TEAMtalk guest Simon Stone feels England fans are starting to fall into the trap of believing the Three Lions could do well at Euro 2012.

We English are a funny breed.

In raking over the coals of every major tournament disappointment, we promise ourselves we will never fall victim to rampant over-optimism ever again.

Before long though, like an addict desperate for a fix, we succumb for one spurious reason or another.

Even before Saturday night, it was happening again. And on this occasion the evidence was more bizarre than ever before - England have been condemned and written off so much they cannot possibly be as bad as it was being suggested.

That was it. That is the reason why we think this year will be the one. Laughable really.

Roy Hodgson is part of the problem.

When Tottenham were mounting their Premier League title quest before the new year, when Fabio Capello thought he was staying until the end of the season to finish his £24million job, the idea Hodgson might be named England manager was not taken seriously.

Yet, in the four weeks since his appointment, instead of being castigated for not being Redknapp, Hodgson has earned plenty of admirers for not being Capello. For being able to speak English. For understanding questions and having the ability to come up with coherent answers.

This was the chance to harden up the hope into something more tangible.

And England did just about enough.

Any assessment of Saturday night's 1-0 win over Norway has to be measured against the fact those players currently at Hodgson's disposal - Chelsea's Champions League winners and Wayne Rooney do not meet up until next week - have had only three days to work with their new boss.

There was bound to be some lack of cohesion and it was no surprise to see so many mini-discussions taking place whenever the ball went out of play.

Scott Parker was particularly expressive, showing why Stuart Pearce made him captain for his sole game in charge, even though it is perfectly logical Steven Gerrard has finally been given the job full-time.

Parker's contribution paled alongside Gary Neville's though.

The key reason for his appointment to Hodgson's backroom team is Neville's willingness to offer an opinion.

As a player, it could occasionally cause frustration, as Jaap Stam so pointedly highlighted.

In this role though, as with his work with Sky Sports, the one-time full-back is a voice that should be listened to.

Neville appears particularly keen to offer advice to Andy Carroll on the evidence of the past few days and when the Geordie met Stewart Downing's teasing early cross and set a diving header flashing wide, it is easy to see why.

At his best, Carroll is a difficult man to handle. The key is to get him to that level more often because he can also be a source of acute frustration, and even, as when he tried to roll a pass back to Joleon Lescott but hit it so hard it flew out for a corner, a downright liability.

These are amongst the negatives Neville - and Hodgson - know they have little chance of resolving in the 10 days before France are faced in that Group D opener in Donetsk.

What they can work on is shape, patterns and combinations.

Joleon Lescott, who ended the night as captain, can be particularly pleased with himself. Matchwinner Ashley Young offered further proof Hodgson has options for the position behind a main striker, indicating why he is willing to gamble on the fitness of Danny Welbeck.

So what that Hodgson's squad is full of workmanlike players and has too few that can unlock the sternest of defences with a moment of magic.

So what that the manager himself has said these games are part of a preparatory process, targeted solely for the matches that matter.

This win, coupled with defeats elsewhere for Germany and Holland are enough to fuel further hope. We just can't help it.

By Simon Stone, PA Sport