Euro 2012: England much improved under Roy Hodgson, says Joachim Löw - The Guardian

Joachim Löw believes England will develop under the stewardship of Roy Hodgson in the years to come and suggested the Fabio Capello side his Germany team defeated so comprehensively at the 2010 World Cup finals was a lineup with "a lot of problems".

Capello's team subsided 4-1 in Bloemfontein in the knockout phase two years ago having squeezed out of their group with a solitary win. The English may have rallied having been 2-0 down that afternoon, and should even have drawn level when Frank Lampard's shot crossed the line, but they were eventually picked off on the break.

Yet, while England's limitations were very evident at Euro 2012, particularly in their inability to retain possession, Löw is convinced Hodgson's selection had demonstrated improvements prior to their quarter-final exit to Italy despite the lack of preparation time granted to the new manager.

"The English were much better in this tournament than in 2010," said the Germany coach, whose side confront the Azzurri in the semi-finals on Thursday. "When they played us then in South Africa, they were a team who had a lot of problems.

"Now they are a very well organised team. Roy Hodgson has brought order into the side and has done a great job even in the time he has had. England will develop under him in the next few years and, in the next tournament, they'll play a better role than they did here and certainly than they did in 2010."