England

Glenn Hoddle eyes Euro 2016 challenge

By Michael Penkman, Reporter | 11 October 2013

Glenn Hoddle hopes that Roy Hodgson uses next year's World Cup to give valuable experience to younger players with the long-term plan of challenging at the 2016 European Championships in France.

Glenn Hoddle has written off England's chances of winning next year's World Cup in Brazil but remains confident of achieving success earlier than FA chairman Greg Dyke's target of 2022.

The 55-year-old, who has been chosen to sit on the Football Association Commission, hopes that younger players are given a chance in South America with the aim of preparing them for Euro 2016 in France.

The former national boss said that he has some exciting ideas to share with the 10-man panel, which has been formed in an effort to improve the state of English football.

"It is unrealistic for England to think they can go and win the World Cup in Brazil," Hoddle told BBC Sport. "Let's first qualify, then get the youngsters experiencing a tournament in Brazil so that in two years' time we can have a real go at the Euros.

"I know Greg has said he wants England to win in 2022, but I think we can bring that forward. I would hope to say we could expect to get some success a little bit earlier than that.

"I really have got some exciting ideas that I want to run across this commission and I hope people will get on board with it. It is something close to my heart, close to my heart for many years."

Hoddle guided England to the last 16 of the 1998 World Cup in France, where they lost on penalties to Argentina in Saint-Etienne.