How England boss Roy Hodgson plotted his revenge on Gareth Bale for his patriot games
Three Lions boss and his team were fired up more than ever after the Wales kingpin cast doubt on the Three Lions' spirit
ROY HODGSON was on safe ground yesterday.
Out and about on Chantilly's cobbled streets, he looked like he did not have a care in the world.
He was happy to pose for pictures as he passed The English Shop, where the names of Jamie Vardy and Daniel Sturridge were posted, along with their goal times, in the front window.
It is there that you can buy copies of the English newspapers — and Hodgson knows he could have been reading a very different story.
Gareth Bale did not realise it at the time, but his loose lips took care of Hodgson's team talk in Lens.
England’s PR plan, as hard as it was under such provocation, was to rise above it all week and retaliate on the pitch.
That explains the England manager’s diplomatic “talk is talk, action is action” response on the eve of the game.
But in private, Hodgson told his coaching staff that his Wales counterpart Chris Coleman had been “unprofessional” by encouraging Gareth Bale to speak out of turn.
Eventually, excruciatingly, Hodgson somehow got the last word.
He does not have a great deal of respect for Coleman and was delighted to stick it up the Wales manager after Sturridge came to his rescue in the 92nd minute.
It all came spilling out — “f*****g get in” he screamed — after his ballsy, triple substitution paid off at the death.
Vardy’s 56th-minute equaliser and Sturridge’s magic boots keep Hodgson in a job for one more week, at least.
It was that close and he knows it.
This is the life of England’s head coach at a major international tournament.
Every decision is scrutinised, every decision analysed.
Sorry, Roy, but that is the way it has to be.
Little wonder, when Hodgson turned up in Lens on Wednesday afternoon that the poor guy looked shredded.
Stress, strain . . . and substitutions. he has The Intolerable Job.
Fabio Capello has been there with England, taking the country to the 2010 World Cup after picking up the pieces of Steve McClaren’s disastrous regime.
The Italian said: “The responsibilities and the pressures are huge, particularly because it is England.
“They haven’t won anything for such a long time.
“The longer the wait, the bigger the pressures. Fail — another coach. Fail — another coach.
“It is a hard job to succeed in, but it is the best job.”
Hodgson would say the same, proud to put on his England tracksuit to go to work with the 23 players he has picked for the tournament.
He was wearing it out on the streets first thing Wednesday, taking a breezy morning walk with assistant coach Ray Lewington before training.
By the time they reached Lens a few hours later, there was a very different feel to him.
Hodgson’s face was ruddy, his eyes weary and the guy was on the backfoot.
The following day — matchday — he was nervous and tense.
Wales was one game he simply could not afford to lose.
His pre-match team talk was short and concise, especially for a man who is prone to rabbit on a bit.
The biggest noises before they left the dressing room came from keeper Joe Hart and captain Wayne Rooney.
Bale had riled them and England’s players — particularly these two — had been getting worked up all week over it.
They wanted revenge.
Hodgson’s plans, to keep it tight with the same players and formation that started the 1-1 draw with Russia, went out of the window after 42 minutes.
Bale scored — of course he scored — when he beat Hart with a free-kick from 34 yards.
Hodgson twitched, but he was about to make two decisions that were welcome, yet unexpected.
Remarkably Hodgson, who swears like a trooper in moments of high tension, remained calm. In the previous eight matches at a tournament, he had only ever once brought on a striker before the 76th minute.
This time he sent for two — Vardy and Sturridge — at half-time, and added a third when Marcus Rashford replaced Adam Lallana after 72 minutes.
England had been screaming out for changes against Russia, but the touchline is an unforgiving, pressurised place.
Mike Kelly worked with Hodgson for more than 20 years as his goalkeeper coach and witnessed thousands of team talks and tactical changes.
He said: “It is easy to make theoretical changes when you are watching on TV because they are changes that will never happen.
“You can be screaming at the television telling him to do something, but the manager on the touchline has to think it through.
“Roy has a very measured, analytical approach, but he did what he had to do against Wales.
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“I’m sure he would have been very aware of the consequences of a defeat against Wales, which is why he had to make sure his decisions were the right ones.
“They were brave, but it worked. He has a lot of forwards in the squad — the benefit is that he has created a highly-competitive environment.
“It was a good win in the end and knowing Roy, it is one that he will have enjoyed.”
He certainly did, returning to England’s luxurious hotel in Chantilly for a glass of wine with his coaching staff.
Unquestionably, he had earned it.