England's final warm-up game before they flew to
Brazil for the World Cup was disrupted by a
dangerous lightning storm that forced the match to
be halted as they were held to a draw by Honduras.
The game was stopped for over 40 minutes midway
through the first half as bad weather hit the Miami
area.
But, when play resumed, boss Roy Hodgson saw
England last the pace well in fierce heat and humidity,
although a feisty game against the physical Hondurans
lacked any rhythm.
England should have won, with striker Daniel Sturridge
missing England's two best chances, but ultimately
Hodgson will have simply been delighted his players
emerged unscathed from some rough treatment, which
included Honduras defender Brayan Beckeles being sent
off.
Captain Steven Gerrard and Wayne Rooney were given
45 minutes each, while Everton midfielder Ross Barkley
once again looked lively as he tries to make an
impression on Hodgson ahead of next Saturday's
opening World Cup game against Italy in Manaus.
England left Miami for Rio de Janeiro after the game
and can now enter the final phase of their planning for
the World Cup, although the interruption for weather
reduced the effectiveness of this exercise.
Hodgson made 10 changes from Wednesday's 2-2 draw
against Ecuador and went with the side many believe
will start against the Italians on 14 June - but the first
half was wrecked by that weather interruption.
England should have been ahead when slick link play
between Rooney and his Manchester United team-mate
Danny Welbeck left Sturridge with only Honduras
keeper Noel Valladares to beat. But the Liverpool striker
dragged his shot wide.
And then, with dark clouds overhead and lightning
flashing around the stadium, the players were taken off
the field after 23 minutes by referee Ricardo Salazar.
Salazar said he made the decision because there were
lightning strikes within two miles of the stadium. It is
not uncommon in Miami and, after thunder and a
torrential downpour, the players returned.
Upon resumption, Honduras - who are in World Cup
Group E - decided to turn the game into a dogfight as a
succession of wild tackles endangered England.
Gerrard was furious at a tackle from Luis Garrido that
earned him a yellow card then Celtic defender Emilio
Izaguirre was similarly punished for a wild tackle on
Sturridge, which he followed up by lashing the ball into
the Liverpool striker.
It was this in mind, perhaps, that Hodgson removed
Gerrard and Rooney at half-time to introduce Barkley
and Wilshere - with Everton's youngster immediately in
the action with a 20-yard shot that curled just wide.
Left-back Leighton Baines, in particular, had taken
some heavy punishment from Honduras and he was in
the wars again after 65 minutes when he was caught by
a dreadful aerial challenge from Beckeles, who had
already been booked and was deservedly sent off.
Sturridge had been lively but wasted another good
chance with 15 minutes to go when he headed over
from right-back Glen Johnson's fine cross.
Brazil for the World Cup was disrupted by a
dangerous lightning storm that forced the match to
be halted as they were held to a draw by Honduras.
The game was stopped for over 40 minutes midway
through the first half as bad weather hit the Miami
area.
But, when play resumed, boss Roy Hodgson saw
England last the pace well in fierce heat and humidity,
although a feisty game against the physical Hondurans
lacked any rhythm.
England should have won, with striker Daniel Sturridge
missing England's two best chances, but ultimately
Hodgson will have simply been delighted his players
emerged unscathed from some rough treatment, which
included Honduras defender Brayan Beckeles being sent
off.
Captain Steven Gerrard and Wayne Rooney were given
45 minutes each, while Everton midfielder Ross Barkley
once again looked lively as he tries to make an
impression on Hodgson ahead of next Saturday's
opening World Cup game against Italy in Manaus.
England left Miami for Rio de Janeiro after the game
and can now enter the final phase of their planning for
the World Cup, although the interruption for weather
reduced the effectiveness of this exercise.
Hodgson made 10 changes from Wednesday's 2-2 draw
against Ecuador and went with the side many believe
will start against the Italians on 14 June - but the first
half was wrecked by that weather interruption.
England should have been ahead when slick link play
between Rooney and his Manchester United team-mate
Danny Welbeck left Sturridge with only Honduras
keeper Noel Valladares to beat. But the Liverpool striker
dragged his shot wide.
And then, with dark clouds overhead and lightning
flashing around the stadium, the players were taken off
the field after 23 minutes by referee Ricardo Salazar.
Salazar said he made the decision because there were
lightning strikes within two miles of the stadium. It is
not uncommon in Miami and, after thunder and a
torrential downpour, the players returned.
Upon resumption, Honduras - who are in World Cup
Group E - decided to turn the game into a dogfight as a
succession of wild tackles endangered England.
Gerrard was furious at a tackle from Luis Garrido that
earned him a yellow card then Celtic defender Emilio
Izaguirre was similarly punished for a wild tackle on
Sturridge, which he followed up by lashing the ball into
the Liverpool striker.
It was this in mind, perhaps, that Hodgson removed
Gerrard and Rooney at half-time to introduce Barkley
and Wilshere - with Everton's youngster immediately in
the action with a 20-yard shot that curled just wide.
Left-back Leighton Baines, in particular, had taken
some heavy punishment from Honduras and he was in
the wars again after 65 minutes when he was caught by
a dreadful aerial challenge from Beckeles, who had
already been booked and was deservedly sent off.
Sturridge had been lively but wasted another good
chance with 15 minutes to go when he headed over
from right-back Glen Johnson's fine cross.
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