NO CLUB RETURN

Roy Hodgson has dismissed suggestions that he would be returning to club football after the end of the World Cup 2014. The former Liverpool and West Brom manager was appointed as the England national team manager just ahead of the Euro 2012.

He managed to guide the team to relative success – considering that he had been appointed only a few months ago – in that competition. However, many feel that he is not the right manager for the national team ahead of the World Cup 2014. England are not even the favourites to qualify for the knockout stages after being given a tough group containing the likes of Italy and Uruguay.

As a result, Hodgson has been linked with a return to club football after this World Cup. The manager, though, has rejected suggestions that he wants to stay in the role until 2016 – when his contract expires. He is unlikely to step down even if England do not play well at the upcoming Brazilian World Cup. Hodgson has said that he intended to see out his contract when he signed a four-year deal at the time of taking over. He does not see a reason to change this attitude midway through the deal.

Hodgson managed to get England into the World Cup 2014 as the group winners.

"I signed a four-year contract, and I've always been working myself towards that four-year contract. Whether contracts mean four years when you sign them or not, that's not anything to do with me. That would be other people's decisions. I shall be working hard to fulfil the contract and hope that the FA will fulfil their side of it and another one after that? Who knows?" said the former Fulham manager.

England’s preparations for the showpiece event have not been excellent, as they have managed only narrow wins in the recent friendly matches.