Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore has insisted that England boss Roy Hodgson has to pick the best players to represent the country even if they play in the Championship.
The top flight has been criticised for reducing the pool of talent available for the Three Lions, but Scudamore feels that the success of Costa Rica at the World Cup in reaching the quarter-finals proves that teams can have success with players from lower divisions.
He told reporters: "Why shouldn't the England team come from the top 12 teams in the Championship and the bottom 10 teams of the Premier League, if they're English and they're good enough?
"Costa Rica played very well in the World Cup (advancing from a group which England failed to get out of and reaching the quarter-finals, where they only lost to Holland on penalties), and where are [their players] playing their league football?
"We get hung up about they can't possibly be good enough [for England] unless they're playing for Chelsea or Manchester United. Of course they can be good enough."
England recorded their worst performance at the World Cup since 1958 in Brazil last year.
Simon Sinclair
