Rooney: 'Hurting' England must restore pride

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England striker Wayne Rooney said on Saturday that his side were "hurting" after their early World Cup elimination and urged his team-mates to "restore pride" against Costa Rica on Tuesday.

"Obviously we're hurting," the Manchester United striker told a press conference at England's Rio de Janeiro training base. "It's really disappointing to be out of the tournament, so I'm sure you can imagine it's quite tough. There'll be a long few days for us now and we have to try and pick ourselves up for this game on Tuesday, go out fighting and show our pride."

England lost their first two Group D games 2-1 against Italy and Uruguay and were eliminated on Friday after the Italians lost 1-0 to Costa Rica in Recife. It is the first time England have gone out in the first phase of a World Cup since the 1958 tournament in Sweden.

However, English Football Association chairman Greg Dyke has confirmed that England manager Roy Hodgson will stay on until UEFA EURO 2016 and Rooney says the squad were fully behind him.

"Make no doubt about it - Roy is the man to take this team forward. We appreciate what he has done for us," Rooney said. "He has put a great enthusiasm in the team, a great set of young, exciting players in place.

"He has, in my opinion, changed the way we have played over the last couple of years and I know the results have been disappointing in the last two games, but as a team we can feel we are getting better. I feel with the young lads in the squad, this will help them and hopefully in the future this will make us a better team."

Balotelli bouncing after victory over England

Mario Balotelli could not hide his enthusiasm, after Italy 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil ™ started with a victory over England. The former Manchester City striker his struggles at the end of the season at AC Milan behind him and scored the winning goal in Saturday's 2-1-victory in Manaus.

Balotelli, who was voted by the fans as the Budweiser man of the match, tweeted: "man of the match, I'm just happy. A big thank you to my team-mates and let us continue. "Forza Azzurri."

The 23-year-old was about to start other than a certainty, but was chosen by Italy coach Cesare Prandelli before Ciro immobile Serie A top scorer. Italy next face Costa Rica on Friday in Recife. Costa Rica stunned Uruguay 3-1 in the other match of Group D. "we are strong and everyone should fear," Balotelli said figc.it.

In the meantime, Prandelli will optimally Balotelli in Brazil. "Mario played, a great game against England", said the head of Italy. "But I told him that he given can be much more his extraordinary potential."

Italy secure slim win over England

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Italy held out against diligent England to earn a 2-1 win, courtesy of goals from Claudio Marchisio and Mario Balotelli, which leaves them second on goal difference in Group D at the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™. Daniel Sturridge had equalised soon after the Juventus midfielder had opened the scoring, but Cesare Prandelli's side held on to their lead for the second time following an early goal after the break.

England began brightly, looking to improve on a record of just one competitive win over Gli Azzurri, as Raheem Sterling rippled the side-netting from range with a rasping effort, before Jordan Henderson forced Salvatore Sirigu into a low save inside the first five minutes.

Antonio Candreva gave Joe Hart a similar test at the other end, but his left-footed strike was dealt with - albeit uncomfortably - by the Manchester City goalkeeper. England continued to look the more threatening though, with Daniele De Rossi going agonisingly close to turning into his own net, diverting Danny Welbeck's cross away from Sturridge and just beyond the far post.

While clear-cut chances were hard to come by, Italy's midfield still looked capable of carving out opportunities, and it was a routine from the training ground that exposed England. A short corner was cut back towards the edge of area and, when Andrea Pirlo dummied superbly, Marchisio had time and space to sweetly fire into the bottom corner.

The Three Lions were behind for just two minutes, however, as Wayne Rooney broke well down the left wing, finding the unmarked Sturridge at the far post who just had to side-foot past Sirigu.

Italy were almost back in front on the stroke of half-time though, with Mario Balotelli almost scoring a spectacular lob from the left side of the area which had to be cleared off the line by Phil Jagielka. Candreva then rattled the post from the resulting corner.

Sirigu was the first goalkeeper forced into action after the break, with a purposeful run from Sturridge ending in a low effort, but Italy retook the lead as Balotelli rose at the back post to meet Candreva's in-swinging cross to beat former City team-mate Hart.

England looked dangerous though, with Rooney, Sterling and Sturridge all combining well, with the latter keen to test Sirigu at every opportunity. Rooney fired narrowly wide of the post after evading the offside trap, before substitute Ross Barkley tested the Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper as Roy Hodgson's side searched for an equaliser.

While England pressed as players progressively tired in the Manaus heat, it was Italy who came closest to scoring again as a Pirlo free-kick smacked the bar in the final moments.

Eriksson: England better in 2006

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Former England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson on Saturday wrote off Roy Hodgson's hopes of winning the FIFA World Cup™ in Brazil and claimed his 2006 side had more to offer.

Eriksson took England to the quarter-finals in Germany eight years ago and believes Hodgson will be lucky to get as far in South America. "I don't think any team were better than England at the World Cup in Germany," the 66-year-old told the BBC. "I don't believe England have the chance to win this time. The quarter-finals would be a good achievement."

Under Eriksson, England reached the quarter-finals of the 2002 and 2006 World Cups as well as the same last-eight stage of the 2004 UEFA European Championships. Only Steven Gerrard, Wayne Rooney and Frank Lampard from the 2006 tournament in Germany, where England were knocked out by Portugal on penalties, have survived to play under Hodgson in Brazil.

"We lost on penalties again but I don't think Portugal, or any team, were better than us at that time. The margins are very small," insisted Eriksson. "This time England has changed a lot, with new players. I think they will go through the group stage and then it depends on who they meet."