Roy Hodgson says England cannot afford slow start in France
Saturday 10 October 2015 23:18, UK
Roy Hodgson says England cannot afford to make a slow start at next summer's European Championships in France.
The Three Lions have failed to win the opening game in each of their last three major tournaments, including a 2-1 loss to Italy in last year's World Cup in Brazil.
Hodgson believes that a repeat performance would severely hamper his side's chances of advancing to the knockout stages.
"What would have given us a better chance in the tournament last time is winning the first game, or certainly not losing it," said the 68 year-old, who went on to use England's recent Rugby World Cup exit as an example.
"Tournaments are three cup finals. It's not a league. The qualification period is a league, but when you get there you just need that little bit of luck.
"The World Cup is three matches. We've just seen it with rugby.
"It's 14 weeks' preparation, four years if you like, working with the team, and then you come across Wales and you don't win it, which puts you under pressure for the second game.
"And then you come up against Australia, who are the second favourites, and you don't win it, so therefore after that everything's woeful and disastrous.
"That's how simple tournaments are. For all your preparation, for all your work, if you get there, play brilliantly in the first game but lose it 1-0 to a dodgy penalty, you're a disaster. That's what we've understood."
England have the opportunity to make it 10 wins from 10 qualifying matches on Monday when they face Lithuania in Vilnius in the final game of Group E.
Hodgson is expected to make a number of changes to his starting eleven from that side that beat Estonia 2-0 on Friday.
"This is maybe the last game where I could happily give people a chance to show what they can do," Hodgson said.
