The English FA chairman Greg Dyke’s comments on Sunday were not massively helpful to Roy Hodgson and his England team.
Ahead of their final Group B fixture with Slovakia on Monday, Dyke discussed manager Roy Hodgson’s prospects of a new contract quite openly on BBC Radio 5 Live.
The 68-year-old’s contract is up at the end of the tournament here in France and, while he wishes to lead England to the World Cup in Russia in two years, Dyke said Hodgson’s hopes of a new contract would depend on how his side perform in the coming weeks.
A logical enough position, but Hodgson may have preferred if Dyke had not opened that can of worms ahead of this game at Stade Geoffrey-Guichard, which England must win to ensure they top their group and secure a favourable second round draw.
“I think we have been pretty clear with Roy and ourselves, no decision will be taken until this tournament is over,” said Dyke. “What we have said if we have done well and we played well then I think he will be renewed.
“Doing well? Semi-finals would be great; quarter-finals if we play well and meet one of the best sides and unfortunately lost or went out on penalties, something like that,” added Dyke, who has clearly given the definition of English success some thought.
The #ENG players inspecting the pitch here in St-Etienne. It is definitely grass and looks pretty flat. Knowledge pic.twitter.com/94MKP32swy
— Mikey Stafford (@me_stafford) June 19, 2016
On Sunday afternoon here in eastern France, Hodgson insisted Dyke’s comments did not change anything, even if a slightly snippy manner suggested he would have preferred to not be answering questions about his own future on the even of a match with Slovakia, who beat a Russia side England could only draw with in their opening match.
“It doesn’t make any difference to me, one way or another,” said the former Fulham and Liverpool boss. “My contract runs out after this tournament, that is a fact that everyone has known about for two years.
“On a regular basis it gets brought up, the subject – should I stay or should I not stay? What should the FA do? Nothing changes in that respect as far as I am concerned,” added Hodgson.
“One day after our sojourn, our stay here at the tournament, ends the FA will have to make a decision on what they want to do as regards to the future.”
If England do not beat Slovakia and finish second in Group B they would face Iceland, Hungary or Portugal in the second round and, if they negotiate that, they would be likely to face France in a daunting Stade de France quarter-final.
If disaster strikes and they come third they could be up against defending champions Spain or World Cup winners Germany in the last 16.
Best win Monday so, Roy.
