valo, you are absolutely right. Outside of the odd tabloid article, I've not come across many people, be they TV personalities, pundits, former players, current players, or your average Englishman(woman) that has any sort of expectations this time round. Basically no one does. I'd bet that if England put in some decent performances, get out of the group and give a good account of themselves in the QF, no one will think it was a disaster.
Robert Green is still a decent keeper that could easily be the no.1 on a Premiership side. In fact he'll be in the EPL next year. I also admire him for sticking with the Hammers and not wanting to run off to a club in the top flight like so many relegated players do - which inevitably makes it harder for the recently relegated side to gain re-promotion to the PL.
While I think my good friend Locke is trying to wind up the England contingent on CP, they do have some problems, but I don't think that they are the ones he's highlighted. The real problem that I see is with the strikers. Outside of the White Pele, none of the other forwards have a regular place in their club side and Defoe hasn't been around the England camp since Autumn 2010. The lack of another CM outside of Parker could be an issue, but looking at the team Roy has chosen, he's placed a lot of emphasis on versatility. He's got a bunch of guys that can play multiple positions, which in a tournament like this will probably come in handy. He's got a lot of wide men too, possibly at the cost of another CM or CF. But who knows. If they give a good account and play well, then it was a success. But rest assured, very few here in England have any sort of expectations going into Euro 2012.
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