England manager Roy Hodgson has said that he hopes the rebuilding of the Maracana stadium is completed for his side's friendly with Brazil next June.

The South Americans are due to welcome England next summer in their Rio de Janeiro stadium as part of the Football Association's 150th anniversary celebrations.

The Maracana is currently undergoing a major reconstruction and there are doubts over the building work being finished by the time England visit in 2013.

"It's almost like a holy grail so I'm desperately hoping they get the pitch ready in time," Hodgson told the BBC.

"But if they don't it's still a great game and I'm still more than happy to play Brazil wherever they want to play us."

England will host Brazil at Wembley in February next year as part of a two-match arrangement between the nations.

Written by
Steven Toplis