Matt Reeder: Defeat hard to accept but future looks bright under Hodgson

The streets were packed full of well-wishers clamouring to pay homage to a side which had come so close to winning the World Cup.

Defeated in the cruelest possible way in a penalty shoot-out against the Germans, the likes of Shilton, Platt, Lineker, Waddle and of course Gascoigne returned as heroes – even if Gazza did rather dumb down proceedings by deciding to wear a set of fake, plastic breasts.

English football was on a high. Not since 1966 had the nation been given such reason to cheer its national team.

Okay, so they had been beaten, felled at the penultimate hurdle in their quest for success, but they had still done great things.

As they waved from their open-topped bus the talk was not of failure, but of achievement.

The world, we thought, we hoped, we prayed, was at our feet. Semi-finalists at Italia 90? Surely we would now be among the favourites for Euro 92 and USA 94? Surely, we would now be joining the likes of Germany, Italy and France as European heavyweights? Surely, this was the start of a dynasty of success?

How wrong could we be?

We are, of course, 22 years on from that tearful night in Turin and, looking back on events, it is difficult not to ponder what might have been. We feel compelled to ask the question... ‘where did it all go wrong?’

How could we go from such a high in 1990 when we finally made the footballing world sit up and take notice, to the depths of failure and despair that were the Euro 92 and World Cup 94 campaigns?

If we were good enough to reach the semi-finals back then, why have we only matched the feat once (on home soil) since?

Today, as England prepare to make their way home from Euro 2012 following defeat against the Italians, it can only be hoped that those in power at the Football Association heed such lessons from the past for there are many similarities between the two campaigns of 1990 and 2012. Certainly enough to make you pause and ponder.

Ask any football supporter today which major tournament campaign stands out from the modern era and they will, I have no doubt, point to the efforts of Sir Bobby and co.

The images of Platt striking late against the Belgians, of Lineker scoring his brace of penalties against Cameroon and of Gazza struggling to hold back the tears after defeat to the Germans will live long in the memory.

Yet, it must be remembered just how tough life had been for Robson and his team both prior to leaving for Italy and also following their opening exchange with Ireland.

Relations with the British press, not to mention an unhappy public, were at an all-time low heading into the tournament.

After a fine start at Mexico 86 – where Maradona’s infamous ‘Hand of God’ had ended a promising-looking Three Lions assault – a difficult Euro 88 – where England lost all three group games against Ireland, Holland and Russia – had done much damage. Hopes were not high of anything better two years later.

Reports that Robson had agreed to take over at PSV Eindhoven once his World Cup adventure was over had done little to ease the pressure on his shoulders.

Looking back now it seems ridiculous that anyone, fan or reporter, would want Robson anywhere other than in charge of our national team. But the calls for his resignation were as strong as they were vicious and morale among supporters clearly suffered for it.

Indeed, expectations among the public were probably about as low as when Roy Hodgson named his squad for Euro 2012.

Few expected England’s latest crop to secure safe passage through the group phase, so to finish on top and unbeaten certainly offers some hope for the future.

Much as Robson did with his team, Hodgson has created a team ethic, an all-for-one attitude which has swept away the wasted decade of big-name stars and expensive, foreign managers.

When this current side left for Ukraine at the start of this month, they did so with many calling them ‘the worst ever England squad’. Hodgson’s appointment ahead of favourite Harry Redknapp also leaving most to fear an early exit.

I hope such critics have enjoyed tasting their humble pie because, finally, we have a team to be proud of again.

Okay, so they may not be free-flowing, all-out attacking or in the mould of say a Spain or a Brazil. But they have a team spirit, a smattering of true quality in Steven Gerrard and Wayne Rooney and enough promise in their youth to give even the hardened of naysayers hope for a better future.

More importantly, we have found an English manager who can guide us on the path to greater things.

Euro 2012 has been Hodgson’s stepping stone. He now has two years to first qualify for Brazil 2014 and then prepare for a tournament where we will be expected to compete.

England are suddenly a much tougher prospect, they play with a real sense of pride in their hearts and an all-important connection with the supporters – lost under the reigns of Sven Goran-Eriksson and Fabio Capello – has been re-forged.

The Football Association may not admit it, but the men in suits who rule our game missed a great opportunity to build on the success of 1990.

Hodgson has given them another chance to build for a better future.