As people from all four corners of the globe prepare to turn their attention to Brazil the summer festival of football, European managers have in the past approached the continent with some trepidation – but not any more according to Roy Hodgson.
It is common knowledge that no European team has brought a World Cup home from an of the four previous tournaments held in South America, but the England manager says the increasing globalisation within the game means it has a become a far more even playing field.
Speaking to FIFA.com, Hodgson said: “I think European teams are getting stronger and more adept at playing in different conditions. South American teams are exporting all their players to Europe, so there’s a certain European-ness about even the South American teams these days.
England v Peru
International fixture
Friday 30 May
Wembley Stadium connected by EE
Tickets on sale now
“The Brazil team will probably have very few players in it that are actually playing in Brazil. The Uruguayans and the Argentinians probably don’t have many that are playing there.
“To some extent, it’s not like in the past where the Brazilians are unknown outside of Brazil until the World Cup came around.”
Hodgson will name his 30-man squad for the World Cup on 12 May.
The Three Lions face Peru, Honduras and Ecuador in warm-up matches, before travelling to Rio de Janeiro and on to the Amazonian city of Manaus to take on Italy in their tournament opener on 14 June.
And with the tournament fast approaching, Hodgson said his squad plans are now in place – but admitted he does face an anxious spell between now and 12 May and is keeping his fingers cross his players get through the remainder of the season unscathed.
South American successes
- Host / winner: Uruguay / Uruguay (1930)
- Host / winner: Brazil / Uruguay (1950)
- Host / winner: Chile / Brazil (1962)
- Host / winner: Argentina / Argentina (1978)
“I’ve had a very clear idea of what I want to do with this squad for a long, long time. Certainly over the last couple of weeks I’m pretty much sure of what I want to do when it comes to the team,” he added.
“I’m hoping we don’t get any more examples like we had with Jay Rodriguez. He damaged his cruciate ligament in a game where I was actually watching from the stands.
“You hope that’s not going to happen again. But it’s totally outside of your control.
“I can hope, like the rest of the world that it doesn’t happen. And I can hope for the player’s sake that it doesn’t happen but there’s nothing I can do about it.”
England take on Peru on 30 May at Wembley Stadium, in their final game on home soil before heading to Miami for the games against Honduras and Ecuador.
Tickets for the game are on sale now and you get yours by clicking here.
Roy Hodgson was speaking exclusively to FIFA.com – click here to read the full interview.
