Hodgson keeps focused

Roy Hodgson will block out the negative noise surrounding his squad and instead focus his efforts on the huge task of trying to beat Brazil with just 16 fit outfield players.

Gary Lineker and Rio Ferdinand have reignited the debate around the strength of the English game over the last few days. Lineker suggested England had returned to "the dark ages" by employing a distinctly flat-looking 4-4-2 formation in the lacklustre 1-1 draw with the Republic of Ireland on Wednesday while Ferdinand called for an overhaul of youth coaching.

"We thought the performance (against Ireland) was quite a good one, but it was badly received by the experts who thought we actually played badly," Hodgson said. "But you have to be careful as a coach. At the end of the day if you listen to too many people telling you you are playing well or badly you won't know what on earth you are doing."

The timing of the attacks on the squad could hardly have been less ideal given that they face five-time world champions Brazil at the Maracana on Sunday night, but Hodgson remains supremely confident about his squad's abilities.

The England manager conceded that his team's finishing is not quite up to scratch, but he insists the performance against Ireland was nowhere near as bad as has been suggested, and he has also been encouraged by performances like the one in February when England beat Brazil 2-1 at Wembley.

Hodgson added: "I know myself if the team is playing well or badly and so do the team.

"During the European Championship we were averaging 200 passes per game and on Wednesday it was 500.

"I think the team are 100% with myself and the coaching staff and we are going in the direction we are trying to take the team.

"Things are statistically improving all the time."

Source : http://www.football.co.uk/england/hodgson_keeps_focused_rss4241739.shtml