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I won't resign, says Hodgson after England shocker

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AFP Sao Paulo
England boss Roy Hodgson said he had no intention of resigning despite steering his team to the brink of their worst World Cup performance in 56 years -- insisting the future was bright.

But the "devastated" coach conceded his employers the Football Association could rethink his position following his team's devastating 2-1 loss to Uruguay in Sao Paulo yesterday.

"I'm bitterly disappointed, of course, but I don't feel I need to resign, no," 66-year-old Hodgson told British broadcaster ITV. "On the other hand, if the FA think I'm not the right man to do the job..."

Hodgson said Luis Suarez's late winner, his second goal of the night, was an "unbelievable blow" after England worked their back into the game with a Wayne Rooney equaliser.
 

"We believed we could do enough to get a result in this game. Having worked so hard to get back to 1-1 I believed we would go on to win the game or at least draw, so to concede the second goal is an unbelievable blow. I don't really know what to say at this time.

"We are more than disappointed, we're devastated."

Hodgson said he was also taken aback by the manner of Uruguay's winner, which came when a speculative ball from goalkeeper Fernando Muslera skidded off Steven Gerrard's head and into the path of Suarez.

"It was a goal we don't expect to concede. Long goal kicks with the type of players we have in the team, we deal with them," Hodgson said.

England also lost their Group D opener 2-1 to Italy, leaving them relying on the Azzurri beating Costa Rica on Friday to keep their hopes alive in the competition.

- 'Unbelievably slim' -

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A stony-faced Hodgson admitted England's chances of staying in the World Cup were "unbelievably slim" as they face their first exit at the group stage in a World Cup since 1958.

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First Published: Jun 20 2014 | 11:42 AM IST

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