It's fantastic that England have qualified for the World Cup and will be heading to Brazil next summer.
While any England manager will have his critics – it’s part of the territory – I think the job which Roy Hodgson has done has been massively underestimated.
For the first time in a long time I see England players who are desperate to represent their country.
Joining the England squad now is a pleasure and a privilege and some players are clearly showing that with their enthusiasm and their pride.
Let’s not forget we had years under Fabio Capello when players regarded turning up for the national side as an inconvenience.
Hodgson, Ray Lewington and Gary Neville have reinvigorated the national side again.
The manager could have taken the easy route and selected James Milner ahead of the untried Andros Townsend – but the latter’s performances against Montenegro and Poland show it was a master stroke by Hodgson to play the emerging youngster.
Such a decision leaves a manager open to a huge amount of criticism should it go wrong and it’s never forgotten by the press and media.
But when those decisions go right it is always the player who takes the plaudits for going into the side and playing well – not the manager for picking him.
The manager’s role is quickly forgotten – but it certainly shouldn’t be in this instance.
And I think this story about the half-time team talk is a load of rubbish.
If the person you are speaking to doesn’t take offence then there is no offence, and it’s wrong for people who were nothing to do with the conversation or the context to start making it into something it’s not.
No wonder players talk less and less to the media these days, when this sort of stuff is blown out of all proportion.
We should focus on us being in a World Cup and looking forward to it – and with a group of players who will be committed, passionate and determined to do well.
