England’s Euro 2016 qualifying opponents are unlikely to attract big crowds to Wembley, says Roy Hodgson.
Just 40,181 fans watched Wednesday’s 1-0 win friendly over Norway, England’s lowest since Wembley reopened in 2007.
England will play San Marino, Estonia, Switzerland, Slovenia and Lithuania in Euro 2016 qualifying at Wembley.
Manager Roy Hodgson said: “We’ll find it hard to bring attendances back because the opponents we’re playing won’t excite the public.”
It was England’s first game since they were knocked out of the World Cup in the group stages, after losing to Italy and Uruguay and drawing with Costa Rica.
The attendance was more than 7,000 fewer than the previous lowest at the revamped stadium, when 48,876 watched a friendly against Sweden in November 2011.
“It is not easy on a Wednesday night, most schools have started the new term and it was an evening kick-off,” said England goalkeeper Joe Hart, adding however that “We are thankful for the people who came and supported us.”
England begin their qualifying campaign in Switzerland on Monday before their next home match against San Marino on 9 October and captain Wayne Rooney says it is the players’ job to get the fans believing in their national team again.
“We are grateful for the fans who came, there was still a lot at Wembley,” he said.
“We understand that after the World Cup it is difficult for the fans and for the players too. We have to make sure we do well in this qualification campaign to make fans believe again and that is what we aim to do.”
Hodgson added that “If the team works as hard as they did against Norway, show the appetite and desire, and the aggression in the defending, show the exciting moves that were there for all to see, the fans will come back.”
Hodgson’s side failed to register a shot on target until Rooney’s 68th-minute penalty at a half-full Wembley, and needed Hart to make a fine save at 0-0.
They had 63 per cent possession throughout the 90 minutes but the only save Orjan Nyland had to make was a powerful shot from new Arsenal signing Danny Welbeck late on.
But Hodgson said: “Two shots on target? Don’t give me that one.
“Don’t hit me with statistics. When we had that much possession, and you talk about two shots on target? What about all the shots they threw themselves in front of?
“We enjoyed some positive moments, some good movement and good play. All the things I wanted I thought I saw for large periods of the game.”
With defender Gary Cahill fit despite limping off with a late ankle injury, Hodgson believes his side are in good shape ahead of their opening Euro 2016 qualifier in Basel on Monday.
“I’ve learned that the players are anxious to defend more aggressively and be more compact in their play,” he said.
“These young players are prepared to take the responsibility, to receive the ball under pressure. I also learned from these players that we are not restricted to playing one particular way.”
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