Football - Hodgson hopes for England Momentum

England manager, Roy Hodgson, has admitted he hopes the recent friendly defeats to Chile and Germany do not dent the positive feeling surrounding the national side since sealing their place in next summer’s World Cup. 

Following their qualification for Brazil next year, some of the English momentum was taken away with back-to-back friendly losses; firstly, to Chile and then an experimental German side. While Hodgson used the two games as a chance to blood some younger players, fans of live football commentary were not able to take many positives away from either performance. 

Hodgson blooded Southampton duo Joy Rodriguez and Adam Lallana in the friendlies, along with Celtic keeper Fraser Forster, and there has been talk linking the likes of Ravel Morrison and Saido Berahino possibly making a late charge to be included in next summer’s World Cup squad. 

After using 25 players over the two friendlies, Hodgson was clearly using the games as a chance to see many of his possible World Cup squad in action, but the failure to get a result from either match has caused a fair amount of concern among the English media and fans who bet on football. 

"Now we have to hope that between that 30 or so players, we can produce a team that can give a good account of themselves at the World Cup," the England manager said. 

"There is a risk that some of the euphoria we might have built up will be gone now. That is what defeats do to you. The last two games shouldn't really detract from the good performances and good feeling that came in October."

While Hodgson is right not to be overly concerned by the results from either friendly, the manner in which his side were beaten will be a worry to the experienced coach as he prepares for the madness that comes with managing England in a World Cup.