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Hodgson won't switch to Spanish style

England reached the quarter-finals of Euro 2012 under Roy Hodgson's management © PA Photos

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England manager Roy Hodgson sees no need to revolutionise the national team's style of play - despite a quarter-final exit at Euro 2012.

England were criticised for both their defensive approach and their inability to retain possession at the tournament, particularly in the defeat to Italy, when Hodgson's side were penned back in their own half for much of the contest.

Many pundits have suggested England will never win another major tournament unless they keep hold of the ball better, in the manner of Spain - but Hodgson still sees the value of traditional English values.

"We have to maintain that degree of pragmatism that we have always had in English football," he said. "We also have to retain that fighting spirit and doggedness.

"We mustn't start throwing those qualities overboard just so you can come off the field and have someone say you've had more shots at goal. I don't want to emulate nations, no. I want England to be England.

"You can't say we are going to play like Spain because apart from anything, the Spanish grew up in different climatic conditions to us and have always had very different qualities. And let's not forget that for years and years Spain went to every major tournament and never achieved anything."

Meanwhile, Steven Gerrard has bristled at criticism of England from his Liverpool team-mate Jamie Carragher.

"So should we just not go [to the next World Cup]? Should we give up?" he said. "Should we not go to that tournament because of what Jamie Carragher said?

"Listen, there are a lot of people out there with different opinions. We can't control what they are saying. What's important is that we know what we are good at and where we need to improve.

"We have to stick together, dust ourselves down and go again."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.