Head boy: Carroll led the line for England in Norway

Gerrard exhorted his colleagues in his new role as captain but was fortunate to escape with only a lecture from referee Michael Weiner after a studs-raised challenge on Tom Hogli led to the Norway right-back being substituted.

At half-time, as expected, the skipper was replaced by Gareth Barry. Once Gerrard and Scott Parker were withdrawn, with James Milner coming in from his wide position to join Barry, they ended up conceding possession and control of the game. That has been the default failing of England midfields for decades and no one could expect Hodgson to remedy it in four days.

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