Euro S/final: Hodgson hoping to watch jolly ride with Lions on top

 

Former England boss Roy Hodgson has praised Gareth Southgate’s side for being “faultless” so far at Euro 2020 even as he expressed hope that  team wins  in what promises to be a tough one against Denmark tonight

Hodgson, 73, who spent four years in charge of the national team until 2016, said he expected England to beat Denmark in Wednesday’s semi-final at Wembley.

“I’m very confident indeed because I think the England team is playing so exceptionally well from the start of the tournament really,” he told ITV’s Good Morning Britain.

“In fact, they have been faultless. I can’t think of anything to criticise, although I’m sure there are people who do find something.

“But they must be hard pushed to find something. It’s been absolutely perfect.

“Of course in football, as I heard someone say earlier, there is an element of hazard, there is a random chance.

“But I’m very certain England will play well and it will be a very good game. Sometimes games are decided by random factors and the fact that you’re a very good team doesn’t always help.”

Hodgson said the Wembley crowd will “play a major part” but is dreading the prospect of a penalty shoot-out.

“My main hope tonight is that the game won’t go to penalties,” he added. “You can argue that the penalty shoot-out is better than the flip of a coin, but it is a very cruel way to lose matches, in particular because the player who misses the penalty is often vilified afterwards.”

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Hodgson spent four years in charge of England, leading them at both Euro 2012 and Euro 2016 and also the 2014 World Cup finals.

The Three Lions lost on penalties to Italy in the quarter-finals at Euro 2012, but crashed out in the round of 16 to Iceland at Euro 2016 and finished bottom of their group at the 2014 World Cup.

“Tonight should be a much tougher game but I think we’ve got enough to just about win the game.”