England manager Roy Hodgson has played down
his country's chances of winning the World Cup in
Brazil next summer.
Goals from Wayne Rooney and Steven Gerrard meant
England beat Poland 2-0 at Wembley on Tuesday to
finish top of Group E and secure qualification.
"It is not always the best team in the competition who
wins it," said Hodgson.
"But to suggest that because we have qualified from a
difficult group makes us one of the favourites, I don't
think many people would believe that."
England had only beaten San Marino and Moldova in
qualification before this week, but two good
performances and wins against Montenegro and then
Poland ensured the Three Lions qualified for their fifth
consecutive World Cup finals.
They finished the campaign unbeaten with 22 points
from 10 games, a point ahead of second-placed
Ukraine. Their record of just four goals conceded was
the equal second best in European qualification, behind
Spain.
"We believe we can give a very good account of
ourselves and then who knows?" said the 66-year-old.
"The important thing is we are there. We know it is
going to be a very tough task, especially in Brazil where
a European team has never succeeded before."
New Football Association chairman Greg Dyke
effectively dismissed England's hopes of winning next
year's tournament shortly after his appointment.
While cautious on England's chances of success in
Brazil, Hodgson believes improvements have been
made from the squad that exited Euro 2012 at the
quarter-final stage to Italy.
He said: "We have grown a lot since the Euros. If I
compare today to how we were playing - although the
guys did well for me at the Euros - the way the team is
playing is pretty different. That is due to two things:
evolution, and due to the players now available to us
that weren't.
"I would like to think the team is progressing, the way
we play does improve all the time. If we can keep these
players together, who knows?"
The England manager also described reaching next
summer's World Cup as his proudest moment in
football.
"I think it will top the lot," said Hodgson, who guided
Switzerland to the 1994 World Cup in the United States.
"I'm English. As an Englishman, it means a little bit
more to you.
"I died a thousand deaths every time Poland crossed
the halfway line [on Tuesday], which is what you do,
but I do think this team is growing now.
"England's a very big football nation. So many people
are desperate to see England participate and hopefully
do well in a World Cup so we knew it was on our
shoulders to make certain we didn't disappoint them."
Former England striker Gary Lineker believes Hodgson
is sensible to play down his side's chances of victory in
Brazil.
The Match of the Day presenter, who was critical of
England's performance after last month's goalless draw
in Ukraine, tweeted: "Roy Hodgson talking sense in
his press conference. Quelling exuberant expectations,
without dashing all hope. The voice of reason."
Next summer's tournament will open with Brazil in
action in Sao Paulo on 12 June 2014, with the final in
Rio de Janeiro on Sunday, 13 July.
The draw takes place in Bahia, Brazil, on 6 December.
England have little chance of being seeded given their
Fifa ranking of 17 and could be grouped with the hosts.
A home friendly with Germany next month is expected
to be announced imminently, with a second November
match to be arranged too.
Opponents for the international break at the beginning
of March are not expected to be organised until after
the World Cup draw in December.
"I'll use the next six or seven months to reflect,"
Hodgson said. "There'll be a lot of pressure on us, but
this team is growing in accepting pressure.
"The blend between the senior and young players looks
good. But the important thing was to do the job.
"It sounded easy: two home matches, win them, no
problems. But anyone involved in football knows it's
not as easy as that. The important thing for us is to
keep working at our game."
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