The Three Lions manager says leading his country into their World Cup opener against Italy in Manaus on Saturday is the “highlight of his career”.
And after referring his players to the Royal Air Force motto, “Per ardua ad astra” [reach for the stars], he wants to give England fans something to cheers about.
“We want the people back home to support us, encourage us and we want them to believe in us,” he said. “And we want to give them something that they can believe in - something to cheer about.
“Nothing would please us more than to give a performance on Saturday night"
Roy Hodgson
“Nothing would please us more than to give a performance on Saturday night that has everyone at home thinking ‘this is terrific, what a good England team’.
“That is our hope and that is our goal. We hope the supporters go to bed on Saturday night as happy as we will be if we get a good result.”
Hodgson, who managed Switzerland at the 1994 World Cup, says it is even more special to lead his home nation out at the biggest tournament in international football.
“It is fantastic and it’s obviously a highlight of my career,” he added.
“World Cups are always very special and I was proud and excited in 94 when I took Switzerland but England is the county of birth and it is even great this time.
“I wouldn’t swap places with anyone right now – this is where I am happy to be an this is where I want to be.”
Two years into his tenure as England manager Hodgson says his team could not be better prepared to get the win they are searching for.
“I feel very confident that the players are prepared for this game and that they will go out and do a good job and play well,” he said.
“We have had a real upsurge of young players who have had fantastic ends of seasons and forced their way into the squad.
“So that makes it quite an exciting balance between the experienced and the youth because as the team go into the first game of the World Cup we have energy, pace and mobility.”
