England manager Roy Hodgson insists he will not resign – even if his side are knocked out of the World Cup at the group stage.
Luis Suarez’s double for Uruguay condemned England to their second successive defeat in Group D and any result bar an Italy win when the Azzurri face Costa Rica on Friday will mean an early exit for Hodgson’s side.
“I don’t have any intention to resign,” he said. “I’ve been really happy with the way the players have responded to the work we’ve tried to do.”
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Hodgson took over shortly before Euro 2012, when England were eliminated on penalties by Italy in the quarter-finals, while they qualified unbeaten for this World Cup in Brazil.
“I’m bitterly disappointed, of course, but I don’t feel I need to resign, no,” he added.
“On the other hand, if the FA think I’m not the right man to do the job, that will be their decision not mine.”
If the Italians do win on Friday, Hodgson’s side must then beat Costa Rica and hope the Azzurri can also overcome Uruguay in the group’s final games on Tuesday, 24 June.
That scenario would leave England, Uruguay and Costa Rica on three points with qualification going down to goal difference. However, no team have ever lost their opening two games at a World Cup and progressed to the knockout stages.
“I’m really bitterly disappointed,” said Hodgson.
“We came with such high hopes and have not been able to deliver. It is a major sadness for me.”
He added: “I’m numb really – numb with disappointment and sadness that so many hopes and dreams and so much work has been blown away.
“The hope is small. Had we drawn the game I would even have been tempted to say to you the chances were good. Now we need Italy to win both their games and that is not guaranteed.”
Hodgson bemoaned the stop-start manner of a contest that was decided by Luis Suarez’s 84th-minute winner.
“Uruguay are very different to Italy. They allow you more chance to play, the game is broken up less,” he said.
“There were a few challenges that went unpunished; the referee allowed the game to flow but sometimes to our detriment.
“Although I don’t think anyone could question the players’ desire, we haven’t been good enough to win the two games.
“We thought after the equaliser if anyone would get a winner it would be us but, unfortunately, one kick down the field and a flick on came through to Luis Suarez and he doesn’t miss those chances.”
Source: BBC.com
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