Hodgson will not announce his 23-man selection and seven standby players for the World Cup until May 13, but the match at Wembley Stadium represents his final opportunity for experimentation before he does so.
Having seen his side lose at home to Chile and Germany in friendly games last November, Hodgson is seeking to avoid becoming the first England manager ever to lose three consecutive fixtures on home soil.
However, with the World Cup in Brazil looming on the horizon, he has hinted that he may use Denmark’s visit to examine some of the players on the fringes of his first XI.
‘The Denmark game is very much a game where I’ve got to think about what experimentations I need,’ he said. ‘If we take Steven Gerrard, does he need to play against Denmark to prove to me that he needs to play against Italy (in England’s first match at the World Cup).’
Costa debuts as Spain, Italy finalise WC prep
MADRID: Atletico Madrid striker Diego Costa is set to make his long-awaited debut for Spain when the world champions host Italy on Wednesday in their final match before both sides name their squads for the World Cup.
Ironically Costa also made his debut for the country of his birth, Brazil, against the Azzurri just over a year ago. However, he has since switched allegiance to his adopted country and having missed friendlies against Equatorial Guinea and South Africa in November due to injury, will get his first taste of action for Spain at his club ground of the Vicente Calderon. Gerard Pique is Spain’s only big name absentee through injury.
Italy will be out to avenge recent defeats to La Roja in the Euro 2012 final and on penalties in last year’s Confederations Cup semifinal.
Paris Saint Germain midfielder Marco Verratti returns to the squad for the first time in a year, whilst Torino forward Ciro Immobile and Parma defender Gabriel Paletta could make their debuts.
Having seen his side lose at home to Chile and Germany in friendly games last November, Hodgson is seeking to avoid becoming the first England manager ever to lose three consecutive fixtures on home soil.
However, with the World Cup in Brazil looming on the horizon, he has hinted that he may use Denmark’s visit to examine some of the players on the fringes of his first XI.
‘The Denmark game is very much a game where I’ve got to think about what experimentations I need,’ he said. ‘If we take Steven Gerrard, does he need to play against Denmark to prove to me that he needs to play against Italy (in England’s first match at the World Cup).’
Costa debuts as Spain, Italy finalise WC prep
MADRID: Atletico Madrid striker Diego Costa is set to make his long-awaited debut for Spain when the world champions host Italy on Wednesday in their final match before both sides name their squads for the World Cup.
Ironically Costa also made his debut for the country of his birth, Brazil, against the Azzurri just over a year ago. However, he has since switched allegiance to his adopted country and having missed friendlies against Equatorial Guinea and South Africa in November due to injury, will get his first taste of action for Spain at his club ground of the Vicente Calderon. Gerard Pique is Spain’s only big name absentee through injury.
Italy will be out to avenge recent defeats to La Roja in the Euro 2012 final and on penalties in last year’s Confederations Cup semifinal.
Paris Saint Germain midfielder Marco Verratti returns to the squad for the first time in a year, whilst Torino forward Ciro Immobile and Parma defender Gabriel Paletta could make their debuts.