England coach's future depends on Euro success

IANS

Paris, June 19 (IANS) England head coach Roy Hodgson's contract will be renewed if the team does well and play well at the European Championship, according to Football Association (FA) chief Greg Dyke.

England face Slovakia on Monday in their last group match, knowing victory will secure them a place in the last 16.

Hodgson's deal expires at the end of the tournament, and the 68-year-old has indicated he would like to remain in charge for the World Cup in 2018.

"Clearly if you get to semi-finals, that's success," Dyke was quoted as saying by Sportsweek on Saturday.

"If we've played well and unfortunately lost against a good team or on penalties in the quarter-finals, then that's a discussion that will go on."

He said the FA had been clear with Hodgson that a decision would not be made until the end of the tournament.

Dyke, who will leave his post this month, reiterated his belief that England should aim to win the 2022 World Cup.

"2022 is a realistic objective -- we have a very young side now -- if we can hold the younger players together and bring in some others," he added.

Dyke is concerned the increasingly "international" nature of the English Premier League has led to a lack of home-grown players and managers.

He cited 18-year-old striker Marcus Rashford's rise from Manchester United academy prospect to the England senior squad as an example.

"Rashford came from nowhere. I suspect there are other Rashfords out there who never get a chance to play in the Premier League," he remarked.

Of the 20 top-flight clubs in England, only five have an English manager, and Dyke said Hodgson's successor may be a foreigner.

"You will want someone who has managed in England and understands English football. That doesn't mean they have to be English," the FA chief said.

--IANS

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Edited by Staff Editor