Monday, 18th November, 2013
England manager Roy Hodgson feels that his side are going through a transitional period and likened it to Germany's situation in 2006.
Hodgson's Three Lions host Germany at Wembley on Tuesday evening in an international friendly and the spotlight has been thrown onto the differences between the two countries.
While England are not considered amongst the favourites to win the 2014 World Cup and were beaten 2-0 at home by Chile on Friday, Germany are expected to put in a strong challenge for the trophy next summer in Brazil.
And Hodgson does feel both countries are at very different points in their cycle.
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"I think the German FA were very wise in their attitude to changing the face of the national team and building it on youth and a very energetic style of play", he said via the FA.
"Of course, as a result, the success they’ve had has not surprised anybody because we all know how good the players are and how strong the league is.
"The German team has become something of an example for many other European teams who might find themselves in a transitional period that Germany obviously found themselves in going into the 2006 World Cup.
"As far as we’re concerned, we are perhaps to some extent in that transitional period I mentioned Germany found themselves in in 2006."
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