.

"I don't see us winning anything if we stick to a rigid 4-4-2.''

England endured a disappointing World Cup 2010 under Capello, with many people calling for the Italian to be sacked as a result, and Hoddle thinks the lack of an alternative formation is partly to blame.

Hoddle said: "Too many times in the World Cup you could see the shape when we were in possession and we were too easy to close down and that was our problem.

"I don't see flexibility with England at the moment. I think we're very rigid with the way we're playing.''

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
Close

ABOUT COOKIES

To help make this website better, to improve and personalize your experience and for advertising purposes, are you happy to accept cookies and other technologies.

More Info Here Cookie Choices