England manager Roy Hodgson has defended Wayne Rooney after the striker was criticised by former manager Fabio Capello.

Capello hit back at Rooney's comments suggesting that Hodgson was easier to understand than the Italian, and that nothing was "lost in translation".

Rooney has also faced questions over his fitness for England's quarter-final against Italy, having missed the first two games in the tournament through suspension. However, Hodgson was quick to hail Rooney's desire to regain his fitness in time for the match.

"Capello is entitled to his opinions, I suppose. I don't know what relationship he would have had with Wayne but I always think it's a bit cheap to kid on a player who was so anxious to do well," Hodgson told talkSPORT.

"His attitude was magnificent. He was putting in extra work in training because he was concerned he was behind the others having missed the first two games through suspension. He was trying to do extra work and we were trying to put the brakes on. His desire to do well was enormous.

"In the final game [against Italy] he, along with one or two other players, didn't play to the level he can but that's what football is about. If every player was a robot and played at the same level in every game then football would be a very simple game and we wouldn't need coaches."

Rooney, 26, has already won 76 caps for the national side, scoring 29 goals.