World Cup 2014: England seek friendlies against Peru, Ecuador and Honduras
Roy Hodgson wants a Latin flavour to the build-up for Brazil
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Your support makes all the difference.Roy Hodgson is close to finalising the details for England’s World Cup finals build-up, which will include games against Peru, Ecuador and Honduras but not a set-piece friendly match against the United States in Miami.
England had intended to play the US at an east coast venue in America as part of their preparation for the tournament but Jürgen Klinsmann’s team are concentrating on a west coast training camp and are not thought to be keen on travelling to play England.
In addition, Hodgson believes England should play against Central and South American opposition to prepare themselves for the group D games against Uruguay and Costa Rica. England take on Italy first, who they have faced twice in Hodgson’s time in charge of the team, and the England manager feels that given the limited preparation at his disposal they would be better served by non-European opposition.
Although the finer details have not been confirmed, it now looks like England will play Peru at Wembley on 30 May, a Friday, as their send-off game. Before that the national team have just one friendly date against Denmark on 5 March. After the Peru game they will fly from London to a training camp in Miami either the day after the match or on 1 June.
The team will be based at a South Beach hotel, sure to go down well with the players, and will face Ecuador and Honduras at the 76,000-capacity Sun Life Stadium, home of the Miami Dolphins, over the course of the following week. Fifa rule stipulate they must be in Brazil five days before their first game against Italy in Manaus on 14 June.
The Football Association have already booked their hotel in Rio de Janeiro, the Royal Tulip on Sao Conrado beach and the team will train at the Urca military base that they used last summer before their friendly against Brazil. The Club England managing director Adrian Bevington has been in Brazil this week with FA team doctor Ian Beasley to check the medical facilities available.
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