Hodgson keeping the faith in Roo

WORLD CUP GROUP D:

Rooney’s place in the team has come under scrutiny recently after a number of indifferent displays, the latest of which came in the 2-1 defeat to Italy in Manaus on Saturday night.

Hodgson refused to agree with the idea that Rooney is an “exceptional” player during England’s World Cup training camp in Miami.

That was interpreted as a sign that Hodgson’s confidence in the player is on the wane, but, on the eve of England’s crucial Group D match in Sao Paulo, the manager gave his backing to the Manchester United man.

“He came into this tournament wanting to do very well and I think he will do very well in the tournament,” the England manager said.

“Wayne has got broad shoulders. He’s getting a lot of support from everyone around him.

“We’ve got a very clear perspective as to what Wayne is and what Wayne can do.

“We’re hoping for big things from him.”

Paul Scholes has been Rooney’s most surprising critic of late, claiming prior to the World Cup that his former team-mate might be past his best.

But Hodgson will not listen to the naysayers.

“He’s been the top assist player in my two years (as England manager) and he has more goals than everyone else,” Hodgson said.

“Were it not for his wonderful header against Poland (in qualifying) we might not even be here.”

As it stands, victories against Uruguay, who have Luis Suarez available after he recovered from a knee injury, and Costa Rica would definitely send England through.

If they draw tonight and won their final group game, they would need Italy to beat both Costa Rica and Uruguay to progress.

Hodgson is targeting two wins, but he thinks four points may be enough.

“We realise it’s not as drastic as two must-win games, you can get through with four points, but we are not really counting on that,” the 66-year-old said.

England vice-captain Frank Lampard was in the last team to lose their opening match at a tournament when Sven-Goran Eriksson’s side were beaten 2-1 by France at Euro 2004.

They responded by beating Croatia and Switzerland to make it through to the knockout stages, where they lost to Portugal on penalties.

Lampard says fear of failure carried the squad to the knockout stages then and he hopes that will be the same case in Brazil too.

“I was enjoying the tournament in 2004 so much that I was so scared of getting knocked out by losing the second game,” said the midfielder, who will win his 106th cap if he comes off the bench.

“I remember the fear factor of it myself. It was not a negativity fear, I just didn’t want it to happen.

“There is nothing wrong with that and I think we have to take that with us now into the Uruguay game. We do not want to go home.”