FA will not decide Hodgson’s future until after Euro 2016

Elsewhere, hosts France will kick-off the tournament against Romania at the Stade de France on June 10.

England coach Roy Hodgson might be offered a contract extension if the Three Lions do well in Euro 2016 in France next summer.

France has two European titles (1984 and 2000) and a world champions’ title (1998) while Romania has no worldwide title. “We will have to go into the tournament full of belief”. They will share the 11 group matches contested by England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

“We definitely have a very hard group”.

“I’m sure any other country will not want be looking forward to facing us”.

“Wales will feel pressures of their own at their first major tournament since the 1958 World Cup in Sweden“.

“Croatia have extraordinary players that play in the best teams in Europe and we saw their value in the last European Championship”.

Conte saw his side overcome a few ups and downs to secure qualification with a game to spare, but the Italian – who succeeded Cesare Prandelli after last summer’s disastrous World Cup – already sees trouble ahead. “If we were playing the likes of Spain or Germany people would give us no hope but I see Belgium as a game we can get something out of”, added Ward, mindful of what happened in 2012.

The Irish were pitted alongside Belgium, Italy and Sweden in Group E at the finals, arguably the toughest section of all. Given both shared a group with Netherlands, whom they defeated convincingly as Del Bosque eluded to earlier, neither can be taken lightly.

“Belgium are a great team”. There were nine groups each consisting of six teams, (except group I which had five teams).

There will be more than a touch of deja vu for England fans – as well as Marseille, Lens and St Etienne were also the venues for England’s matches in 1998, memorable for goals by Paul Scholes, David Beckham and Michael Owen.

“Russia and Slovakia will be interesting”.

“Despite having coached over 100 matches at this level with three teams (Finland, Switzerland and England), I have never come up against Russia, Slovakia or Wales”, said Hodgson. “There will be plenty of research between now and June and we can find out as much as we can before the campaign”.

Next year’s tournament in France, the first to have 24 teams, will feature a new second round that includes the best four third-place finishers. Sixteen years later, the 47-year-old is France coach.

Karim Benzema, a striker who plays for Real Madrid, was suspended indefinitely by the French soccer federation after being charged with conspiracy to blackmail relating to an extortion scam over a sex tape involving teammate Mathieu Valbuena.