Hodgson bites back at critics

Roy Hodgson has reiterated his desire to stay on as England manager, defiantly insisting he has no intention to quit.

Hodgson and his 23 players touched down in England yesterday after their worst World Cup campaign in history.

England finished bottom of Group D with just one point.

Hodgson refused to walk out on England after their early exit was confirmed last week and the 66-year-old has had no change of heart despite a dull draw against Costa Rica.

Hodgson snapped back at one reporter when it was pointed out that Italy manager Cesare Prandelli had offered to resign following his team’s elimination from the tournament on Tuesday.

“I told you the other day (I won’t resign) and I’ve nothing more to add,” the England manager said, before adding: “The FA have asked me to continue. They want me to continue. I’m, very happy that they want me to continue.

“I think there is an interesting group of players here to work with. And I get no feeling whatsoever that any of them will want me to resign.

“I have no reason to do so. I have no intention to do so.

“I don’t want to be compared to other people.

“The reason I’m staying on is that I’m not a quitter, I believe in this team and that the FA seriously want me to keep doing this job, as do the players, so therefore I will continue to do it and I’ll try and lead the team to Euro 2016 and try to get some good results.”

Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard are two men who may not be available to Hodgson on the road to France.

The two midfielders have been part of the England set-up for the last 15 years, but with a combined age of 70, the 0-0 draw against Costa Rica may be their last in England shirts.

Hodgson wants them to continue, although he appears open to the idea of resting them for certain matches.

He said: “It would be nice if they don’t formally retire because when players do that, they disappear from England selection.

“(We could) leave it to a dialogue perhaps whereby at any moment in time I could speak to one of them and say ‘look, do you want to play in this game, are you up for it?’.

“That’s how I’d really like to see it.”