Football Association chairman Greg Dyke believes there is only a remote chance of England winning the 2014 World Cup.
On Wednesday, in his first speech as FA chairman, Dyke spoke about the dwindling numbers of English footballers playing regular top-flight football. His aim is to reverse that trend, with the stated ambition of England winning the 2022 World Cup.
England are struggling in qualification for next year's tournament in Brazil. They are currently second in Group H, two points behind Montenegro, who have played a game more while Ukraine are just a point behind England.
No European nation has won the World Cup in South America and Dyke therefore thinks England will not be among the favourites for the tournament in Brazil if they qualify.
"I don't think anyone realistically thinks we are going to win the World Cup in Brazil," he told the BBC's Today programme.
"I asked a bunch of journalists what would be seen as doing well in Brazil. The consensus was if we reach the quarter-finals we'll do very well.
"That's not to say we can't win. But let's not kid ourselves, it's pretty hard to win in Latin America anyway for a European side. We're certainly not going to go there as odds-on favourites, that's for sure."
England play Moldova at Wembley on Friday and they then fly to Kiev, where they face Ukraine four days later.
Hodgson's team could drop to third in Group H if they lose to Ukraine, but Dyke says he believes the team will qualify.
Dyke added: "He knows that we want to do the best we can possibly do at every tournament and I believe we will qualify for Brazil and we can do OK."
Source: PA
