Knees-up: Lescott and Terry (above, left) and goalkeeper Hart (below) get down to business
The sentiment was echoed by Hodgson on Friday, with the England coach asking UEFA and the referees to take the lead if his players are racially abused in Poland and Ukraine.
'I want UEFA and the referees to control the issue,' he said.
For now, however, Hodgson has to focus on the things he can control and try to fashion a successful football team from the players he has suddenly inherited.
Saturday is a momentous day for England's manager and his players.
Hot News
Rank | Team | W/D/L | Pts |
---|
Cities & Stadiums
The Top 3 Teams of Previous Tournaments
Year | Winners | Runner-up | Third place |
---|---|---|---|
2008 | Spain | Germany | Russia / Turkey |
2004 | Greece | Portugal | Netherlands / Czech Republic |
2000 | France | Italy | Netherlands / Portugal |
1996 | Germany | Czech Republic | France / England |
1992 | Denmark | Germany | Netherlands / Sweden |
1988 | Netherlands | Soviet Union | Italy / West Germany |
1984 | France | Spain | Denmark / Portugal |
1980 | West Germany | Belgium | Czechoslovakia |
1976 | Czechoslovakia | West Germany | Netherlands |
1972 | West Germany | Soviet Union | Belgium |
1968 | Italy | Yugoslavia | England |
1964 | Spain | Soviet Union | Hungary |
1960 | Soviet Union | Yugoslavia | Czechoslovakia |