Hodgson Monkey Joke 'Should Be Investigated'

World Cup: Don't Get Carried Away

Updated: 12:40pm UK, Thursday 17 October 2013

By Nick Powell, Sports Editor

Roy Hodgson is right. Let's try not to get carried away.

"The World at England's Feet," thundered The Times after the 2-0 Wembley win over Poland that confirmed the treasured passage to Rio.

No it isn't.

"Just like watching Brazil," said the Mirror.

No it wasn't.

We'd better get used to the hype - despite England's urbane, measured, seen-it-all manager Hodgson doing his best to spread some reality in the cold light of the afternoon after the supercharged night before.

"We won't be favourites, that's for sure," he smiled. But even he couldn't resist adding : "I don't think too many teams will be thinking 'whoopee, we have got England, what an easy one!'"

Fair enough. But there are an uncomfortable number of blots on England's world cup landscape.

Here's a quiz question: where are Tuesday's beaten opponents Poland in the world rankings?

The answer is 69th, which helps put England's Wembley performance into perspective - laudable and encouraging though Hodgson's attacking approach certainly was.

England themselves are 10th and will not be among the top seeds when the draw for next summer's tournament is made in December.

That means they could find themselves in a group with Spain, Brazil, Germany or Argentina.

If they do, that might at least dampen expectations a little. Which would help, because our national propensity to get overexcited about these things can build its own pressure, which in turn makes it harder for England to play without fear, in the words of Steven Gerrard.

The captain spoke sensibly, too, about the need to maintain possession of the ball better.

It's worth remembering the uninspiring draws against Ukraine, Poland and Montenegro earlier in qualifying. Better teams might have taken England apart.

Two enterprising victories, under pressure, to qualify for Rio cannot paper over the cracks.

England still have too few top players to choose from. FA chairman Greg Dyke's commission - aimed at improving the national team - is no less valid than it was a week ago.

Aside from the foreign dominance, the fiercely competitive nature of the Premier League - over a longer season than most rivals - brings its own concerns.

Can England keep their key men fit? If Gerrard, late in an arduous domestic campaign, has to stretch like he did to score against Poland, will something twang?

Must we brace ourselves for another summer of Beckhamesque metatarsal mania?

Even without injuries, history and geography are against England.

No European nation has ever won a World Cup in South or North America. And if England are drawn to play in Manaus, within the Amazon Basin, they could face high humidity and temperatures around 31C (90F).

They will, however, be prepared. Club England managing director Adrian Bevington has been visiting Brazil for two years, scouting stadia, hotels and training venues.

Management at the FA is now modern and efficient. England are unlikely to be found wanting off the field.

Lessons have been learned from Fabio Capello's miserable camp at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa as was already evident at Euro 2012 in Poland.

Hodgson's squad appear happier, more relaxed. He claimed, with some justification: "We are making progress, we are getting better."

There are reasons to be cheerful.

Let's just try to keep our feet on the ground.

And hope we don't have to endure a penalty shootout.

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