New head coach Roy Hodgson, whose side are 9/1 with bookmaker to win Euro 2012, has warned fans not to expect too much from England in this summer’s European Championships.
Hodgson has been charged with trying to help the Three Lions to a first-ever major European title, but the vastly experienced manager believes that reaching the last eight would be acceptable.
“I’d be bitterly disappointed if we didn’t get out of the group,” Hodgson said.
“One is tempted to say, because it’s England, that success is only reaching the latter stages, or even the only success is winning, but I’d like people to cut us a bit of slack.”
England face France, Sweden and Ukraine in Group D in Poland and Ukraine, beginning their campaign against the French on 11th June in Donetsk.
They then take on Sweden four days later in Kiev and round off their group campaign against co-hosts Ukraine back in Donetsk on 19th June.