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Roy Hodgson messed up by deciding on six changes against Slovakia…and not for the first time

ROY HODGSON is in hot water with FA chiefs after stunning the nation by making six changes for England's final group B game at Euro 2016.

But during his four years at the England helm, Hodgson has made more than the odd faux pas.

Here, SunSport details five of his biggest...

 Jamie Vardy, Roy Hodgson and Dele Alli are upset after the 0-0 draw with Slovakia
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Jamie Vardy, Roy Hodgson and Dele Alli are upset after the 0-0 draw with SlovakiaCredit: Getty Images

2016: Six changes...and a goalless draw

ENGLAND somehow failed to beat massive underdogs Slovakia to leave them badly exposed at Euro 2016.Hodgson's men needed victory to Top Group B to map out a more comfortable route into the knockout phase of the tournament.

But Hodgson bizarrely to make six changes to his side following the win over Wales.

England, with captain Wayne Rooney on the bench, drew 0-0  to leave Wales as the beneficiaries as a 3-0 win over Russia saw them take top spot.

 Strange but true...Harry Kane prepares to take a corner against Russia
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Strange but true...Harry Kane prepares to take a corner against RussiaCredit: Getty Images

2016: Harry Kane taking corners?

SUNSPORT'S Alan Shearer was among those who couldn't understand Roy's tactical ploy to allow the Tottenham hitman to take England's corners in the Euro 2016 opener with Russia.

Kane overhit most of them and was totally ineffective.

Shearer wrote: "He is England's No 1 centre-forward and one of our best headers of a ball. So why on earth is Roy Hodgson asking him to take corners? It is like asking Lewis Hamilton to change his own tyres.

"Kane is well within his rights to pull Roy Hodgson to one side in training this week and say, 'I don't think I should be taking corners - I want to be in the box getting on the end of them'."

 

 Uruguay forward Luis Suarez scores against England at the 2014 World Cup
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Uruguay forward Luis Suarez scores against England at the 2014 World CupCredit: Getty Images

2014: World Cup selection cock-up

HODGSON was generally criticized for being defensive and conservative throughout the 2014 World Cup qualifying campaign.

The performances of Liverpool with their contingent of English players using a 4-4-2 diamond system adopted by Brendan Rogers basically provided Hodgson a clear blueprint to use in the national team. He had the chance to follow in the same vein that Spain, Italy and Germany embraced the club styles of Barcelona, Juventus and Bayern Munich.

Unfortunately in friendly matches versus Chile, Germany, Denmark, Peru, Ecuador and Honduras Hodgson never tried this and it lead to a host of problems, which were exposed criminally in the catastrophic World Cup finals defeats against Italy and Uruguay.

 Hodgson hugs winger Andros Townsend after the Poland World Cup qualifier...a game marred by Hodgson's controversial half-time 'feed the monkey' instruction
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Hodgson hugs winger Andros Townsend after the Poland World Cup qualifier...a game marred by Hodgson's controversial half-time 'feed the monkey' instructionCredit: AP:Associated Press
 Hodgson faces the media the day after the Poland game and after Townsend has tweeted to say 'no offence was meant and none was taken'
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Hodgson faces the media the day after the Poland game and after Townsend has tweeted to say 'no offence was meant and none was taken'Credit: PA:Press Association

2013: Andros Townsend Race row

FA chiefs sprang to Hodgson's defence of manager after he came under attack for telling his players to "feed the monkey".

Hodgson said a generational misunderstanding may have been to blame for him becoming embroiled in a race row over using the phrase to explain to his team why they should pass more often to black winger Andros Townsend.

Several members of the squad were said to have been upset with the comment that the England manager made in the Wembley dressing room at half-time in the crucial World Cup qualifier against Poland.

Said Hodgson: “I admit some of the younger players may not have understood the reference to the monkey in space.

"They may not have heard the expression before but that’s a generational thing.

“I meant ‘give the ball to the player who can make things happen’.

“There was no other connotation and no offence was taken by any of the players.”

 Ashley Cole is presented with his commemorative 100th England cap by Hodgson
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Ashley Cole is presented with his commemorative 100th England cap by HodgsonCredit: PA Wire

2013: Ashley Cole captaincy riddle

THE Three Lions boss was attempting to clarify the captaincy situation ahead of the Wembley friendly against the Republic of Ireland.

Regular skipper Steven Gerrard was absent after shoulder surgery and his normal deputy would be Frank Lampard. But Ashley Cole was also in the frame as he was due to be presented with an award to mark his 100th international appearance.

Initially, Hodgson indicated Cole’s Chelsea team-mate Lampard would skipper the team, with the left-back simply leading the team out.

But minutes later Hodgson backtracked and confirmed Cole – fined £90,000 seven months ago for calling the FA “a bunch of tw*ts” – would be handed the ulitmate honour.

Said Hodgson: Frank is happy for Ashley to lead the team on to the field.... but Frank still remains captain of the team. I’m afraid that’s a bit more complicated than you maybe would have liked it to be, but that’s the way it is.”

 You Tube, Roy...Hodgson told commuters that Rio Ferdinand had been dropped
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You Tube, Roy...Hodgson told commuters that Rio Ferdinand had been droppedCredit: Times Newspapers Ltd

2012: Rio Ferdinand Tube faux pas

HODGSON apologised to Rio Ferdinand after discussing the defender's England future with fellow London Underground passengers as he travelled to the Emirates to watch Arsenal's Champions League match against Olympiakos.

The England coach admitted saying the Manchester United centre-back would not be in his latest squad a day before it was announced.

"I have to say it is over for him and England. It has got to be the end of the road," Hodgson was quoted as saying.

Later he insisted: "Of course I didn't say that Rio's career was over.

"What I remember is talking to quite a lot of people on the Tube, and one guy said, 'Is Rio in the next squad?', and I think I might have said 'I don't think so'. But I think that's about as far as I went.

"But I shouldn't say that of course. That's a mistake and I need to apologise for that.

"But this is one of the hazards I suppose of travelling on Tube trains - which is the best way for me to come into London - and then speaking to people who ask me questions rather than sitting there tight-lipped refusing to ever open my mouth."

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