England and Honduras all square in final warm-up match

Roy Hodgson’s men wrapped up their World Cup warm-up schedule with a 0-0 draw against Honduras.

In a somewhat one-sided game, England were unable to find a way through a strong and physical Honduras team - who ended the match with ten men after Brayan Beckeles' 65th-minute red card.

However, it was a good work-out with Italy in their sights, while Honduras were getting ready for their own World Cup opener against France.

The searing 31 degree heat at kick-off, added to the storm that followed, would have provided a bonus for Hodgson’s preparations for the climate in Manaus. 

But a 45-minute delay midway through the first half, as the referee stopped the game due to concerns over lightning, may not have been ideal.

The Three Lions lined up with the same side that faced Peru at Wembley eight days before, while Honduras were fielding a trio of familiar faces; Hull’s Maynor Figueroa, Wigan’s Roger Espinoza and Stoke’s Wilson Palacios.

It was England who took the initiative and mustered a couple of early chances from outside the box from Danny Welbeck and a Wayne Rooney free-kick. Both were on target, testing keeper Noel Valladarez who failed to hold either, but he pushed away far enough to quell the danger.

Victor Bernardez, following a teasing inswinging corner, had a sight of Joe Hart’s goal but lashed his first-timer high and wide, but the best chance prior to the impromptu weather break fell to Daniel Sturridge. 

The scoreboard in Miami during the 45-minute delay

Welbeck burst forward with the ball, rolled out to Rooney who returned to his Manchester United team-mate as he headed towards the box. Welbeck dummied and the ball found Sturridge in space 18 yards out, but he drilled inches wide.

As they stopped for drinks in the 22nd minute, with dark clouds gathering above the bowl, referee Ricardo Salazar took the players in.  

In a more aggressive encounter than Wednesday’s against Ecuador, England were controlling more of the ball, but Honduras were always potential threat on the counter.

Palacios almost made one effort count, but it his shot took a nick off a defender and went out.

Adam Lallana also produced a decent opening five minutes before half-time, a neat turn and shot from the edge of the box but a deflection too the ball wide.     

Ross Barkley impressed as a second-half substitute

Ross Barkley, on as a sub for the second period replacing Rooney, carried on from where he left off on Wednesday and almost immediately tried his luck from 20 yards, but the shot just missed Valladores’s post. A last-ditch Bernardez tackle also stopped him from going one on one after a Jack Wilshere’s perfectly-weighted pass.

The Liverpool striker had another chance coming into the box from an angle and opted for a deft chip instead of power, but failed to trouble the keeper.

England were pressing for the goal their play deserved, and it was probably luck more than judgement when Welbeck was denied after Lallana had ploughed through the Honduras defence.

With 25 minutes left, Honduras were reduced to ten men when Beckeles was given a second yellow card for a foul on Baines and England looked to take advantage.

Sturridge should really have scored when Reds team-mate Glen Johnson delivered in from the right, but the striker’s header went over the bar from ten yards. 

At full-time the Three Lions headed directly for Rio where the real business begins on Saturday against Italy in Manaus.

England (4-2-3-1)

1 Joe Hart; 2 Glen Johnson, 3 Leighton Baines, 5 Gary Cahill, 6 Phil Jagielka;  4 Steven Gerrard (c), 14 Jordan Henderson; 10 Wayne Rooney, 11 Daniel Welbeck, 20 Adam Lallana;  9 Daniel Sturridge

Substitutes 

7 Jack Wilshere on for 4 Steven Gerrard, 46; 21 Ross Barkley on for 10 Wayne Rooney, 46; 22 Fraser Forster of for Joe Hart, 75; 18 Rickie Lambert on for 11 Danny Welbeck, 78; 8 Frank Lampard on for 14 Jordan Henderson, 83;

Subs not used

12 Chris Smalling, 13 Ben Foster, 16 Phil Jones, 17 James Milner, 23 Luke Shaw, 24 John Stones, 25 Jon Flanagan

Manager Roy Hodgson

Bookings 20 Adam Lallana, 60; 5 Gary Cahill, 69; 3 Leighton Baines, 77;

Honduras (4-4-2)

18 Noel Valladares;  3 Maynor Figueroa, 5 Victor Barnardez, 7 Emilio Izaguirre, 21 Brayan Beckeles; 23 Marvin Chavez; 8 Wilson Palacios, 15 Roger Espinoza, 19 Luis Garrido; 13 Carlo Costly, 11 Jerry Bengtson 

Substitutes

17 Andy Najar on for 23 Marvin Chavez, 60; 12 Edder Delgado on for 13 Carlo Costly, 69; 9 Jerry Palacios on for 11 Jerry Bengston, 75; 6 Juan Carlos Garcia on for 15 Roger Espinoza, 87; 10 Mario Martinez on for 7 Emilio Izaguirre, 89 

Subs not used 

1 Luis Lopez, 2 Osman Chavez, 4 Juan Montes, 14 Boniek Garcia, 16 Rony Martinez, 20 Jorge Claros, 22 Donis Escobar 

Coach Luis Fernando Suarez

Bookings Luis Gariddo, 26; Emilio Izaguirre, 31; 5 Victor Bernardez, 48; 21 Brayan Beckeles, 51 and 65;

Red Cards Brayan Beckeles, 65

Attendance: 45,379