ROY HODGSON touched down in Rio yesterday insisting that back-to-back draws were no cause for alarm.

England rounded off their week-long stay in Miami with a storm-affected goalless stalemate against Honduras.

That draw came three days after England failed to beat Ecuador, who exposed England’s defensive frailties on the counter-attack.

Much harder opposition lie in wait for Hodgson’s XI in Brazil. On Saturday they face four-time world champions Italy and they then tackle Uruguay before a final game against Costa Rica.

Hodgson insists very little should be read in to the friendlies.

“I have to say these warm-up games, I don’t know that they necessarily answer many questions,” the England manager said.

“You answer your questions over a long period of time.

“When I look at the other warm-up games I am pretty certain I am not alone in thinking it’s just a way of getting yourself to Rio where the real tournament begins.”

Referee Ricardo Salazar handed Honduras five yellow cards on Saturday, two of them for Brayan Beckeles, who was sent off in the 66th minute for a flying elbow on Leighton Baines.

But the Three Lions managed not to pick up any more injuries in the fray and were boosted yesterday by Hodgson’s report that Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain would be fit to play.

There were more plus points too. Danny Welbeck silenced his critics with a good performance. Ross Barkley, Jordan Henderson and Adam Lallana did their selection chances no harm either.

“It has been three excellent weeks of preparation,” Hodgson said.

“The squad is growing stronger, they are bonding together very well and the mood is one of quiet optimism and a reasonable degree of confidence. That is all you can hope for.

“Now is when the real football begins and I am happy that we are in good spirits and the players have really done as much as we could ask of them.”

Preparation for the Italy game will begin in earnest today, when England will hold a fully open session at their training centre at the Urca military base in the shadow of Rio landmark Sugar Loaf mountain.

The England manager said he was “pretty much” sure who he’d pick for his starting XI.

“In these three games certain players have performed better than others. Now we will have to start thinking about (the group) games.