World Cup 2014: Wayne Rooney backs manager Roy Hodgson

Striker Wayne Rooney insists Roy Hodgson is the right man to lead England, despite the team being knocked out of the World Cup after two matches.

The Football Association has confirmed that Hodgson will stay on for another two years despite England's early exit.
Rooney agrees with the decision to stick with Hodgson and maintains the team is making progress.
"He's put enthusiasm in the team. There's no doubt Roy is the man to take us forward," Rooney said.
"We appreciate what he's done for us. He's changed the way we play over the last couple of years.
"You can see the progression. I feel we're getting better and this will help the younger players and help us become a better team."


After losing their opening two matches against Italy and Uruguay, England's exit was confirmed when Italy were beaten by Costa Rica on Friday.
They complete their World Cup campaign with a match against the Costa Ricans on Tuesday.
Manchester United's Rooney believes the Premier League is producing enough English youngsters to make the national side competitive on the world stage.

He feels that the younger members of the England squad will have benefitted from their experience in Brazil.

Rooney, 28, added: If you look at the Premier League over the last couple of years, the number of English players coming though is incredible.
"Ross Barkley, Luke Shaw and Raheem Sterling have had outstanding seasons and they've progressed so quickly, playing week in week out for their clubs and stepped up at international level.
"So we have to be excited about that and hopefully in the future there will be more like that in the national team.
"It's difficult to say I've enjoyed the tournament because we're out of it. You try to cling to positives but it's disappointing we're out."

 

Goalkeeper Joe Hart admitted the World Cup has left him as low as any experience in his career.
The Manchester City player said: "Right now it is. It is a strange empty feeling. I've put everything into this tournament. But it is cruel, it is really gutting for me."
The 27-year-old also insists that Hodgson should be allowed to continue and retains the support of the England squad.
He added: "Of course he does. We've got to stick together. We came into this as a group. We haven't succeeded but have to stick together, the players and the staff.
"They prepared us as best they could and we haven't performed on the field.
"We've got to stick together, believe in what we've done, pick ourselves up and be ready for Tuesday."