Roy Hodgson has told his England players they are primed and ready to compete with the finest teams in Europe.

Hodgson’s side launch their Euro 2012 campaign against France on Monday evening in sweltering temperatures near 90F in south-eastern Ukraine.

After training in the Donbass Arena, the manager rallied his squad with a reminder that they are elite players from one of the world’s best leagues.

Final countdown: England go through their paces at the Donbass Arena

And he assured them they were well prepared despite the recent turmoil. The England manager urged them not to be ‘suicidal’ if they cannot end the long wait for success.

Hodgson said: ‘To the players, my message is that we’ve done the best preparation we can.

'I think you’re ready and you’re good enough. Now have the confidence and the belief to get out there and show it and don’t get suicidal if, for some reason, things don’t work out for you.

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