England coach Roy Hodgson says he and his players can handle increased expectations.

Hodgson has not come out with the kind of grandiose "we can win it statements" delivered by his predecessors, and even Manchester United ace Wayne Rooney when he spoke to the media on Sunday.

But he did say to BBC Sport: "I don't mind the expectation getting greater.

"I am really pleased about it. We have been very buoyed by the news from home and the people we meet here.

"Everyone seems to be becoming an England fan again.

"That is so important for us. If you are a football player or coach, you want people to appreciate you and get behind you, you want people to give you the feeling if I do have a bad game it is not going to be a catastrophe.

"There is more of that feeling and the players are responding. Long may that continue."