Roy Hodgson is confident England will get better as Euro 2012 develops after holding France to a 1-1 draw in their opening Group D encounter.
England boss happy with display in only third game at the helm
Roy Hodgson is confident England will get better as Euro 2012 develops after holding France to a 1-1 draw in their opening Group D encounter.
The Three Lions produced a battling performance in Donetsk to get their campaign up and running with a point, and Hodgson believes there were plenty of positives to take from the game.
He is pleased to have held a French team that has not been beaten since September 2010, especially as he feels there is plenty of room for improvement.
"I've had three games," said Hodgson, who only took charge of the team at the start of May.
"I am satisfied with those three games but you don't become a really good team in three matches and 10 training sessions.
"The French have gone 22 games unbeaten. They've not done that overnight.
"It's been people playing together, getting to know each other's games.
"The longer we play together, the better we'll become too."
Defensive praise
Hodgson also paid tribute to the central defensive partnership of John Terry and Joleon Lescott, which was only put together once Gary Cahill had been ruled out of the competition with a fractured jaw.
Teething troubles had been anticipated, especially as the move involved Terry shifting across from his favoured left-sided berth.
No significant problems were evident though, as the pair proved solid in spite of France's dominance in possession and Lescott provided England's goal.
"They did well," said Hodgson.
"I was never concerned about moving John to the right. He's a right-footed player.
"They have two right-footed centre-halves at Chelsea and maybe John plays on the left because he's the more proficient with his left foot."
