TheFA.com

Hodgson's hopes

  • Monday, 25 June, 2012
  • Steven Gerrard and Roy Hodgson.

Despite Euro disappointment, Roy Hodgson still has hope for the future.

Roy Hodgson has nothing but praise for the way his England players have given everything to reach the last eight of Euro 2012 and feels the future is bright for the national side.

England suffered the heartache of losing on a penalty shoot-out once again when they were beaten by Italy in Kiev on Sunday night. but Hodgson feels the players should take a lot of pride from the fact they managed to reach the quarter finals.

He said: "We have done well to come through the tournament without losing a game in normal time. It is always sad to lose on penalties and it is a bit of a lottery. Maybe we thought it would be our day but it was not to be.

"I think you learn so much about the team and about the way you work with them over a period of time. You get to know them as players and people.

"It is important you have experienced players. I have been delighted, especially with Stevie (Gerrard) and John (Terry). They have been a big help to me and the younger players.

"A guy like Wayne Rooney, who could not play in the first two games, spent a lot of time talking to the younger players.

"It has been invaluable for me over the last five weeks and they have behaved impeccably. I don't think we let people down - apart from the penalties.

"I still think we have got enough good English players and we need to bridge any gap that might exist with the tournament favourites such as Spain and Germany.

"You saw with the German team in 2006. They went in highly unfancied with a new coach and some players we didn't know too much about. They have kicked-on since then.

"We have to take heart from that. I would like to think there is good reason for optimism.

"There are some good young players coming through, our Under-21s are doing well and it will be interesting to see how we do in the Olympics. We have to be optimistic and believe. We must qualify for Brazil and then better our previous record."


What Do You Think?

  • I've been following England since about 1958. The story has always been the same. The other teams have more skillful players than us, even countries like Romania and Bulgaria. It is quite obvious in a fast-moving game that England's players cannot string three passes together without losing posession. The current England team is the weakest in many years. Only Hart in goal and Gerrard shone. Rooney was absolutely terrible. Why on earth was Jermaine Defoe not played? Easily our best striker and at 29, at his peak. What a missed opportunity! The most exciting England players (Aaron Lennon and Adam Johnson) never even made the squad. The crop of players is ever decreasing as the EPL imports more and more foreign talent. The future does not look bright unless someone makes major changes. Maybe we deserve the team we have.By anonymous (11 months ago)
  • I think we are dealing with some stupid guys in FA! the guys who don't want to see England winning. I am angry, i am disappointed and i am tired. tired of silly mistakes that repeat always. why a coward guy like Hudjson was selected as England football team coach? why England must defend with 11 man like a bus? why there are not enough creative players in team? why a good player like Lennon was not invited but a ordinary player like Milner plays from start? I am better than Hudjson with no payments. If u just want to spend money i can do better than him without money...! as all know that England lost many match in penalties but a stupid guy like Hudjson drag the game into penalties!!! England players have not got self confidence and always are hasty against technical players. there are many problems in team and they are obvious for us but you England football administrators dont do anything to solve them! so i beg you , leave or do serious thing. we are tired of waiting and waiting for years to see England victory. It s a shame for England while some countries like Greece and Denmark did a job that you can not! England has many fan in whole world like me so please pay attention to our emotions and prospects...By Arash (11 months ago)
  • I hope the FA may read this and publish some kind of answer on their website. Every current and former player and coach who comments on the England team during and after any tournament makes the same point: We need to develop players who are better technically at controlling and passing the ball. Every football journalist also makes the same point (although it completely baffles me why they never ask anyone at the FA directly about this, considering how much they go on about it in their post-match analysis). So the question to the FA is, do you recognise this point and, if so, what plan do you have to implement a system of coaching young kids in England so that they develop at least to the same technical standard as players from Spain, Italy, France, Holland and Germany, so that England regularly gets to semi-finals and finals like those countries do? (For example, Germany has been in 13 finals at the World Cup and European Championship.) Or is your only ambition that maybe once in every 80 or 90 years England will happen to chance upon the right combination of coach, players and luck to win a tournament?By SimonNorwich (11 months ago)
  • i totally agree with 2beFrank!!!. In all games , it was nowhere as near as the football we see in the premier league!!. Why is it that other national teams play such football and england who have all the quality and resources if they want, play such football!. The reality is we supporters have never been given somthing to celebrate about!. I never celebrated and cheered a single cup! . The premier league is a business! the youth system is abonden ship near other countries especially spain and unless this is going to change, dreams ,hopes and determination and pride of going out from competition with penalties is all we are going to celebrate about!. I dont know about you guys but i think england should be better then this!!! By rod (11 months ago)
  • The issue resolves around management: 1. the FA has no power to influence the Premier League which imports foreign players and managers to the detriment of Englishmen. 2. The foreign managers have no interest in supporting England or fostering English talent and the PL is only concerned with exporting the TV product and do not want a Winter break for money reasons. 3. England produces good players but too few because the key slots are held by foreigners. Also the PL is a fast and very physical league compared to the Continental leagues. Consequently, at the end of a very tough season a small stock of key players rapidly becomes depleted by injuries and the result is that the squad is weakened (2002, 2006, 2010, 2012). 4. Other countries like Spain, France and Germany have an academy and a long-term commitment to excellence. We have only just started this process. Penalties, ball control and a winning mentality need to be fostered in an environment lke this. 5. The future will remain bleak unless the power of the PL is reduced and overridden by a national agreement that we want long-term success. But this cannot happen in the current framework so I think football will go the same way as Tennis - we are simply hosting foreign talent but never expect to win a trophy ourselves because we have no management capability as a nation. 6. Anyone who doubts the above should compare the squad available to Alf Ramsey in 1966 and 1970 with that in the last 12 years. When Jimmy Greaves fell away Geoff Hurst, Martin Peters and Alan Ball all stepped up to the plate. By anonymous (11 months ago)