England manager Roy Hodgson has explained his decision behind playing the attacking duo of Harry Kane and Jamie Vardy out wide.

England laboured to a 1-0 victory over 10-man Portugal at Wembley on Thursday night and it has to be said that the Three Lions were very poor in attack during the game.

Many feel that Hodgson's decision to play centre-forwards Kane and Vardy out wide was the main reason behind England's struggles up front but the 68-year-old has gone on to defend his tactic by stating that he used the duo as 'split strikers' in order to provide defensive stability.

Hodgson said: "We played with split strikers. If you play with them both through the middle with (Wayne) Rooney central as well you can't defend the wide areas.

"There were some moments where you might be right and Kane and Vardy were a little too wide but their job is to split and come together at the right times.

"If you play with a man in behind them, you have to make sure he has space in which to run."