Wellcome to graceomama blog: AWFUL! England one step closer to Rio but toothless side are blasted by legend Lineker as they come close to calamity (and if they thought it hurt playing, they should try watching the game...)

AWFUL! England one step closer to Rio but toothless side are blasted by legend Lineker as they come close to calamity (and if they thought it hurt playing, they should try watching the game...)

Roy Hodgson was forced into a fierce defence of his team’s 0-0 draw in Ukraine after more criticism from former England striker Gary Lineker.
England top Group H and can secure qualification for next summer’s World Cup in Brazil with victories at Wembley over Montenegro on October 11 and Poland on October 15.
But a painful display led to Lineker tweeting ‘awful’, which was swiftly deleted from his account.MOREScroll down to watch Roy Hodgson: I think this is a good result from tight group

Stony-faced: England boss Roy Hodgson watches his side draw 0-0 in Ukraine next to assistant Gary Neville

Difference of opinion: Gary Lineker - who netted 48 times for England, including a hat trick against Poland in the 1986 World Cup - labelled England's performance as 'awful' on Twitter before deleting the tweet

The Match of the Day host, who claimed English football was back in the ‘Dark Ages’ after the 1-1 draw against Ireland last May, later tweeted: ‘Good result for England… Brazil, Spain, Germany, Argentina et al, you’re in big trouble! What happens to some of these players when they pull on an England shirt?’
Furious Hodgson said: ‘If expectations upon us are so great that we come to places like Ukraine and expect to roll teams over, it will be difficult for us ever to get a good result. I will stick to my ignorance. I think it is a good result.
'I am surprised that has been the reaction back home. I am surprised to hear people say that what I thought was a good performance has become yet again underwhelming.’
England were forced into long balls at times during a frenetic performance but qualification for Brazil remains in Hodgson’s hands.

Roy Hodgson: I think this is a good result from tight group

Tough to watch: Hodgson (right) shifts awkwardly in his seat in the Olympic Stadium

Speaking his mind: Michael Owen also tweeted his dissatisfaction at England's performance, saying it was 'hard to be positive'

GARY LINEKER'S TWEETS

The former England captain was not happy.
'Awful. What happens to some of these players when they pull on an England shirt?'
Lineker subsequently deleted the above post.
‘We’re seeing a lot of one touch football. England have a touch. Ukraine have a touch. England have a touch...’
‘When you see England pass it like they’ve never been introduced to each other, it does make you wonder why Carrick doesn’t feature.’
‘We’re on the precipice here. KEEP THE BALL.’
‘Good result for England....Brazil, Spain, Germany, Argentina et al, you’re in big trouble! #Brazil2014’

Lineker’s criticism was echoed by another former England striker Michael Owen, who tweeted: ‘In terms of looking to the future, it’s hard to be positive. Few good performances, few average and a couple poor.’
The criticism clearly unsettled Hodgson because he believed a goalless draw against an energetic and emerging Ukraine team was a good result.
He added: ‘The players did a remarkable job. It was a very different performance from the 4-0 win against Moldova, but I’m glad this team have this kind of performance in them.
‘We take responsibility for the performance and we have come away with a 0-0 which was fully deserved.
‘Neither team will think they have lost points and I thought it was a good quality game.’
Although England struggled to retain possession at times, they secured the minimum result required in a hostile atmosphere.
England skipper Steven Gerrard added: ‘I don’t think it was top class but defensively we were solid.
‘Before the game the manager said we need to keep it in our hands and it gives us the final two games to win to get through. We have a better chance to beat our competitors at Wembley.

Saluting the fans: Steven Gerrard applauds the travelling support after England gave them some cheer

Vital interception: Gerrard robs the ball off Andriy Yarmolenko's toe

Vital interception: Gerrard nicks the ball off Andriy Yarmolenko's toe

‘We always knew Ukraine would push us all the way. We always knew we were going to have to do it the hard way.
‘I don’t think they will be happy with a draw. Now we focus on Poland and Montenegro. It’s a different type of pressure but we are capable of getting the job done.’
England defender Phil Jagielka said: ‘We would have loved to have got a win and made a big statement but it is still in our hands.
‘I was relieved to see the referee point for a corner and not give a penalty in the first minute. He may have got there before Joe Hart but it was a theatrical reaction and maybe that swayed the referee.
'Maybe it was a tiny bit of luck but we ground out the result.’