England boss Roy Hodgson baffled by Euro 2016 seedings
Thursday 8 October 2015 18:17, UK
England manager Roy Hodgson admits he is baffled by his side's FIFA ranking and how the Euro 2016 seedings are worked out.
Having already qualified for next summer's tournament in France, which for the first time will be contested by 24 teams, England have the chance to boost their coefficient score and clinch one of three top-seed places available.
As hosts, France are the first out of the hat followed by current holders Spain, but England currently have Germany, Belgium, Portugal and Wales above them in the FIFA rankings, which are reassessed following the end of qualification.
But Hodgson said: "I don't understand the seeds and I find it very hard to understand how the FIFA rankings work.
"I don't understand how we can play 13 games unbeaten, winning 10 and drawing three of them, and be top of our group on 24 points, and other teams are above us but have six points less.
"Because it's such a mystery to me, we will have to see where we are seeded, but being seeded or unseeded in not the be all and end all of everything.
"The one thing I do know is that you are going to play who you are going to play against, and when you cross that line it's your performances that count."
England, who are assured of top spot in Group E, will look to clinch three points against both Estonia and Lithuania in their final two qualifiers this weekend.
Euro 2016 Qualifiers
Watch highlights of England's European Qualifier against Estonia on Friday at 10pm on Sky Sports 2 HD.
