26 Feb 2014

Hodgson considers a sports psychologist for World Cup

11:41 am on 26 February 2014

The England football manager Roy Hodgson says he's considering using a sports psychologist at this year's World Cup to overcome the country's woeful record in penalty shoot-outs.

England have lost on penalties in three of the past six World Cups and Hodgson may take a sports psychologist to Brazil.

Penalties also cost England at the 1996, 2004 and 2012 European Championships and Hodgson wants to eradicate the feeling of failure in case his side go to another shoot-out in Brazil.

He says they have some confident penalty-takers, but others less confident.

Hodgson will also be helped by British cycling guru, Sir Dave Brailsford, who will talk to the England players in the build-up to the World Cup.

Brailsford masterminded Britain's cycling success at the 2012 Olympics and is seen as an expert in inspiring his teams to greater achievements.