England coach Roy Hodgson insists his squad can defy the critics and win the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

Hodgson has great belief in his young squad.

"There's no doubt playing on your own continent is a major advantage," said Hodgson.

"But if you watch the last two victories by Spain, most people would agree the quality of their football would compare with the Brazil teams of the past so maybe the gap is getting smaller.

"People are entitled to an opinion but it doesn't interest me.

"I don't think they actually said we had much chance of winning the World Cup in 1966."

Unquestionably, England would head to Brazil with expectations even lower than the sombre assessment of their chances in Poland and Ukraine this summer.

Not that Hodgson is bothered about that either. In fact, he would prefer it.

He said: "We won't be favourites if we qualify but I am not unhappy about that.

"I'd much rather someone else bears the burden of being favourite to win a World Cup.

"But if we get there I am pretty certain I will have a very competitive group of players."