WORLD CUP: Hodgson positive on qualification
take "great confidence" from their opening
World Cup Group D match, despite losing
2-1 to Italy in Manaus.
Daniel Sturridge cancelled out Claudio
Marchisio's opener for Italy, but Mario
Balotelli gave the Azzurri victory.
Highlights: England 1-2 Italy
"It's very tough to accept that we have lost,"
said Hodgson, whose side face Uruguay in
their next game on Thursday.
"It was undoubtedly the best I have seen the
team play, as a team, in my time with them."
Hodgson said there was a "good chance"
England would get the results they need if
they reproduce the same level of
performance in their remaining group games
and opposite number Cesare Prandelli
described them as "one of the strongest
teams in the World Cup".
"We don't have players who are as powerful
as England's but we have technically skilled
players, and in the first half we had better
ball possession," said Prandelli.
"Until just a few years ago, England relied on
long balls but they are now a skilled team
with excellent triangular passing."
Marchisio drilled home from 25 yards after
Andrea Pirlo's clever dummy to give Italy
the lead, but Sturridge levelled less than two
minutes later from an excellent Wayne
Rooney cross.
Balotelli had the last word, however, the
former Manchester City forward escaping
from Gary Cahill to score with a simple
header.
Hodgson told BBC Sport: "We hoped for a
perfect start but don't live in a perfect world.
In the second half, we did everything but
score.
"We are not the sort of team to sit back and,
unfortunately, it left one or two opportunities
for Italy to get the ball in. But the
performance gives us great confidence."
England gave it their all -
Gerrard
Liverpool winger Raheem Sterling started in
a central role, just behind team-mate
Sturridge.
Rooney was switched to the left flank, from
where he created Sturridge's equaliser
before spurning a golden chance to level.
Hodgson said: "I thought Raheem Sterling
was very dangerous throughout the game.
Danny Welbeck had some good moments
and Steven Gerrard and Jordan Henderson
did everything expected of them.
"I thought Wayne Rooney did very well. We
know he can play in different positions and
he can be satisfied with his performance."
England are third in the group after the
opening round of fixtures as Uruguay were
surprisingly beaten 3-1 by Costa Rica.
Wayne Rooney's assist for
Daniel Sturridge was the first
time he has contributed to a
goal in the World Cup (in his
ninth appearance)
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