The Three Lions were handed a tough draw for the World Cup Finals with Italy, Uruguay and Costa Rica lining up alongside Hodgson’s men in Group D.
And while Hodgson admits it will be far from easy as England aim to reach the knockout stages, he also believes that his team will be raising similar concerns for their group rivals.
Roy Hodgson speaks to the press in Brazil
"It's a fantastic group with top teams all the way through,” Hodgson said. “It's going to be a group where a lot can happen and we are going to have a lot of respect for our opponents.
“Uruguay and Italy are two first pot teams, if the truth is known. But a draw is a draw and you get what you are given. I think they will be three fantastic games to look forward to.”
He added: “If it is a group being named ‘the group of death’, it'll be our presence which contributes to that. People won't be rubbing their hands at the thought of having to play England.
"In the past people have said 'this is an easy group' and it's turned out to be a hard-fought group. People are going to say this is an impossible group, but let's wait and see after the games are played.”
Hodgson’s men qualified for the 2014 World Cup with an unbeaten record in ten qualifying games, scoring 31 goals while shipping just four.
Their record of six wins and four draws was matched by Cesare Prandelli’s Italy. Uruguay had to come through a play-off after losing five of their 16 South America qualifiers and Costa Rica finished runners-up in the North American standings losing four of their 16 outings.
The Three Lions boss believes other teams will be wary of his players, including Wayne Rooney, who bagged seven goals in his six appearances in qualifying.
Wayne Rooney's goals helped England reach Brazil
"Our opponents will be focussing very heavily on Steven Gerrard, Wayne Rooney and Daniel Sturridge,” added Hodgson.
“We have players who are well worth watching. We'll be well prepared and our players will know quite a lot about our opponents when the time comes to play them.
“In the meantime we have got to rejoice that here we are in the World Cup.”
England open up their campaign against Italy in Manaus on 14 June in conditions that will be very unfamiliar to both nations.
Situated in the north-west of the country, Manaus is the capital of the Amazonas state and is expected to be hot and humid when the World Cup kicks off next summer.
Hodgson, though, is looking forward to going to the city and meeting the Azzurri at the Arena Amazonia and says he’ll do all he can to prepare his team for the climate.
England open up against Italy at Arena Amazonia on 14 June
He said: "Manaus is a very interesting venue and I am quite excited about going there and seeing it.
"I've actually always wanted to go to Manaus, so to suggest we didn't want to go there or show a lack of respect is complete nonsense.
“I just made the point that virtually every country in this competition has made, that to play in the north in the humidity is going to be tougher.
“I always knew there would be a good chance we would be there and if they have taken offence then I can only apologise because I am really looking forward to going there.”
Hodgson added: "I don't know you can acclimatise for the jungle or equatorial climate without being near the equator.
“We have only got one game up there but we will leave earlier and we won't do the classic ‘day before’. I'm sure we'll go at least two days before.
“Our programme will be matched by Italy's and neither team will have experienced that. By basing ourselves in Southern Europe and Miami we'll have had plenty of hot weather training.
“I don't know whether we can match the climate of Manaus in training, but if we have any ideas we'll take them.”
