Monday 6 June 2016 21:56, UK
Roy Hodgson insists simulation is not part of England's culture as his team prepare to fly to France for Euro 2016 on Monday morning.
Hodgson's 23-man squad depart at 11.30am and arrive in Chantilly at 2pm with an evening's training session planned in the evening ahead their opener against Russia in Marseille on Saturday.
England's manager has revealed simulation tactics are not on the agenda. There has been some debate about over-acting in the wake of England's 1-0 friendly win over Portugal on Thursday when Harry Kane barely reacted after being kicked in the head by Bruno Alves at Wembley.
The defender's studs grazed the Tottenham man's temple and the Portuguese was still sent off, but Kane's reaction - or lack of - drew some debate.
The man himself said in the aftermath that it was not in his nature to over-act, but some have called for England to adopt a more streetwise approach to games at the highest level. Hodgson is clearly torn, but thinks habits are too ingrained in the England set-up to change at this stage.
"Harry's first instinct when he didn't get kicked severely was to carry on and to try and do something with the ball," he said.
"Some people might say that's very laudable, others might say you've got to go down, you've got to be cynical. I find the cynicism quite a hard thing to coach.
"Unfortunately that's a very hard thing to teach. I think it has to be taught - if it's going to be taught - at a very early age and be part of your culture; I've said many times I don't think it is part of our culture.
"There will be occasions - and I take the point - that there will be a penalty, the player stays on his feet and maybe then it will be a very relevant question.
"But again... that's hard for me, also being English, to start trying to teach people a manner of playing which I've never subscribed to and they don't subscribe to."
Hodgson's side were disjointed in attack in the win over Portugal, leading to question marks over both personnel and system.
And it is tactical questions that the coach will prioritise once England arrive at their Chantilly training base on Monday.
"I won't be spending my coaching time teaching players to stay down, feign injury," he said. "I want to teach players how to defend better, attack better and that's what I've been trying to do for four years and will continue to do so."
