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England boss Roy Hodgson: 'We've been dealt a tough World Cup group'

England manager Roy Hodgson admits that the Three Lions have been dealt a "tough" hand in their World Cup draw.

England manager Roy Hodgson has conceded that his team face a "tough" challenge following the World Cup draw.

The Three Lions were placed in Group D alongside Uruguay, Italy and Costa Rica.

Hodgson and his players will have to take a five-and-a-half-hour flight from their base in Rio for their opening match against Italy on June 15 in the scorching temperatures of Manaus.

"It's a tough group, there's no doubt about that," BBC Sport quotes Hodgson as saying. "In Italy and Uruguay it's almost as though we have got two number one seeds in our group.

"We know how good Italy are because we lost to them in the quarter-finals at the Euros. The game is going to be tough from a climate point of view for both teams. We're both in the same boat.

"There were not going to be many scenarios where we were going to be jumping for joy. It doesn't surprise us. 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."

England are expected to face Liverpool's prolific striker Luis Suarez, AC Milan forward Mario Balotelli and Everton full-back Bryan Oviedo during their group clashes.

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Steven Gerrard wheels away in celebration after scoring the second goal at Wembley against Poland to secure England's place in the 2014 World Cup on October 15, 2013
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