Roy Hodgson cannot see the point in England handicapping themselves by constantly lamenting what has gone wrong since 1966.
After a solid start to their World Cup qualifying campaign, the Three Lions visit San Marino and Montenegro next March before an autumn push towards the World Cup in Brazil.
"One of my concerns for England has always been that we're not trying to win in the present, we're trying to win in the past and we can't do that," Hodgson told FATV.
"I know there's 1966 and that it's 50 years and that we've failed here and there and missed penalty shoot-outs, but unfortunately there's not very much I can do now to change anything that's historical.
"You can't turn back the clock and you can't win yesterday. You can only win today and while winning today, you can only have an eye on how we can win tomorrow."
Hodgson cannot be faulted for the number of younger players he has introduced to the Three Lions fold since he took charge in May.
Raheem Sterling and Carl Jenkinson were amongst those to make their debuts in Sweden last month, whilst others, including Danny Welbeck and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain were part of his Euro 2012 squad despite their limited experience.
With the exception of Sterling, none of that quartet could be regarded as first-choice for their clubs in a league where so many of its top men are foreign.
Hodgson sees little point arguing against the mass continental influx. Instead he feels the onus is on those young English players to prove themselves indispensable.
"Clubs will do what they have to do and I can't expect that a manager who is under pressure to get results is thinking long-term for the benefits of the English national side," he said. "If he thinks his interests are best served by getting a player from Montenegro, Russia or Israel, they're entitled to do that."
Source: PA
