England 1-0 Norway

By Amar Azam

Three months ago, an optimistic nation waved off the England squad as Roy Hodgson’s men left these shores for the World Cup. This match, their first since that uninspiring campaign, saw an attendance of 40,181, less than half the figure that saw the win over Peru at the end of May. Welcome back England. 

It also made this the lowest crowd to watch an England match at the new Wembley. By some margin too.

It’s difficult to remember a time when expectations of England were as low as they are. They begin their Euro 2016 qualifying campaign on Monday evening in Switzerland with a nation shrugging their shoulders with indifference. This isn’t a great time to be an England fan.

Hodgson acknowledged that the team needed to improve if they are to win back the fans. "We understand that after the World Cup it is difficult for the fans and for the players too,” he said. “We have to make sure we do well in this qualification campaign to make fans believe again and that is what we aim to do."

Against Norway, Wayne Rooney, the new skipper, scored the only goal of a poor match with a second half penalty kick after the impressive Raheem Sterling was taken down in the penalty area.

Rooney departed shortly after putting England ahead, as did Jack Wilshere, another player who needs to step up to the mark following the retirement of former skipper Steven Gerrard from international football.

Few emerged from much credit from England’s desperately short World Cup campaign but in Sterling and the energetic Daniel Sturridge, Hodgson has two players that will be an integral part of the England side for the upcoming campaign. 

This England team bears a strong resemblance to the one that returned from Brazil not having won a match, but it seems Hodgson will place a strong emphasis on youth. The average age of the starting line-up was just 24.

Hogdson added: "If the team works as hard as they did against Norway, show the appetite and desire and the aggression in the defending, show the exciting moves that were there for all to see, the fans will come back."