England head coach Roy Hodgson claims he is not disappointed with the Three Lions early exit from the 2014 World Cup and insists that the competition has been a good platform for his team's preparations for the 2016 European Championships.
Though pundits and fans expected to see Hodgson losing his job after England's dismal performances - successive defeats against Italy and Uruguay - resulted in them getting eliminated from the group stage of the World Cup for the first time since 1958, the FA has surprisingly decided to continue with the former Liverpool boss till the 2016 Euros.
And now, Hodgson wants to make things right for the European Championships in France.
"My enthusiasm for football is not likely to wane and my enthusiasm for working with these players is not likely to wane either," Hodgson said.
Despite becoming the first England manager to lose two successive group games in the World Cup, Hodgson insists he has no regrets since his side was defeated by the two "experienced and strong teams".
"I don't have any regrets and I don't think the team let anyone down. I think everyone worked very hard and I don't think we could have done any better. It's very hard to be happy when you lose, results colour everyone's judgement. We have played two experienced and strong teams, and on both occasions we have come second."
The 66-year-old, who was appointed Fabio Capello's successor in 2012, feels the Three Lions have a bright future, with young players Raheem Sterling, Ross Barkley, Luke Shaw and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain showing rapid improvement.
"I think that bodes well for the future," Hodgson said. "I believe England have a very strong basis for a team, it's very young. These players within the space of two years will play in the Premier League and they will get better and stronger as an England team.
"I have never doubted this team will become stronger and better, and we will just for the moment have to suck on this very bitter pill that our hopes and dreams have been floundered here because we were unable to win the games."
Hodgson says he is happy that he will be working mostly with the same group of players in the upcoming Euros.
"I don't think we have a problem [regarding the age of the squad]. Wayne Rooney is 28 years of age, going on 29, and I don't regard 29 as being old. Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard are the only 30-plus year olds we have."
