• Euro 2012

Hodgson admits to fears over Gerrard and Parker

ESPN staff
June 13, 2012
Scott Parker and Steven Gerrard looked exhausted towards the end of the France clash © Getty Images
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Roy Hodgson says he will assess the freshness and energy of his players before naming the England team to face Sweden in Kiev on Friday, but stressed that it would be hard to leave anyone out after the 1-1 draw with France.

Joleon Lescott's header secured a point in humid, sapping conditions in Donetsk on Monday, and Hodgson said he would be looking closely at the energy levels of midfielders Scott Parker - who was substituted - and Steven Gerrard.

Parker, 31, was replaced by Jordan Henderson after 77 minutes, while 32-year-old Gerrard played the full 90. Hodgson said: "Scott Parker and Steven Gerrard are both over 30 and had to work really hard.

"But I'm sure I'm not going to be the only coach wondering 'can they do it every four days?' about their players. That is what tournament football is about.

"What we've got to make certain of is that if they can't, or they start to show signs of fatigue, that others are ready to go in and do exactly the same job."

The coach said he would have to look at the freshness of his team and "see whether they are able to do that again."

"My gut feeling, if we have a good recovery day on Tuesday, a sensible training day on Wednesday and sensible recovery day on Thursday, is that it will be very hard for me to leave people out," he explained.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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