adminRIO DE JANEIRO. — England’s World Cup soccer friendlies gave valuable lessons in handling South American-style aggression when the tournament starts in Brazil, coach Roy Hodgson said.
England beat Peru in London, drew 2-2 with Ecuador last week and 0-0 with Honduras on Saturday when captain Steven Gerrard described the Honduran tackling as “horrific”.
The two games produced three red cards with Raheem Sterling sent off against Ecuador game for a wild challenge on Antonio Valencia, who was red-carded for his reaction.
Honduran Brayan Beckeles received his marching orders for two bookings, including one for catching Leighton Baines with his arm.
Hodgson said he was happy with the way England handled themselves.
England face three physical sides in Copa America champions Uruguay, Italy and Costa Rica, who were slammed for their approach to a friendly with Ireland which saw Kevin Doyle require stitches to a cut on his head and the player involved sent off.
England open their campaign against Italy in the heat of Manaus on Saturday.
“The whole idea of playing Peru, Ecuador and Honduras was to show us something very different,” Hodgson told British media.
“Had we played Sweden or Norway we’d know exactly what we’re going into, how those teams play and how they behave.
“The culture in these countries is different and we’ve had a nice little taste of it and, certainly, I was very pleased with the way the players kept their discipline, kept their shape.
“Sometimes in these games that frustration can lead to people doing silly things and you end up losing one.
“The players kept their cool very well,” said Hodgson, who is going to his second World Cup having guided Switzerland to the 1994 edition.
Gerrard’s Liverpool team-mate Glen Johnson said that if their group opponents had been watching to assess who they could single out to provoke then they will have been disappointed.
“I think we proved they weren’t going to wind anyone up,” said Johnson, who highlighted the Honduran game.
“There was a point when (Emilio) Izaguirre kicked the ball at Studge (Daniel Sturridge) when he was lying on the floor five seconds after the whistle had gone.
“That is when you might react but he didn’t. We kept our composure and showed we weren’t going to react to things. We are going to get all that in Brazil, so this was a useful practice. We are ready now,” said Johnson.
Hodgson has, meanwhile, backed his strikers to fire England out of their World Cup group.
England’s battered and bruised squad arrived in Rio on Sunday following a feisty friendly with Honduras.
Hodgson’s side created plenty of opportunities, with Daniel Sturridge wasting two decent chances in the second half, but they ultimately failed to convert them and the match ended scoreless.
A strong Italian defence awaits England in Manaus on Saturday, but Hodgson is sure his team will have what it takes to break Cesare Prandelli’s men down. “We didn’t score against Honduras but we scored five goals in the games against Peru and Ecuador, so I think it would be very harsh to start casting aspersions,” the England manager said. — Sky Sports.
Online Reporter