Depleted by injuries to the likes of Kyle Walker, Frank Lampard and Gary Cahill and undermined by questionable selection decisions, such as Martin Kelly getting the nod over Rio Ferdinand, few Brits expect much of the team in Poland and Ukraine.

And Parker feels that is precisely the type of environment in which England - and Hodgson - can succeed.

"If you can look at what he (Hodgson) achieved at the hard end of the table with Fulham and West Bromwich Albion then it shows he has a lot about him as a coach and manager," Parker told Goal.com.

"He started at the bottom of the ladder and he's really fought to get up there and in football terms England are not at the top of the ladder and they have always had to battle their way through tournaments.

"So maybe Roy just might be the ideal person. Having players who play without fear will be crucial this summer and Roy has shown at West Brom and Fulham that he can do that."

"It might not have worked out for him at Liverpool but he has a habit of getting teams to punch above their weight, and that is what he will have to do this summer because he has just two top-class players in his midst in Wayne Rooney and Joe Hart."

Parker went on to compare Hodgson to the legendary Sir Bobby Robson and said he could replicate what Robson achieved when he guided them to the 1990 World Cup semi-finals.

"There are similarities between Roy and Bobby Robson," Parker said.

"At Ipswich Bobby turned a yokel team into a major European outfit and took them closing to winning the old Football League and everybody now has the utmost respect for them.

"In a certain way it is similar what he has achieved, although no one will ever do what Bobby did with a small-town team, but throughout football people have a lot of respect for Roy Hodgson for what he has done and the way he has done it the hard way.

"He has earned respect from foreign players and foreign coaches which is very tough. How many top English players are playing abroad at the moment. People at home have to give him a chance and back him and let’s hope his critics end up with egg on their faces."