Roy Hodgson has told England’s players he wants to see more ambition and aggression against Sweden on Friday night.

The England manager was delighted with their disciplined, defensive display against France on Monday but has addressed his squad and told them he wants to see a more fluent attacking performance.

As Danny Welbeck said on Wednesday: ‘As a team we want to get forward and get more goals.’

Demand for goals: Roy Hodgson flanked by Jermain Defoe (left) and Andy Carroll (right)

Hodgson’s first-team players had a recovery day on Tuesday and did very little training the next day, spending most of the morning in the gym before catching up with family and friends in the afternoon.

Ashley Cole was first to leave training to protect an ankle problem he is nursing through the tournament, but the FA insist it will not prevent him from playing.

And despite the tough demands of the game against France, England will hope to take advantage of a Sweden squad that is in a state of civil war.

Two factions have emerged in Erik Hamren’s camp since the opening defeat by Ukraine on
Monday. One group of players is standing firmly behind captain and talisman Zlatan Ibrahimovic and another is pledging support to former skipper Olof Mellberg.

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