There are now just five days to go before the announcement is made at Wembley Stadium but England’s new manager Roy Hodgson offered an insight into how to go about selecting a squad for a major championships when he was a columnist for Telegraph Sport during the 2010 World Cup Finals.
Hodgson indicated that he would not repeat the mistake he committed when he took Switzerland to the 1994 World Cup finals by admitting that he “got it wrong” in selecting a squad “doubling up in positions, ensuring that each one was covered by a similar player to the first-choice”.
Hodgson explained: “Mike Kelly, my assistant, told me that I should consider taking some players who may not be as useful in the games as they would be off-the-field and in the dressing room.
His argument was that we didn’t need 23 players - in any World Cup squad there will be at least five or six players who don’t get a game - so don’t leave behind the ‘good lads’.” Hodgson ignored this advice.
“I left behind several players whom I knew and trusted in favour of more ‘suitable’ cover players,” he added. “This decision rankles with me even today. The five I should have left at home I took and the five I should have taken, I left at home.”
Hodgson indicated that he would not repeat the mistake he committed when he took Switzerland to the 1994 World Cup finals by admitting that he “got it wrong” in selecting a squad “doubling up in positions, ensuring that each one was covered by a similar player to the first-choice”.
Hodgson explained: “Mike Kelly, my assistant, told me that I should consider taking some players who may not be as useful in the games as they would be off-the-field and in the dressing room.
His argument was that we didn’t need 23 players - in any World Cup squad there will be at least five or six players who don’t get a game - so don’t leave behind the ‘good lads’.” Hodgson ignored this advice.
“I left behind several players whom I knew and trusted in favour of more ‘suitable’ cover players,” he added. “This decision rankles with me even today. The five I should have left at home I took and the five I should have taken, I left at home.”
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