England boss Roy Hodgson: We are catching the world's very best

ROY HODGSON claimed his exciting new England side are catching up with the best around.

GETTING THERE: Hodgson is happy with how his England team are developing

But even if the England boss has got his Three Lions roaring again he accepts Italy - who knocked England out of Euro 2012 and played a huge role in their downfall at last summer’s World Cup - will prove a stern test tonight.

Hodgson’s men have stormed clear in Group E of Euro 2016, winning five out of five and stand alongside Slovakia as just one of two teams with 100 per cent records.

While his team are flourishing, the likes of Holland and Belgium look in danger of missing out on automatic qualifying at the half-way stage.

The Dutch, who made it to the World Cup semi-finals, are finding life particularly tough, and are third in Group A, five points behind leaders Iceland.

But a vibrant and pacey England team have restored some faith with seven straight wins since Brazil, including in two friendlies, with 19 goals scored and just two conceded.

“I don’t feel we’re lagging any more, or that other teams are moving forward faster than us,” said Hodgson. “We’re keeping pace.”

And that word pace has been key to the turnaround, with the old, laboured approach seemingly a thing of the past.

“The England teams we select now do have a lot of energy and pace around them,” added Hodgson, whose expected outfield players tonight will have an average age of 25 years and three months, with only Wayne Rooney and Phil Jagielka over 26.
“They’re good qualities a team badly needs. Pace and energy mean you cause teams problems when you attack, and when you defend it helps prevent any damage.
“We’ve seen a lot of signs in English football that’s happening, and you see it in club football too.
“If we can keep this group of 20-odd players together, using them, they’ll get more international experience with us and their club teams.
“Hopefully in a year’s time we might be stronger than we are today.
“But one thing we can’t boast – with Italy having lots of experience – is the same experience. By France, hopefully we’ll be closer to that.
“Certainly, there seems to be a group and a talent pool now that is growing all the time.

Digsby

 

“Some of the talent’s already been with us for a couple of years.
“I see signs of them becoming more comfortable, assured in their play - not only with their clubs but with England.”

But aware a largely experimental team could come unstuck tonight, Hodgson did warn against judging too harshly if the perfect run ends in Turin.
“The real time for that (a serious test) will come when we are qualified,” he added.
“We’ll have four or five games before France, and each of those will be played against top-class opponents, we think.

“Teams on a par with Italy. I know the games we have in our mind, and it’s Germany, France, Spain, Holland...the top countries.
“The question is a bit more relevant then. Italy, at that time, will be qualified and playing us with their best XI. We’ll be doing the same.”

Meanwhile, skipper Wayne Rooney insisted there would be no thoughts of getting revenge on the Italians after their successes over England at the last two major tournaments.
“The World Cup has been and gone, we have to move on.

“It’s always disappointing losing a game, so tomorrow is a big game against Italy which we understand we want to go out there and try and win.
“It’ll be a good test. We’ve had a few since the World Cup which we’ve come through.
“This will be another one. We’ll have to be at our best.

“I think we’re playing with a lot more energy, which is suiting the team.
“We use that energy in the right areas to help us get goals and tire teams.”