England manager Roy Hodgson speaking from the World Cup training camp in Portugal:
"John Stones twisted his knee, nothing
serious, he could have trained. It was nice to see Phil Jones in the
warm-up, he is going well and looks like he might be taking part in some
footballing activities later this week.
"At the moment things are looking good. Apart from John Stones we have come through totally unscathed."
Roy Hodgson on Wayne Rooney:
"He is looking very good, very good indeed. We try and individualise it a
bit so in the session I did today I left a few senior players out but
it is only a precaution because we are trying to make certain we do not
put too much physical pressure on the players too early. It has been a
very good few days. There is a long way to go but at least we have got
off to a good start."
England manager Roy Hodgson speaking from the World Cup training camp in Portugal:
"They [the younger players] are here on
merit, They have got that message, have integrated very well. Italy is
still three weeks off and it is much too early to concern ourselves with
now. Today is the first remotely tactical thing we have done, it has
been more physical and passing games."
Roy Hodgson on Italy, England's first opponents at the World Cup:
"I know having worked in Italy they will be
under a lot of scrutiny and pressure. They will be expected to beat us
and the other teams in our group but I don't honestly think there are
many teams or coaches who go into a World Cup without feeling the
pressure to succeed. Anything I read or hear about other teams I take
with a pinch of salt, I take it on the basis that they will have the
same attitude as we have."
"We are England and when we are together that is all that matters. As
far as I am concerned any activities regarding transfers have to do so
outside the training camp. I can't stop possible phone calls but as far
as anything else is concerned, it has to happen outside our time because
we are England."
Roy Hodgson on Manchester United's appointment of Louis van Gaal as the club's new manager:
"I know Louis. I have always got on very
well with him. I am pleased for him. He has been asked to take on a big
job and my congratulations to him but when it comes to all of these
appointments with club teams I don't think it is for national team
managers to speak about it."
More from Roy Hodgson:
"We don't talk about relaxation, we talk
about the professional job we need to do and we expect players are 100
per cent professional. If they happen to enjoy it it is a major bonus.
"I think players are excited to be selected.
Everyone realised my choice was a difficult one. It wasn't just lets
take the only ones there, there were a lot more players that could have
come so there was tension before. There is a feeling of enthusiasm and
energy because they are happy they are taking part and leading the way
for England."
Roy Hodgson on being with the squad:
"I am finding it tremendous. It is the first
training session I have really done with the team for two-and-a-half
months. I have really enjoyed being with the players these two or three
days. I am impressed by the way they have approached this task and the
way they are going about their business. I was prepared to be impressed
because they have impressed me every time."
On Wayne Rooney and can he produce his best at the World Cup:
"It won't be for the want of trying or want of dedication. He realises
what a good player he is, he knows we, as a football nation, place a lot
of faith in him. The eyes of England and possibly the rest of the world
are on him. He spent his week off here in Portugal and trained in that
time. He told me he wanted to be 100% ready to train from the first
day."
As a finale, Roy Hodgson is asked if he knows when his players' birthday are:
He said: "No. They don't wish me happy
birthday either. I regard those things as being flippant, I don't think
it has anything to do with being a professional footballer. I do not
interfere in their private lives."
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