WHETHER it was a last throw of the dice or a tactical masterstroke, Roy Hodgson’s decision to change things in the second half at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis on Thursday afternoon could have given England lift-off.

Two games into the European Championships and England sit top of Group B, and how thankful Hodgson must be for the intervention of Daniel Sturridge when he stroked in the low injury-time winner against Wales.

While the Welsh might still fancy their own chances of qualifying to the knock-out stages ahead of their final group fixture with the Russians in Toulouse, England have an opportunity to really put a marker down in the tournament in St Etienne on Monday against Slovakia.

There are still problems for Hodgson to address. They have not been as effective as many would have hoped going forward for a start. But to have collected four points from a possible six, with a feeling that they still to hit top gear, has to bode well.

If improvements continue there is no reason to discount England as genuine contenders to go and become European champions for the first time.

WINNING THE GROUP

If England see off Slovakia on Monday they will have secured top spot in the group, setting up an easier second round date than they might have had.

They have always been the favourites to win Group B, but to achieve it would instil a greater confidence and new levels of belief among the pool of gifted players.

England, as group winners, would head for Paris to face one of the third placed teams from groups A, C and D, meaning Northern Ireland, Switzerland, Romania and Albania are among those they might end up facing.

NOTHING TO FEAR

Even after that second round fixture, England’s players should not have seen anything to really concern them ahead of the latter stages.

West Ham’s Dimitri Payet has made France look a lot better than their performances have suggested, while the Spanish and Germans have looked good in possession without looking brilliant in and around the box.

Then there’s Belgium and Portugal, who continue to flatter to deceive. Only Italy, predictably effective in a defensive and counter-attacking sense, have looked like themselves, but England have the potential to grow into the tournament.

The key will be to find some attacking rhythm and, if they do, England should certainly be looking at a semi-final spot for only the second time, even if it ends up being Belgium or Portugal in the last eight.

TEAM SPIRIT

There have been strong England squads since 1966 and those have, ultimately, fallen short. If this crop does not reach the latter stages it will not be because of a lack of togetherness in the squad.

When Wayne Rooney jumped on the back of Sturridge and the rest of the players celebrating near the corner flag after the winning goal in Lens, he followed it up by staring and fist-pumping into the nearby TV camera.

That’s how much doing well at the Euros means to Rooney and Co and, having overcame the pressure of having to beat the Welsh as they did, the memories of victory should provide a psychological boost.

This is an England squad with ability, as well as fresh and hungry legs, but it is also a tight unit which skipper Rooney has played a massive role in knitting together regardless of what rivalries exist between the players at club level.

THE ATTACKING RICHES

Sturridge and Jamie Vardy should have done enough to start against Slovakia on Monday after both scored from the bench against Wales.

That could take some of the pressure off Harry Kane, who could benefit from being taken out of the firing line, and the Tottenham man’s freshness could give Hodgson a real lift a couple of games down the line. A long season looks to be weighing him down and a substitute’s role will help.

Out-of-sorts Raheem Sterling apart, the England boss can ask Sturridge, Vardy, Rooney, Kane, Adam Lallana or Marcus Rashford to play and know they should be in the right frame of mind to deliver.

For an international manager to be able to mix up his forward line and formations regularly and confidently whenever he wants is a huge asset to have over a hectic tournament schedule. Collectively, and arguably, that is the best selection of forwards a team can boast in the competition.

HODGSON’S THINKING

And, finally, even Hodgson should have benefited from what happened against Wales.

In becoming the first manager to have seen his England team win from a losing position at half-time at a major finals, he will be reassured he can change things early if required.

There will be those who claim he only made the changes against Wales because he had to, after days of demands from the public and media for him to play Sturridge and Vardy, but he has never been one to just do what the public wanted before.

Neither Kane nor Sterling should start against Slovakia, but don’t expect Hodgson to forget about them. Having seen how successful a Plan B can work against Wales, he will not be afraid to try something different again if it is required.

Maybe, just maybe, Hodgson’s gamble in Lens has changed things for the better and England, perhaps with a change of formation and personnel, now have the formula for Euros success.