Napoli manager Rafa Benitez says England will be serious contenders to win the European Championships in France next summer . Roy Hodgson 's side beat Lithuania with ease on Friday night to keep up their 100 per cent record at the top of Group E and are six points clear of nearest rivals Slovenia at the halfway point in qualification . England have been beaten by Italy at the last two major tournaments but Benitez , who has worked in Serie A for the past two seasons , insists English players are not inferior . Wayne Rooney celebrates after scoring against Lithuania in the Euro 2016 qualifier at Wembley on Friday . Roy Hodgson watches on as his side made it five wins from five in Group E. ' I can see from outside that you have enough quality and enough potential to do well , ' the former Liverpool and Chelsea boss was quoted as saying in the Mirror . ' I am convinced you can do well . England will be contenders at Euro 2016 because of the level of the players . 'England have very good players – a lot of them could play in Serie A . It is just about finding a way that they can stick together . Napoli manager Rafa Benitez ( right ) thinks England will be contenders to win Euro 2016 in France . Benitez spent six years managing Liverpool ( above ) and had a short spell in charge of Chelsea . 'The understanding between them can be much better . But if you talk about potential , if you talk about quality , you have enough quality in England . ' Meanwhile , Benitez , who won the Champions League with Liverpool and Europa League with Chelsea , has backed Premier League clubs to bounce back from their disappointing campaigns in Europe this season , but claims Italian sides are tactically better . For me it is cyclical - they will be there next year , ' he said . 'Some European clubs are getting stronger , like PSG and Atletico Madrid , but the Premier League will be also stronger in the years to come . England were beaten by Italy at the World Cup last summer thanks to a Mario Balotelli header . England were also knocked out of Euro 2012 by the Italians on penalties . 'The Italian clubs know how to compete , that is the reason why they progress in Europe this year . They are quite aware of the tactics . They work together with different tactics and different systems so they know what to do . 'But I do n't see England or the English players worse than them technically . 'Physically and technically they are at the same level . Tactically , obviously , the advantage of Italy is that they have been for years doing a tactical game . '
England are top of their Euro 2016 qualifying group by six points . E. Rafa Benitez side have won all five qualifying games in Group Roy Hodgson 's thinks England will be contenders at the championships . Former Liverpool boss says English clubs will bounce back in Europe . Benitez does think that Italian clubs are better tactically though .