If 2011 was a slightly dull year for the English national team, 2012 most certainly hasn’t been the case.
The year has thrown up plenty of controversies for the national team and for the FA to deal with, some of it very unwelcome.
On Wednesday night, England will complete their programme for the year with an international friendly in Stockholm against Sweden.
The year ends with a new manager and a new captain to what the situation was at the start of 2012.
Capello cracks
The year began with a change in both major positions. Facing a police investigation, of which he was later cleared, John Terry was stripped from his position as England captain for a second time.
Fabio Capello was less than impressed but rather than keep this issue discreet, he cracked on Italian television and voiced his disappointment that he wasn’t consulted about the issue.
The faith shown in Terry was understandable but it cost him his job. After some showdown talks at Wembley on 8 February, Capello resigned as manager.
He was due to depart after Euro 2012 anyway but the timing was not great. Honestly he isn’t missed by many Three Lions supporters.
His management style was pedantic; he never coped with the English media and never really got a grasp of the English language.
Once again the decision to go foreign with a Three Lions manager had backfired.
The Italian was probably glad to see the back of England and later in the year, he went back on his decision to retire from football management and took over as head coach of Russia.
Stuart Pearce was put in caretaker charge for a rearranged friendly international with Holland in March.
Scott Parker was given the captain’s armband and England showed resolve to fightback from 2-0 down but a wonderful stoppage time strike from Arjen Robben gave the Dutch a 3-2 victory.
Upto this point, it has been England’s only defeat over 90 minutes in 2012.
Roy answers the call
With Pearce in charge of the Under-21 team and Team GB’s male effort at the Olympic Games, the FA needed to find a successor, especially with Euro 2012 getting closer.
The media favourite and the fans number one choice was Harry Redknapp, who had been cleared of tax evasion charges on the day Capello quit.
So it was a mixed reaction from many when the FA elected to offer the job to West Brom manager Roy Hodgson.
Hodgson (pictured) was more than delighted to get the opportunity and took the job. His previous international experience with Switzerland and Finland certainly helped in this decision.
The appointment was made more in the long-term than the short-term vision, with 2014 being the obvious target.
There was still a major tournament around the corner and things started well for the new boss, with a solid defence and promising attack line that accounted for both Norway and Belgium in narrow friendly wins before Euro 2012.
Hodgson gave Steven Gerrard the armband on a permanent basis which was the right decision.
The main news from the Euro 2012 squad announcement was the decision to pick Terry and leave out Rio Ferdinand.
Ferdinand was upset and hasn’t played for the international team since. Again, this was a tough call but the right one made by the former Fulham and Liverpool boss.
Injuries to Gary Cahill, Gareth Barry and Frank Lampard hampered the build-up to the tournament but England headed to Ukraine with a confident squad but this time with little expectation.
A reality check
The Three Lions were drawn into Group D for the finals, alongside co-hosts Ukraine, a dangerous Swedish side and the improving French.
Early form was encouraging and England topped a major tournament group for only the second time in the last seven international tournaments they have taken part in.
A creditable 1-1 draw in Donetsk with France was followed by an exhilarating 3-2 success over Sweden in Kiev.
The form of Theo Walcott, Andy Carroll and Danny Welbeck was pleasing to see, while Joleon Lescott filled in exceptionally well for the axed Ferdinand.
Wayne Rooney returned from suspension to head home the only goal in a scrappy 1-0 victory over Ukraine, to ensure England topped Group D with seven points and hence avoid Spain in the knockout stages.
It took the English back to Kiev and a showdown with Italy, who had looked average in the group stages.
Ultimately the match was a reality check. Andrea Pirlo bossed the midfield and only some desperate defending kept the scoreline at 0-0 after extra-time.
It was down to penalties and once again, it was quarter-finals and bust. Ashley Young smashed his penalty against the crossbar and Ashley Cole’s spot-kick was saved by Gianluigi Buffon.
Alessandro Diamanti delivered the final blow to take Italy into the semi-finals.
Euro 2012 was a commendable effort but the tournament did show that England were still some way behind the best in Europe, Spain, Italy and Germany.
Mixed start
In August, a satisfying 2-1 friendly victory over the Italians in Bern with a youthful squad was overshadowed by more politics off the football field.
Terry was charged by the FA for allegedly racially abusing Anton Ferdinand while playing for Chelsea the previous October.
Sensing a potential ban and hefty fine, the former captain was unhappy and felt his international position had become ‘untenable.’
He retired from international football in September with immediate effect. With Rio Ferdinand no longer in Hodgson’s plans, a new international centre back generation had to be formed.
Cole was left embarrassed when a foul-mouthed rant at the FA on Twitter landed him with a misconduct charge. He supported Terry throughout both the criminal investigation and the FA hearing.
The manager didn’t cover himself in any glory either, when he admitted that Ferdinand’s international future was practically over to commuters on the London Underground in October.
On the pitch and qualification for World Cup 2014 got underway with a resounding 5-0 victory away in Moldova.
Lampard scored twice and there were first international goals for James Milner and the in-form Leighton Baines.
Four days later, a late Lampard penalty rescued the Three Lions from a surprising home defeat to Ukraine.
Gerrard had a dismal evening and got carelessly sent off. The 1-1 draw was a lucky escape in a mixed start to qualifying for the next major tournament.
Warsaw woe
San Marino were dispatched with the ease expected but the 5-0 final scoreline didn’t cover England with any glory whatsoever.
Then it was off to Warsaw and a qualifier in Poland that was postponed after the pitch at the National Stadium was waterlogged by pouring rain.
The decision not to close the roof despite forecasted downpours was bewildering to say the least.
Less than 24 hours later, the game took place and the performance was tame at best.
Rooney opened the scoring but the Poles fought back and deserved the 1-1 draw at the final whistle.
England might be unbeaten after four matches, but have lacked conviction so far in qualification and Montenegro is a major threat in this group.
In fact, they should be top of Group H going into 2013, as they will be expected to trounce San Marino on Wednesday evening.
So a dramatic year is reaching its conclusion for the English national team, with many uncomfortable headlines and some action on the field that has been difficult to stay awake for.
However, Hodgson has equipped fairly well in testing circumstances and is still unbeaten in his first 11 matches in charge over normal time.
Victory over Sweden would be a happy end to a testing and at times, troubled year for the English game. The senior figures will be hoping 2013 is a little bit quieter.
By Simon Wright – Follow me on Twitter @Siwri88
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