Roy Hodgson backs England to flourish in France ahead of Euro 2016 draw

Roy Hodgson and Greg Dyke will not want England to be drawn in another 'Group of Death'

THE last time Football Association chairman Greg Dyke accompanied Roy Hodgson to the draw for a major finals, his instinctive response to the hand dealt England was to run his finger across his throat in mock horror.

Hodgson will be sat alongside his bosses at the Palais des Congres here in Paris when the route to Euro 2016 success is mapped out on Saturday, though he is not expecting a repeat of that infamous scene before the World Cup in Brazil.

The England manager declared there are "reasons for optimism" that his side can make an impact in France next summer, when the 50th anniversary of the country's only triumph at a major tournament will loom large.

His faith is borne out as much by the fact that England are among the seeded sides in Pot One and, therefore, can hope for a more genteel group than the one endured in 2014 when Uruguay and Italy lay in wait.

 

As it turned out, Dyke's crude reaction proved all too accurate with the nation sent home after two defeats in their opening matches.

Hodgson's contract is up this summer and his hopes of remaining in the job depend solely on England overcoming the weight of history and proving his assertion that he has made meaningful progress beyond the 10 wins out of 10 yielded from a qualifying campaign that resembled a cakewalk.

"The beauty is that this good run of form has put us among the top seeds, so to be in that top pool and avoid five other very strong teams is obviously a very big advantage," said Hodgson, who arrives in the French capital today with security tight following last month's terrorist atrocities.

"And I am reasonably confident that we are hard to beat. In 10 qualifying games we only conceded three goals and even in the matches we have played in the friendlies - and we've had difficult games against Scotland away, Ireland away, Italy away, Spain away and France and Norway at home - we've only conceded four goals, which is not too bad.

"We're not an easy team to score past and beat, which is good news for the future and we have some very good quality players in our front six, all of whom could win a game for us.

"So in terms of the make-up of our team I think we have reasons for optimism, but the Euros are a tough one to win, there are lots of teams out there who look good on paper. Which team in the month of June is able to pull it off?"

 

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Being 'hard to beat' is just a starting point and that Hodgson stopped short of name checking the six players he believes are a match for anyone serves to illustrate the problems with which he has been confronted.

He will be counting upon captain Wayne Rooney, Raheem Sterling and Harry Kane but there is no degree of certainty as to whether those he is minded to select in his final 23-man squad will be available.

Danny Welbeck is not expected to return from injury for Arsenal until February, while Daniel Sturridge's fitness is subject to weekly bulletins.

They are both favourites of Hodgson but should Jamie Vardy maintain his form for Leicester it will scream for his inclusion.

"He won't score in every game between now and when I select a team for the Euros," said Hodgson.

 

"But what he can do is continue to be Jamie Vardy, playing in the way Jamie Vardy does and that is always going to make him a very strong contender."

There is a chance Hodgson could find Italy blocking the route to success once again - the Azzurri accounted for England in Euro 2012 as well - given their presence in Pot Two. While Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, who are all in Pot Four, would not shrink from the challenge of facing familiar foes, a game with England would overshadow everything.

"Now we have managed to get there I think we definitely want to have what you might call a glamour fixture," said Wales coach Chris Coleman.

"I have said before we do not want England - that is not being disrespectful, that is us being aware of everything that comes with those games.

These tournaments are huge occasions and whoever we draw this is massive for us, but I think we would like to test ourselves against a Spain, Germany or Portugal."