Hodgson happy with squad selection

England boss Roy Hodgson insists his decision to select an attacking 23-man squad will continue to help his side in the European Championships.

The former Fulham and Liverpool coach shocked many fans as he named five strikers in his squad for Euro 2016 in France.

Wayne Rooney, Harry Kane, Jamie Vardy, Daniel Sturridge and Marcus Rashford were all called up by Hodgson and that decision paid off on Thursday.

The 68-year-old was criticised for making defensive changes in the first Group B game against Russia in the 1-1 draw, but Hodgson introduced Vardy, Sturridge and Rashford on Thursday and the trio helped the Three Lions beat Wales 2-1.

England, 9.50 to win Euro 2016, now sit top of their group ahead of their final game against Slovakia on Monday and Hodgson believes his options off the bench will help his team go far.

He said: “When I selected the 23, people looked at the 23 and there will always be people with opinions. “One of the things that was said was there were only seven out and out defenders but extra midfielders and attackers. But we deliberately went that way because we think in tournaments, that’s what you need. They evolve quickly and they are knockout games.”

“It is nice that people have praised us for our boldness but if we had drawn or lost, it wouldn’t have made any difference to what we would have had to have done against Slovakia. “I wouldn’t have thought there will be too many supporters out there who didn’t think we deserved to win the game, unless they are really die-hard Welsh supporters.”