Joe Hart responds to English team critics

Roy Hodgson’s supporters are retaliating to the caustic tweets by critics of the England manager’s squad tactics.

Joe Hart, the English goalkeeper, said that England team’s critics can “tweet all they want from their sofas” while Hodgson’s side are busy concentrating on qualifying for the 2014 World Cup.

The retort was aimed at former England striker Gary Lineker who used social media to describe Hodgson’s tactics during the 1-1 draw against Republic of Ireland last week as “a step back to the dark ages”.

Linekar made no bones about the fact that he disapproved of Hodgson’s rigid 4-4-2 system against Ireland.

“We have to take the positives though. We beat Spain and Brazil at home in friendlies” said Hart.

“No one has taken us apart – we just need to get over the finish line [in qualifying]” added the goalkeeper.

England followed up their lacklustre midweek performance against the Republic of Ireland with a 2-2 draw against Brazil at the Maracana on Sunday.

Hodgson’s side is placed second in their World Cup 2014 qualifying group with four games to go and two points behind Montenegro, having won just three of the last nine matches, including two against San Marino.

They are set to face Moldova on 6 September before travelling to Ukraine four days later.

Source: BBC Sport