How should Roy Hodgson use Harry Kane, Jamie Vardy and Wayne Rooney at Euro 2016? Englands win over Portugal threw up more questions than answers... Roy Hodgson said before Englands Wembley friendly with Portugal that the game would confirm his thinking for Euro 2016. However, with his attack blunted by the 10-man visitors for much of the contest, the manager still has issues to resolve.Chris Smalling eventually made the breakthrough late in the second half to ensure Englands final preparation game for Euro 2016 ended on a winning note and Portugals defensive approach after Bruno Alves 35th-minute sending off made the hosts task tougher. But there was little attacking verve on view to send Englands travelling supporters to France on a wave of excitement. Portugals defender Bruno Alves was sent off for this foul on Kane The chief problem emerging from the contest for Hodgson is how to use the two top scorers in the Premier League this season, Harry Kane and Jamie Vardy, and his captain, Wayne Rooney.For the first time, Hodgson started with all three on Thursday night. With Kane and Vardy up front and Rooney at the tip of a midfield diamond, England kicked off with a system designed to maximise the strengths of their forward trio. Sky Sports Euro 2016 predictor Make your predictions with our interactive wall chart here. Kane and Vardy were deployed in traditional centre forward positions, where theyd be well placed to create and finish scoring opportunities, while also stretching the play so Rooney would have time and space to use his playmaking skills.On paper, it seemed like a smart move. In reality, the system negated the qualities of all three. With Rooney claiming centre ground and with no wingers on the pitch, Kane and Vardy were forced into the channels - to find space when England had the ball, to track full-backs when they didnt. As a result, Englands strikers were dragged away from dangerous zones and left Rooney without obvious targets when he was on the ball.At half-time Vardy had touched the ball just five times, Kane had managed one tame shot into the goalkeepers arms and Rooneys passing accuracy was down below 60 per cent. All three were substituted in the second-half after failing to make significant improvement. Rooney had one attempt on target against Portugal It was a little bit disappointing, former England caretaker boss Peter Taylor told Sky Sports News HQ after the game when asked about the Rooney-Kane-Vardy plan.Portugal having a man sent off didnt help the situation because it didnt allow Vardy the space hed like to run in to. Maybe that didnt work.A lot of our defending was started from the front and I think that affected our performance - Kane works hard getting back, Vardy works hard, we then get the ball and have no targets. But it still makes us solid and they didnt test us much. Vardy found himself doing his fair share of defensive work So what are Hodgsons options against Russia on June 11, when England get their Euro 2016 campaign underway?Try it again. Frustratingly for Hodgson, Alves sending off throws a question mark over whether the system used on Thursday night would be a success in France. With Portugal retreating into their own half after the red card, the space Vardy loves to exploit was filled. Kane and Rooney were equally crowded out. Rooneys FA Cup final commitments and Vardys wedding had prevented the England boss from playing this line-up against Turkey or Australia, and it was arguably not given a fair crack against Portugal. That said, the opening 35 minutes, when it was 11v11, hardly saw a flurry of chances created by the trio... Rooney and Vardy share their thoughts against Portugal Play them as a front three. If Hodgson is determined to have all three on the field - and Kane, Vardy and Rooney have made strong cases for inclusion with their past performances - a return to 4-3-3 could be a solution. With Kane through the middle and Rooney and Vardy operating on the flanks, Euro 2016 defences would have plenty to think about. All three have experience at international level in those roles - however, Rooney and Vardy would be required to track opposition full-backs which is not a strength of either man.Play Kane and Vardy up front and drop Rooney. It would be a major call for Hodgson to drop his captain for the opening game of Euro 2016, but, after Kane and Vardy combined successfully against both Turkey and Germany when Rooney was absent, Hodgson may opt to prioritise his main goal threats. A 4-4-2, with, perhaps, Dele Alli, in a more advanced role - where he has thrived for Tottenham this season - could leave Rooney as an impact option from the bench. Would Hodgson really consider dropping captain Rooney? Play Kane up front with Rooney as part of a three behind, and drop Vardy. At the start of November, England defeated a France team still suffering from the shock of the Paris terrorist attacks 2-0. Given the circumstances, there shouldnt be too much read into that victory over the Euro 2016 favourites but it is interesting to note Englands 4-2-3-1 formation was the system of choice at the time. With Kane up front and Rooney part of a creative trio behind, the tactic allowed Hodgson to get four forwards onto the field, without overly exposing his defence. He has already spoken of his squad being tilted towards attack and the ploy would allow the likes of Raheem Sterling and Dele Alli to join in further up the pitch.Play Kane and Rooney up front. It would be a selection against current public thinking to return Rooney to a striker role against Russia, given his performances in midfield for England and Manchester United in the latter part of the season. However, Rooney did play Englands entire Euro 2016 qualifying campaign as a centre forward and was the teams leading goalscorer with seven. For many of those performances Rooney had a strike partner alongside him, and who better than the Premier Leagues top scorer? Rooney and Vardy share their thoughts against Portugal Its approaching decision time for Hodgson and, unless any training ground incidents affect his options before June 11, he will have to make an important call regarding the roles of Kane, Vardy and Rooney against Russia.The inclusion and use of the trio will have a bearing on the rest of his XI and the entire set-up of his side. Its a decision he needs to get right… Get Euro 2016 Alerts Breaking news from Euro 2016, direct to your mobile Also See: England 1-0 Portugal As it happened Patrick Ewing Jersey .Two San Francisco radio stations say they wont play the song during the duration of the World Series. A Kansas City, Missouri, station responded with plans to play the Grammy-winning track every hour from 7 a. Anthony Mason Jersey .com) - The Toronto Blue Jays will look to snap a three-game skid Friday night when they continue their road trip in the opener of a three-game set against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park. http://www.knickssale.com/ . The Toronto Blue Jays star won his second consecutive Hank Aaron Award as the most outstanding offensive performer in the AL on Monday after votes by fans and a panel of Hall of Famers were tallied. Enes Kanter Jersey . The Stampeders announced the move on Wednesday. Bell spent his first two CFL seasons with the B. Emmanuel Mudiay Jersey . -- The Atlanta Braves are facing the possibility of losing another pitcher for the season after general manager Frank Wren said Saturday that Cory Gearrin has a serious injury to his right elbow.VANCOUVER -- Kadeisha Buchanan sometimes has to pinch herself. The 18-year-old defender with Canadas womens soccer team was always confident in her ability, but she never thought her rise would happen this fast. "I did not expect to come in at such a young age," the Toronto native said this week. "Sometimes when Im in my room I just relax (and think) Im actually here. This is a huge opportunity that Im willing to take and do my best." After scoring her first goal with the national team in a 1-1 draw with the United States last month, Buchanan will get another chance to show off her talents when Canada hosts Germany in another friendly on Wednesday night. And as Canada continues its preparations ahead of hosting next years womens World Cup, Buchanan has fit in seamlessly with the national team after impressing at lower levels. "I dont think its difficult because my teammates just encourage me to bring what I bring to the team," said Buchanan. "Theyre very accepting to what I bring." Canada head coach John Herdman said Buchanan -- who will play at this summers under-20 womens World Cup on home soil -- has impressed him ever since he first saw her at an under-17 camp in 2011. "She was just streets ahead of anything Id seen before," said the Englishman. "We didnt fancy taking her to the (2012) Olympics because she was 15. She probably could have handled it, to be honest. Shes that good." Herdman said Buchanans versatility is what has made her such an effective player in 13 appearances for her country, including 11 starts. "Weve challenged all the senior players to start showing the DNA of a modern centre back, and a modern centre back can play like a midfielder," he said. "They can disguise their passes, they have a range of different types of passes and they can defend. These younger players have been able to do that. Kadeishas never given her shirt back." Canada comes into Wednesdays game at B.C. Place Stadium ranked seventh in the world by FIFA, while the Germans sit No. 2 behind only the Americans. Herdmans team lost 1-0 in Germany last year in game that saw Canada defend well, but fail to get much going offensively. With less than a year until the World Cup, he wants to see more positive play as the team continues to build towards the showcase tournament. "We have to shift forward pretty quickly on how we attack the game. I think thats been a big emphasis over the last couple of days," said Herdman. "Last time we played against Germany we defended well, we hung on for 90 minutes, kept it within one goal. But we definitely didnt threaten them in a way that, if youre going to win a World Cup, you have to. "Im hoping that were a bit more lively. The game might be a bit more open and they might get a few more chances to score because were trying to change a few things in the way we go about how we play. Judge us on the amount of shots, crosses we have in the game and that will give an idea of how weve progressed against Germany." Canadian captain Christine Sinclair said Wednesdays game is crucial as the team looks to see where it stacks up against the worlds best on the field that will host next years final.dddddddddddd. "This is a huge preparation game for us," said the veteran striker. "Obviously a World Cup venue and were playing the second-ranked team in the world. I dont think many people understand that. They just see the Americans. Germany is a quality side. "Its a completely different test for us." Herdman has tried to implement a more free-flowing system since Canadas bronze-medal performance at the London Olympics two years ago, and despite that 1-1 draw with the U.S. in May, Sinclair said the players still have a ways to go. "I think consistency for us right now is very important. Were coming off a decent result against the Americans," she said. "Its important for us to be able to put together another one against another top side because thats whats going to be expected in the World Cup." While Canada has continued to produce good young talent in defence and midfield, the country still relies heavily on the 31-year-old Sinclair for goal scoring. Herdman said the national team is constantly trying to identify and develop talent in the attacking third, but it has not come easy. "You have to be ready to have a talent system where you have a profile, you know what that profile is and players then develop from the age of 13 on to fit that profile," he said. "I think thats not what weve done in the past. We havent had a very clear profile. "Its going to take time, but with the talent weve got, another (Sinclair) is going to pop up soon." Herdman said he expects Germany to present its usual well-organized defence on Wednesday, adding that his side will have to be clever in attack if its going to defeat the European giants for the first time. "Its got to be a high-tempo, possession game and weve got to have players with the technical capacity to work against that German block," he said. "There isnt a better defensive unit. Theyre physical, they move collectively together on every blade of grass, theyre so hard to break down. Its a huge challenge. "Youre going to see one of the best teams in the world here -- a huge challenge ahead of us." A year out from the World Cup, another huge challenge will be how Canada deals with the pressure that is already starting to mount as tournament hosts. But its something Herdman said both he and the players will relish. "When you come into a job like this, at the end of the day my role is to help these girls fulfil their dreams," said Herdman. "They want to win a World Cup here. I think collectively we all feel a bit of pressure that we dont want to let the country down, but were just going towards it, embracing it. "Its what gets us out of bed in the morning. We look it as our opportunity and not a curse. As soon as it becomes a curse, then you lose sight of why you come to work." 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