That'll teach 'em

Alan Curbishley has urged Roy Hodgson to follow the Swansea model in order to improve England's technical skills.

"Brendan Rodgers encouraged those players to pass put from the back, take care of the ball and keep possession - and they went out and did it."
Alan Curbishley Quotes of the week

The Welsh outfit showcased a short, incisive passing game during their maiden season in the Premier League under the guidance of Brendan Rodgers, who has since taken charge at Liverpool.

That was in sharp contrast to the Three Lions at Euro 2012, who struggled to maintain and manipulate the ball, with only Greece (38%) averaging less possession than Hodgson's men's 39%.

Curbishley told Sky Sports News: "I think Roy will start concentrating on [England's] attacking side now. Everyone is talking about passing stats and we have got to be encouraged to pass a lot more.

"I look at Swansea when they came up in to the Premier League. Brendan Rodgers has encouraged those players to pass out from the back, take care of the ball and keep possession.

"They went out and did it, and if you encourage it enough then you've got a chance. I think Roy Hodgson will start looking down that route."

Support

Former Fulham and West Brom boss Hodgson's decision to adopt a 4-4-2 system in Poland and Ukraine has been questioned by some pundits, including Paul Merson and Jamie Redknapp.

Curbishley, however, thinks England actually utilised a 4-3-3/4-5-1 formation in Eastern Europe and believes that style is the way forward, provided Hodgson can discover a flair player to play just off the lone striker.

"I think we were playing a 4-3-3," said the former Charlton and West Ham chief. "Steven Gerrard and Scott Parker were the two midfield players and Wayne Rooney was the extra man (in midfield).

"I thought Rooney dropped deep to make it a 4-3-3; it's just Ashley Young and James Milner (in the wide areas) couldn't get far enough up the pitch to support Danny Welbeck or Andy Carroll.

"What we do need to find is that number 10; a midfielder with a bit of creativity just behind the front player, and Jack Wilshere is the one young English player at the moment that has that creativity.

"If he picks up the ball you expect something to happen and we are all desperate that he comes back (from his long-term ankle injury)."