England prepare for first game of Euro 2012

It's been quite a year for the England team this year - as anyone with a FourFourTwo magazine will already know. Back in February, with just a few months to go until the Euro 2012 kicked off, England manager Fabio Capello quit over the captaincy row and a replacement had to be found.

Stuart Pearce temporarily took charge of the team whilst rumours circulated that Harry Redknapp would fill the role, but at the beginning of May Roy Hodgson stepped in as the new manager and had to whip the England team into shape. Now his new managerial skills are being put to the test as the first England match of the Euro 2012 competition is about to get under way.

Speaking to The Independent, Hodgson said: "It's been 40 days, but I'm really quite surprised that I'm as confident of what the players are going to show you and show the nation and do for the nation as I can possibly be, and I can't say more than that.

"To the players my message is going to be that 'We've done the best preparation in my opinion that we can possibly do, I think you're ready, I think you're good enough, now have the confidence and the belief in yourself to get out there and show it and don't get suicidal if for some reason things don't work out for you'."

We're all hoping England will do well, though if it's anything like the World Cup we may be headed for disappointment. But they say the power of positive thinking is helpful and after last weekend's celebrations we're feeling very patriotic, so come on England!

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Posted by Donnie Bachan.