England contract talk is not a distraction, insists Hodgson

Scott Anderson
Roy Hodgson: Fully focused on Slovakia game

Roy Hodgson: Fully focused on Slovakia game

England manager Roy Hodgson insists he is relaxed over his future after FA chairman Greg Dyke said he could keep his job if the Three Lions reached the quarter finals at Euro 2016.

Hodgson’s contract expires at the end of the tournament in France, with England on the brink of reaching the last 16.

The Three Lions will top Group B with victory against Slovakia in St Etienne on Monday after a last-gasp 2-1 win over Wales on Thursday.

Dyke said Hodgson’s contract is likely to be renewed if England impress in France, but Hodgson remains focused on Slovakia.

“It’s been raised many times before, it doesn’t make any difference one way or another,” said Hodgson at a press conference ahead of the Group B clash on Monday.

“My contract runs out after this tournament, that’s fact everyone has known about for the last two years. On a regular basis it gets brought up – should I stay, do I want to stay, what should the FA do?

“Nothing changes in that respect. For myself and the players there is only one thing on our minds and that’s to win the next game and see how far we can go.

“We concentrate on what we can do and what we can do is work very hard in our preparation for the game we are about to play. One day, after our stay here ends, the FA will need to make a decision with what they want to do in regards to the future.”

Daniel Sturridge scored the injury-time winner against Wales after coming off the bench at half-time and he could replace the misfiring Harry Kane up front.

Leicester’s Jamie Vardy also netted when he was brought on at the break, but Hodgson insists he will not make changes for the sake of it, despite the duo’s second-half impact.

“I don’t think it’s absolutely necessary, the players are in good shape and I don’t think it would be a problem if I wanted to keep very much the same side,” he said.

And Hodgson dismissed any suggestion Tottenham striker Kane, who was substituted at half time against Wales, was tired after a long season.

He said: “I have spoken to Harry, he has been very good in training and I don’t think he is suffering more from a season than any other player.”