Hart insists the balance is right

JOE Hart has the utmost confidence in England's much-scrutinised defence, even if the options are fewer than tournaments gone by.

The Three Lions' Euro 2016 opener against Russia is now tantalisingly close, with the squad jetting down to Marseille today for the crucial Group 'B' clash.

How Roy Hodgson shoehorns his host of attacking options into the starting line-up will form much of the pre-match conversation, so too the underlying concerns over backline.

A number of former internationals have suggested it could prove England's undoing but goalkeeper Hart, like centre-back Chris Smalling, has expressed his belief that they will hold firm over the next month.

"I feel it's very balanced and very comfortable," he said.

"Maybe because the numbers aren't there, but the seven potential defenders picked that are in the squad, and obviously with Eric as well able to slot in, are really high-level players.

"With England, you usually only get a few days, but we are now here for a couple of weeks and we feel really together and comfortable with each other.

"There is a good link between the midfield and the defence and we feel strong.

"I don't really know what criticism you are referring to, but that's always going to happen. Someone's going to get scrutinised, something is going to be scrutinised.

"The important thing to me is that the coaching staff and players, we believe in the players that are here.

"We feel confident and comfortable as a unit and we are ready."

Three weeks of preparations have the squad physically and mentally ready for the Stade Velodrome clash, with reams of analysis meaning England cannot use a lack of a knowledge about Russia as an excuse.

Hart also rejected the notion that there could be a lack of clarity due to the number of options and formations available to Hodgson on Saturday.

"We are very clear of all the different ways that we play," he said. "When we want to bring them in and when we don't want to bring them in.

"We work together as a unit."

This weekend's fixtures -

Tonight: France v Romania (8pm). Tomorrow: Albania v Switzerland (2pm), Wales v Slovakia (5pm), England v Russia (8pm). Sunday: Turkey v Croatia (2pm), Poland v Northern Ireland (5pm), Germany v Ukraine (8pm).