• Sweden v England

Hodgson takes positives in defeat

ESPN staff
November 14, 2012
Steven Caulker netted a debut goal for England © PA Photos
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Roy Hodgson felt there were positives to take from England's 4-2 defeat to Sweden.

England were on the receiving end of a Zlatan Ibrahimovic blitz, as the Swede scored all four goals - notably an outrageous overhead kick - as Hodgson suffered his first defeat, aside from the loss on penalties to Italy at Euro 2012, as Three Lions boss.

Goals from Danny Welbeck and Steven Caulker had England ahead at one stage and they looked comfortable. But Hodgson, who handed debuts to six players over the course of the match, made changes in the final 20 minutes and Sweden took advantage.

"It was the second and third goals that cost us a victory here, but I must say for a very long period of the game, 70 minutes, we were playing well and deserved to be leading," Hodgson told ITV 1.

"We were looking dangerous but I was anxious to look at a few players in this game and maybe the changes at the end gave them the initiative and we ended up losing. There were a lot of positives to take."

Joe Hart was beaten by a 35-yard free kick and Hodgson does not like to see keepers beaten from that far out.

He said: "You can always blame keepers for those things, but it is disappointing to lose a goal when a shot comes in from that distance."

Ibrahimovic capped a stellar display with a stunning overhead kick, which impressed Hodgson. He said: "There is no doubt the fourth goal was something extraordinary and it put the tin lid on the game."

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