Hodgson believes Wilshere key to beating Russia in Euros opener

Roy Hodgson is apparently putting a lot of pressure on the shoulders of Jack Wilshere ahead of the tournament this summer, insisting that the Arsenal star will be key to not only England’s clash with Russia this Saturday, but the tournament as a whole, as reported by The Daily Mail.

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Wilshere is a divisive figure among England fans, with many not appreciating the quality he has. Many feel his injury record and lack of first-team football this past season should automatically see him out of the England setup, refusing to acknowledge the quality he possesses.

The England boss and his teammates clearly know just how good he really is, and Wilshere will almost certainly play a large part in any success the Three Lions are set to have this summer.

For some reason Wilshere draws a huge amount of hate from many rival fans, so much so that it has become fashionable to hate the Gunner. They consequently become blinded to his importance for England, demanding that he be dropped from the squad.

Many were furious that Wilshere kept his place at the expense of Danny Drinkwater this summer, with the latter enjoying a fantastic season with Leicester. He has a real lack of international experience though, and had little to no positive impact during either of his outings with England.

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Too many fans look to make a dream team with players they’ve seen perform well for their clubs, without considering where they fit into the England setup and how they’d be utilised by Hodgson. Wilshere has always been key to England’s success and regularly picks up the Man of the Match award, so how anyone can question his place in the squad is a mystery. .

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We saw the impact Wilshere had on a slow and stale England against Turkey, and Hodgson will clearly be hoping he can play a similar role during the tournament itself