Hodgson backs England's old guard

Roy Hodgson has launched a passionate defense of England's old guard as he prepares to use the aging stars to form the spine of his team for the 2014 World Cup qualifiers.

England starts on the road at Brazil next Friday with its opening qualifier in Moldova followed by a home game against Ukraine the following week.

And despite England's tame exit from Euro 2012, Hodgson has resisted the temptation to make wholesale changes to a squad that still relies on the same players who have been in place for the last eight years.