Euro 2012: Hodgson demands responsibly

‘My message to them is a very simple one. Not only do I expect them to behave as adults, I am going to demand it.

‘It’s a big responsibility but, if there is anyone who can’t take that, then they aren’t going to play a big part in my thinking in the future.’

‘We aren’t back at school. These are people who have an incredible public profile and know, every time they step outside their front door, the eyes of the world are on them.

‘There are mobile phones with cameras everywhere these days. You can’t escape them.

‘But the players are fully aware of their responsibilities.’

For those that cant keep to their duties Hodgson says there will be severe penalties: ‘They should be aware that, if they do anything they shouldn’t, they are not only letting themselves down, they are letting us all down because the criticism will pile upon us all.

‘When you accept the invitation to go and play, you do so on the basis that for four weeks it’s football, football, football. There is only a limited amount of training every day and a lot of free time.

‘We don’t want any repeat of the things that happened to the rugby team but I don’t believe imprisoning people is the best way of getting the most out of them.

‘We have gone from one extreme to another by being in Krakow. That wasn’t my decision but if you give me a situation where the players can go out, have a cup of coffee and see something else other than their room-mates, me and the coaching staff, give me that any day.’

Animo et Fide