Hodgson expects confident England

England manager Roy Hodgson is aware his players are under pressure to perform at Euro 2012 but is desperate for them to take "confidence and self-belief" into the tournament.

The former West Brom boss has inherited a side that has failed to live up to expectations in recent years, with the quarter-final exit to Germany in the 2010 World Cup a particularly humbling moment for a side that boasted several world-class players.

Sections of the media have been downbeat about England's chances heading into the tournament and, while Hodgson admits that could ultimately be a positive thing, he wants his players to trust themselves. When asked whether low expectations helped or hindered the squad, Hodgson told BBC TV's Football Focus: "It's only a good thing."

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