I was lucky to keep my job after World Cup flop, admits England boss Hodgson

England manager Roy Hodgson talks to his players during a training session at the Rico Perez Stadium, Alicante.

Stuart Lancaster paid the price for failing to qualify from the group stages of the rugby World Cup on Wednesday when he left his position as England coach.

Luckily for Hodgson, his employers at the Football Association (FA) were not so ruthless.

Despite crashing out of the group stages after failing to win a match at the World Cup last summer, the FA kept faith with Hodgson, but he admits it could have easily gone the other way.

“I was more fortunate that the FA kept faith in me at a time when results didn’t go as they should and they could if they wanted to have decided to change course,” the England manager said when asked about his friend Lancaster.

“I’m grateful the FA kept faith with me and the work we were doing with a good team in a transitional period.”

Results since England returned from Brazil suggest the FA was right to stick with Hodgson.

The former Fulham and Liverpool manager has not lost a game since the World Cup.

England’s 15-match unbeaten run will come under serious threat tonight, however, when they play European champions Spain at the Estadio Jose Rico Perez in Alicante.

Already without 14 regulars, Hodgson was left cursing his luck on the eve of the match after Jamie Vardy suffered an injury. The Premier League’s top scorer and former Halifax Town striker sat out training yesterday and is “unlikely” to feature, according to Hodgson.

Despite Vardy’s absence, Wayne Rooney will not start. The captain is being rested ahead of Tuesday’s game against France so Harry Kane will lead the line.

“There was no reason behind (resting Rooney),” Hodgson said.

“They are both good games, both equally important, and we want to see (Rooney, Vardy and Kane), that’s the bottom line.”

Rooney rested: Page 22.