• England

We'll be in top condition for Euro 2016, says Hodgson

Roy Hodgson feels his England squad will be in top condition by the time Euro 2016 comes around.

Hodgson and his side have come in for much criticism since the summer's early World Cup exit, while a tepid display against Norway on Wednesday did little to excite supporters.

However, the England manager feels that, given they qualify, his side will have a real chance to do well in the tournament in France.

"If you look at the squad that we've chosen here, you see the talent and the quality of the players, their desire to step forward and do well for the country,'' Hodgson said ahead of Monday's opening qualifier against Switzerland.

"Tthen you add up to 10 players that are not with us here who would possibly have been serious contenders for a place. When you put that group together, we're looking at a fairly large group of players, who if they can continue as how they've started with their club teams and even with England, I think that bodes well for two years' time.

"In two years' time they'll have played a lot more games, not only for us, but also in European and Premier League competitions for their clubs.''

England will be without Daniel Sturridge after the Liverpool striker suffered a thigh problem, but Hodgson does not believe he needs to call up a replacement player to fill the void.

"The fact that we're pleased with our options is shown by the fact that we haven't taken anybody in to replace Daniel Sturridge,'' Hodgson said.

"We think the players we have here can counter the loss of one of our more important players and we're devastated for him because he was so anxious to play this game. We're ready and it's just a question of what happens tomorrow evening.''

In Switzerland, Hodgson will come up against a nation who he coached from 1992 until 1995, including at the 1994 World Cup. However, he said England will find it tough playing one of their main rivals for qualification this early in the proceedings.

"In an ideal world we would have chosen to play Switzerland, who on paper are certainly the major rival for the No.1 spot in the group, later on,'' Hodgson added.

"We would have liked to have had a bit more time with this group of players and see how we can form them into the team we have in our head.

"You don't get that benefit so tomorrow will be a big test but it'll be a big test where I'm certain we'll come from the game having learned a lot.

"I think it's foolish to start saying that the only good result will be this, that or the other. For me it's about the performance as well. I want to see how the players perform.

"This will be a big test for them, it is. I want to see how they come up to speed on that test. I want the result and if you ask me what I would prefer - to play badly and win or to play well and lose - I'd play badly and win, I'm not different to anyone else in that respect.

"We do have to lift our heads up a little bit and performances and how we play and what happens tomorrow is of vital importance to us."

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