Hodgson’s deal runs out following the finals in France, with England drawn on Saturday in the same group as Wales, Russia and Slovakia. “It would be extraordinary”, said Spain coach Vicente Del Bosque, who can look forward to a rematch with Croatia after narrowly beating them at Euro 2012.
Advertisement
“I don’t base my thinking on what’s happened in the past”.
“The most important thing is to try and take something from your first game”.
It was 2004 and striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic hit an 85th minute equaliser to secure a 1-1 draw and rob the Azzurri of a possible three points in their penultimate group game. “I think we can beat any team on our day”. He will love this game, ‘ he said. It is two good teams and to win 10 games in the campaign is a fantastic return. “I just hope there’s no fear”. England play Russian Federation in their opener on the same day, 11 June.
“(Leonid) Slutsky has done extremely well since taking over and has got them winning again.
Glenn said he, Hodgson and technical director Dan Ashworth will study a raft of statistics after the tournament to see how England have performed. They have a good goalkeeper in Wayne Hennessey.
“(However), our tournament experience is not quite so good. Italy should be in Pot 1, they have not dropped down the rankings that much.
“It’s a fairly tough group”.
“We will have to be at our best from the first match”.
Football Association of Wales chief executive Jonathan Ford says planning has already started for pre-Euro 2016 friendlies.
The two teams will duly meet in Lens, an hour from Calais, in Group B on June 16.
Marseille, Lens, and St Etienne were also the venues for three of England’s matches in the 1998 World Cup in France, memorable for goals by Paul Scholes, David Beckham and Michael Owen.
For England, exiting at the second round stage as they did then would be a grave disappointment.
“Slovakia and Russian Federation are interesting”. “I don’t believe [the next manager has to be English], it may help, but it doesn’t have to be”. We actually won our group, we didn’t come through a play-off. England will be favourites.
Belgium, top of the world rankings, and 2006 World Cup winners Italy await them on June 18 and 22 respectively in Group E.
Northern Ireland have a tough task after being drawn in Group C with Germany, Poland and Ukraine. “Hopefully, our spirit can carry us through”, Ward added.
But he remains confident his players will be able to rise to the challenge.
Advertisement
Coleman said appearing in the draw hall in Paris had made him sit up and realise he was entering an exciting new stage of his career.
