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Roy Hodgson rejects criticism of Euro 2016 tactics

Roy Hodgson prior to the UEFA EURO 2016 round of 16 match against Iceland
Image: Roy Hodgson said he has not watched England's defeat to Iceland since resigning

Roy Hodgson has defended his tactics during Euro 2016 and revealed he has not watched England's defeat to Iceland since resigning.

The 69-year-old called time on his four-year reign 20 minutes after the final whistle of England's embarrassing defeat to tournament debutants Iceland, but said their was no point in viewing the match again.

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"I don't need to watch it, I have a perfectly good idea of what happened and why it happened," said Hodgson in The Big Issue.

Hodgson came in for criticism for his decisions during the tournament, which included making six changes for the Slovakia game and putting Harry Kane on corner-taking duty.

MARSEILLE, FRANCE - JUNE 11:  Harry Kane of England prepares for a corner kick during the UEFA EURO 2016 Group B match between England and Russia at Stade
Image: Harry Kane was on corner duty for England during Euro 2016

"Nonsense. People should be ashamed of those things. Why shouldn't Harry Kane take corners? If he happens to be the best striker of a ball in the team and gives you the best delivery, why shouldn't he do it?" added Hodgson.

"I was totally uninterested in those type of comments, which I regard as purely irrelevant and dishonest. No one whose opinion I respect would have said anything like that, otherwise I would have heard about it."

Hodgson, who never progressed beyond the last eight at any of his three summer tournaments, believes his nurturing of young players is how his legacy as England manager should be viewed.

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The disappointing Euro 2016 exit had followed 10 straight wins during qualifying but Hodgson looks back with pride on his time with England.

NICE, FRANCE - JUNE 27:  Raheem Sterling of England and Jon Dadi Bodvarsson of Iceland compete for the ball during the UEFA EURO 2016 round of 16 match bet
Image: Hodgson's last match as England manager was their defeat by Iceland in Nice last June

"I believe people who work within the game and inside sport realise what I did and certainly I got all sorts of messages from all sorts of important friends and acquaintances.

"So there was never any doubt I would collapse in any way with self-doubt. If anything, I think the experience makes you stronger.

"The four years, especially the last two after the World Cup, fashioning a team from a very young group of players, many of whom weren't even in their club side, and playing the sort of football we were capable of playing - we were playing very, very well.

I think it is probably the best work, in many ways, that I did or have done so far.
Roy Hodgson

"I am very, very proud of that achievement. I think it is probably the best work, in many ways, that I did or have done so far.

"But of course, any work you do as a sporting person, a football coach or any coach, if it is good work you've got to have something - a championship - to show for it. We didn't get that, quite the reverse."

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