Hart will be vital - Hodgson

England's Euro 2012 build-up might have been dominated by a player he is happy to do without - but manager Roy Hodgson acknowledges Joe Hart is impossible to ignore.

Hodgson will find it impossible to escape the Rio Ferdinand question until he addresses it, although there is no need for him to speak on the issue until Sunday afternoon - the UEFA designated pre-match press conference for England's Group D opener with France - should he so desire.

He is certainly on safer ground with his assessment of Manchester City goalkeeper Hart, now widely accepted as the player England can least afford to be without. Hodgson said: "I agree he will be vital. His form for Manchester City has been superb."

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