Ten straight wins in qualifying for Euro 2016 were followed by a clear 2-0 defeat by Spain on Friday – the first occasion England played one of Europe’s leading nations.
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The 34-year-old was stretchered off during the second half in Alicante, comforted by Red Devil colleague Juan Mata whose side won 2-0 thanks to goals from Mario Gaspar and Arsenal’s Santi Cazorla.
The 30-year-old will now be hoping to earn a starting place in the friendly against France on Tuesday at Wembley but given his role in the national team it is unlikely that he wouldn’t be included in Hodgson’s plans next summer barring a complete deterioration in his form.
Wayne Rooney became England’s record goal scorer in September, but his global future is in doubt after he was omitted from the team for England’s prestige friendly against Spain tonight.
Hodgson said: “Doesnt look good, severely twisted ankle, normally means ligament damage, but wont know until X-ray or scan tomorrow”.
“We won’t be playing Spain away every day and I saw enough from the level of concentration and discipline to know we are going to give people a game”. They have got a few class worldwide players.
“We showed when we were courageous we did get that one pass and we did break through Spain”.
“Of course we want to be a bit careful with Fabian Delph because it was tough for him out there [against Spain] after the absence he has had from football for so long”.
England’s unbeaten run will truly be tested this Friday night when they take on Spain at Estadio Jose Rico Perez, Alicante as popular brand Paddy Power announce they are offering the Three Lions at a price of 16/1. The ball was circulated quickly and efficiently and England’s finest were chasing shadows for much of it.
“I actually voted for him as player of the year last season because I think he was a huge player for Chelsea”, Rooney said.
“We had good chances on the counter-attack where the final ball or the final shot could have been better”.
“It doesn’t matter that I didn’t score the important thing is that Spain performed well”, Costa, who has come under criticism from Del Bosque over his Premier League disciplinary problems, told reporters.
Vicente del Bosque, the Spain coach, said his team had been “a little lucky” but Hodgson disagreed and accepted that England had come up short.
“Spain are a world-class side, they keep the ball well, play good possession football, but we were well-organised”.
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“I am feeling better all the time and participating more in the game”, added the 27-year-old.
