Roy Hodgson conceded England face a daunting task to qualify for the knock-out stages of the World Cup after being drawn in one of the strongest groups at next year's tournament in Brazil.
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Hodgson's side were pitted against Italy, Uruguay and Costa Rica in Group D and the England coach could only manage a wry smile when he learnt his team's fate while watching Friday's draw in Costa do Sauipe.
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Even more revealing was the reaction of English Football Association chairman Greg Dyke, who was seen shaking his head and drawing his finger across his neck in a cut-throat gesture that suggested he has little confidence in England making it to the last 16.
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Hodgson admitted he would have preferred an easier group, but claimed he had already prepared for the worst given the quality of so many of the 32 teams.
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"It's a tough group, there's no doubt about that. In Italy and Uruguay it's almost as though we have got two No 1 seeds in our group," Hodgson told the BBC.
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"Italy were very unlucky not to be seeded in the first eight. We know how good Italy are because we lost to them in the quarterfinals at the Euros.
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"There were not going to be many scenarios where we were going to be jumping for joy. It doesn't surprise us.
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"I suppose one positive is that we have only got one long trip, then the other two are in the same neck of the woods."
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Hodgson's side will open their Group D campaign against Italy in the tropical heat of Manaus on June 14.
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They then head to Sao Paulo to play Uruguay on June 19 and the final group fixture is against Costa Rica in Belo Horizonte on June 24.
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Hodgson has already confirmed England will base themselves in Rio de Janeiro for the tournament.
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Manaus is a five-and-a-half hour flight from Rio and is located in the Amazonian rain forest, with 99 percent humidity.
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On the plus side for England, it is just over 200 miles to Sao Paolo and less than 300 to Belo Horizonte, where they famously lost to the United States in a 1950 World Cup upset.
No only England, against other teams too. English press should stop taking it too far. They just have to