England got their World Cup warm-up schedule off to a winning start this evening with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Peru at Wembley.
Daniel Sturridge opened the scoring with a rare moment of quality in the first half, curling the ball perfectly into the top corner.
The hosts doubled their advantage in the 65th minute through Gary Cahill's header, while Phil Jagielka joined his defensive partner in finding the back of the net five minutes later to complete the scoring.
You can read how all of the action unfolded courtesy of Sports Mole's live minute-by-minute coverage below.
Good evening! Thank you very much for joining Sports Mole for tonight's match between England and Peru as the hosts get their World Cup preparations underway at Wembley. There is plenty for the squad's fringe players to fight for this evening, while Peru also have reason to take this match seriously, so we should be in for an intriguing encounter. Let's start with a look at Roy Hodgson's men...
While the England squad has been together for a while now, tonight marks the real beginning of the preparations for the World Cup. This is one of three warm-up matches England will play in the weeks immediately preceding the tournament and the final one on home soil. Hodgson and co will be keen to depart these shores with a positive result ahead of Sunday's flight to America, where they will take on Ecuador and Honduras.
The Three Lions' preparations have clearly been tailored to help the team become accustomed to what they will face in the group stages in Brazil. Italy represent a relatively well-known opponent having knocked England out in Euro 2012, but Uruguay and Costa Rica will be less familiar to many of the England set-up. In facing two South American teams and a Central American team in the build-up, Hodgson is ensuring that his side have a decent idea of what they will face.
Of course, other factors will come into play during the tournament itself, and the likes of Uruguay will pose a much bigger threat than Peru, but on paper it appears to be a good mix of winnable games against tricky opposition. Hodgson will almost certainly learn more in the upcoming three warm-up matches than he would have against European minnows.
The temperature in Brazil has been a big talking point in the bui8ld-up to the tournament, particularly for England's opening match against Italy on June 14. Wembley will certainly not be able to recreate the stifling heat England will face in Manaus that day, but the two games in Miami should help to ease the players into the habit of playing in such conditions.
In addition to being the final game on home soil before the World Cup, tonight also marks England's final game before Roy Hodgson must submit his final 23-man squad for the tournament. He has already outlined the players who will be on his list if all goes to plan, and it would seemingly take an injury to change that now, but tonight could be the last-chance saloon for some of the fringe players. Even if their place in the squad is secured, a good performance could persuade Hodgson to consider his options again for June 14.
The England boss has already admitted that he is some way from deciding on his first XI, and there are a number of places still up for grabs. The back five more or less picks itself at the moment, while you'd expect Steven Gerrard, Wayne Rooney and Daniel Sturridge to be included against Italy, but there is still room for the likes of Adam Lallana, Jordan Henderson, Raheem Sterling and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain - among others - to stake a claim.
England qualified for this summer's tournament by finished top of Group H, one point clear of Ukraine. They didn't seal their place in Brazil until the final match, but Hodgson can be fairly pleased with an unbeaten qualifying campaign. Still, they have relatively low expectations on their shoulders this year, which prove to be a big help for them.
England's group has already been dubbed the 'Group of Death', and the Three Lions certainly face a tough task in progressing to the knockout rounds. Italy and Uruguay are both favourites ahead of Roy Hodgson's men to make it out of the group, but should his gamble of opting for a number of youngsters work then England will be confident of getting a result against one of their main rivals.
Their last match saw them scrape a 1-0 win over Denmark, and Hodgson will be hoping for a more conclusive performance this evening. At the end of last year they were also beaten at home by Chile and Germany, meaning that they have scored just once in their last three outings at Wembley. A good run of results in the upcoming trio of matches will all but erase the memories of that rather poor record, but similar performances could damage morale going into the tournament.
With all due respect to Peru, however, the likes of Chile and Germany pose a significantly greater threat than England's opponents tonight. The South Americans missed out on qualifying for the World Cup by some distance, finishing seventh in the CONMEBOL table. They were a full 10 points behind the playoff place, which was claimed by England's Group D opponents Uruguay.
Speaking of Uruguay, England will get a slight early taste of them this evening through Peru boss Pablo Bengoechea. The former Uruguay midfielder took over as manager in March and will oversee his first match at the helm tonight. While he has acknowledged that the main point of this game is to get England ready for the World Cup, he will also have selfish reasons for wanting his side to win. His contract only runs until December, and a positive result could help him secure a longer deal.
Bengoechea's appointment came in an attempt to halt a poor run of form, which has seen Peru go six matches without a victory in all competitions. That record stretches back almost a year, with their last victory coming over Ecuador on June 8, 2013. Since then, they have drawn twice and lost four times.
Just as England have, Bengoechea named an experimental squad for their upcoming matches, with plenty of faith being put in youth. Only two members of the squad are over the age of 29, while experienced campaigns such as captain Claudio Pizarro and Guerrero have been left out. It is an interesting decision from the new manager, and he will hope that he has chosen the right time to blood a new generation of Peruvian players.
They come into this match ranked 38th in the FIFA world rankings, some way below England. It would, therefore, be a big surprise should they come away with anything other than a defeat this evening, but they have very little pressure on their shoulders due to that. Six matches without a victory is a run of form they will be keen to end sooner rather than later but, with the squad at their disposal, very few people are expecting them to do that tonight.
TEAM NEWS: Right, the teams are in for both sides, and Hodgson has opted to hand starts to Welbeck, Henderson and Lallana. It is an attacking and strong lineup for the hosts, and could well be the starting XI currently in Hodgson's mind for the opener against Italy. Peru, meanwhile, hand a debut to Deza up front in the absence of Pizarro. Full team news for both sides coming up...
ENGLAND STARTING XI: Hart; Johnson, Baines, Cahill, Jagielka; Gerrard, Henderson, Lallana; Sturridge, Rooney, Welbeck
ENGLAND SUBS: Foster, Forster, Stones, Smalling, Flanagan, Wilshere, Lampard, Milner, Sterling, Barkley, Lambert
PERU STARTING XI: Fernandez; Rodriguez, Callens, Cruzado, Ramos, Advincula, Carrillo, Yotun, Ramirez, Deza, Ballon
PERU SUBS: Gambetta, Hurtado, Ruidiaz, Forsyth, Velarde, Angel Saavedra, Gallese, Flores, Riojas
So, what can we make of those two teams? Well, the first thing to note is Hodgson's use of Sturridge, Rooney and Welbeck. It will be interesting to see how he deploys the trio tonight. A front three, with each player switching between central and wider roles throughout, could be an option and is something that Liverpool used to good effect last season. However, he could also put Sturridge and Welbeck up front with Rooney in the hole behind the duo.
Should he choose the option with wide men, Sterling is the most obvious option from the bench, with Oxlade-Chamberlain not making the squad. Milner can also be used out wide, although he would be a more conservative choice than his Liverpool counterpart. Lambert is an effective 'Plan B' for the bench, and he will be looking to impress ahead of what looks to be an imminent move to boyhood club Liverpool.
The midfield was always going to be an interesting area as far as team selection is concerned. Gerrard is guaranteed a place - barring injury - for the match against Italy, but the likes of Wilshere, Lampard and Barkley will be hopeful of forcing their way into Hodgson's thinking. He has gone for Henderson and Lallana tonight, although you can expect to see at least two of the three central midfielders on the bench feature at some point.
As mentioned earlier, the back five is not expected to change much from now until the beginning of the tournament. Shaw misses tonight's match through illness, but Baines was always expected to start anyway. Cahill and Jagielka represent Hodgson's best choices in a rather weak area for them, while Johnson is the clear first choice at right-back. It would be a big surprise if the back five named in tonight's starting lineup changed at all for the Italy match.
The inclusion of both Stones and Flanagan on the bench give the Merseyside youngsters a chance to make one final push for the final 23-man squad. They are both currently on the back-up list, although Hodgson is unlikely to change his mind at this late point. Phil Jones appears to have recovered from injury now, while Shaw's illness should be cleared up within a day or two, so you'd think there would need to be a fresh injury concern for either to make the final squad now.
As for Peru, it will be interesting to see how they adapt to playing at the famous Wembley Stadium tonight. As mentioned previously, it is an experimental side for Bengoechea tonight, so they are something of an unknown quantity to England. Even if the Three Lions are unable to claim a convincing win, however, the experience of playing against South American opposition could prove to be invaluable.
Perhaps Peru's most important player tonight will be Alberto Rodriguez, who plays his club football in Portugal for Rio Ave. The visitors are expected to spend the bulk of their time defending this evening, and the 30-year-old will be in charge of marshalling their efforts in that respect. With 48 caps to his name he is the most experienced player for Peru, so he will have an important role tonight.
PREDICTION: We're 10 minutes from kickoff at Wembley, which means that it is about time I made a prediction for tonight's match. Friendlies are always tough ones to call, especially considering England's penchant for underwhelming performances at Wembley. However, I can't see the hosts failing to win this one tonight. I'll go for a routine 2-0 victory for the Three Lions.
This is just the third meeting between these two sides, and the first for more than 52 years. The last time England faced Peru, the great Jimmy Greaves scored a hat-trick in a 4-0 victory back in May 1962. That result avenged a 4-1 defeat from three years previously - a game that Greaves once again found the back of the net in.
Both of those matches took place in Peru, meaning that this is their first trip to Wembley to take on England. As one of football's most famous and historic stadiums, it is always a highlight of any player's career to play at Wembley for the first time, and the visitors will certainly relish the opportunity to do just that tonight.
England's record in warm-up matches for international tournaments is highly impressive, and they will be eager to keep that up this evening. The last time they were beaten in such a game was way back in 1990, when they lost to Uruguay. They have won 14 and drawn eight of their warm-up games since, including victories in their last six.
The traditional national anthems are accompanied, as ever, by some suspect singing from the players. Wembley is decked in white and red for 'God Save the Queen', which is duly sung by those in attendance. The formalities are now over, and we're about ready to get started.
KICKOFF: Here we go then, England get the match and their World Cup preparations underway at Wembley, looking for a good performance and positive result in their final match on home soil before the tournament.
Slow start to the match from both sides as they struggle to keep hold of the ball for any substantial length of time. Both teams certainly look up for it, but there is a noticeable lack of quality in the opening exchanges.
Gerrard is operating in the deeper role that helped Liverpool to such success last season, while Sturridge is the man who has started the game through the middle. Rooney and Welbeck are a little deeper, with the latter out on the left wing.
Decent spell of possession from Peru as they work the ball forward and force Hart to come and claim an awkward ball. Cahill was holding off a challenge from Ramirez, who eventually fouled the Chelsea man.
The visitors come forward again, with Carrillo leading the attack this time. He doesn't have any red shirts in close attendance so has to do it all alone, and he is eventually stopped by a good challenge from Glen Johnson. It was in the box, though, so the Liverpool man had to get that right.
England best piece of play sees Baines steal the ball and zip a pass into Welbeck. The United striker controls it brilliantly before being brought down by Ramos, giving England a free kick in a good position.
The hosts don't make the most of the opportunity, however. Baines takes charge of the free kick, but his delivery is really poor and comfortably cleared by Peru.
England are starting to get a hold of this match now, controlling possession and knocking the ball about at their own pace. Still no sign of an opening goal coming any time soon, but the hosts have certainly improved in the last few minutes.
Rooney hasn't really been involved in this match too much so far, and that is resulting in him dropping deeper to collect the ball. He tries a pass through to Welbeck, who attempts a dummy that doesn't come off.
Much was made of whether England would adopt the Liverpool style of play with so many representatives from Anfield in the squad, but that doesn't appear to be the case at the moment. The forward players aren't making any real effort to close the Peru defenders down quickly, allowing them time to pass it around at the back.
Almost the first chance of the match as Ramirez slides a clever pass through towards Deza. It splits the defence, but Hart is alert and off his line quickly enough to get there before the debutant, who just seemed to pull out of it at the last moment.
SAVE! Peru draw the first save of the match as a deflected effort almost loops over Hart, who stretches out a big hand to pluck it out of the air. Almost a famous opener for the visitors.
CHANCE! Big chance for England to take the lead! Moments after Hart kept the scores level at one end the hosts counter, with Lallana embarking on a positive run into the box. He is eventually tackled, but the ball falls to Sturridge, who flashes an effort just wide. He probably should have scored there.
That was a good counter from England to create the Sturridge chance. Not much had happened in the opening 20 minutes, but with Peru encouraged by that deflected shot England took full advantage of the extra space at the back. Counter-attacks may be their most dangerous weapon against the likes of Uruguay and Italy, so that will please Hodgson.
Rooney tries to float a ball over the top towards Sturridge, who just peeled off his man at the back post. The pass was just too high for the Liverpool man, however, and the ball went behind for a goal kick.
Another half chance for Sturridge as Rooney finds Gerrard, who heads a pass in towards his Liverpool teammate. However, he just can't take it in his stride as it strikes his heel, allowing Peru to get it clear. England are beginning to look more threatening now, though.
YELLOW CARD! Very worrying moment for England as Gerrard is brought down by Cruzado. It looked like a nasty challenge, but thankfully Gerrard is up quickly and doesn't appear to have suffered any injury. Cruzado picks up a deserved yellow for the tackle.
The one thing England will want to avoid more than anything tonight is an injury to a key player. That challenge on Gerrard could have easily resulted in an injury, while Sturridge has just been on the end of another rough tackle.
Baines fires another low pass into the box that Sturridge dummies for Rooney before spinning off in anticipation of the return pass. Rooney obliges, but misplaces the pass and Peru clear.
YELLOW CARD! The second card of the match is shown to Gerrard for a sliding challenge of his own in midfield. That one is perhaps a bit harsh considering it is a friendly, but Gerrard doesn't have too many complaints.
GOAL! England 1-0 Peru (Daniel Sturridge)
This game needed something to spark it into life, and Sturridge has provided it with a brilliant opening goal. He picked the ball up from a throw on the right side of the field before cutting inside and curling a superb strike into the top corner. The keeper had no chance with that one, it was a perfect effort from the Liverpool man.
Johnson slides the ball through to Lallana, who has made a good run behind the defence. He gets to the ball first in the box, but just can't find a teammate in the middle as Peru scramble it behind for a corner.
CHANCE! From the resulting corner, Gerrard swings it in for Rooney, who finds a little bit of space to latch on to the cross. It is by no means an easy chance for the United striker, but he probably should do a little better as he nods it a few yards over the top.
That Sturridge goal has perked both England and the fans inside Wembley up a little, but things are still looking a little laboured for the hosts. Whether Hodgson has ordered his players to adopt a slower tempo in preparation for the hotter climates coming up remains to be seen, but it hasn't exactly been a thrill-a-minute performance from his side so far.
England get a free kick in a good crossing position on the left side, but his delivery is too long for any teammates and flies behind for a goal kick. That is the second free kick in a decent position that the hosts have wasted tonight.
That's more like it. Baines has another chance to put the ball into the box from England, and this time he zips it into a much more dangerous area. Welbeck rises highest to meet it, but it is still a fraction too high for him to get over the ball and he can only nod it harmlessly over.
Peru threaten down the left flank as Johnson is caught out of position having been tackled on his way forward. Cahill makes an initial clearance that only makes it as far as the edge of the box, but Gerrard is there to mop up and deal with the danger.
CHANCE! Peru have their best chance of the half as Carrillo slides a clever ball through to Ramirez, who is kept onside by Johnson. The striker advances through on goal, but Hart comes out well and makes himself big to make an important stop.
HALF TIME: England 1-0 Peru
The referee brings an end to the first half of this World Cup warm-up match at Wembley as England go into the break with a one-goal lead over Peru. It has by no means been a vintage performance from the hosts so far, but one moment of class separates the team and Hodgson will be fairly content as his side get some valuable playing time together.
That moment of class came from Daniel Sturridge, who got the only goal of the game in style. He cut inside from the right flank before curling a superb effort into the top corner, leaving the Peru keeper no chance. In truth, it was a moment that hasn't really belonged in this game, but one that England will certainly be hoping for more of in Brazil.
Sturridge had another chance earlier in the match that should have been easier to score than the one he did find the back of the net with. Lallana created that chance with a positive run into the box, but when the ball fell to the Liverpool man he flashed his effort just wide. Rooney has also had a half chance with a header from a corner but, in general, England have struggled to create much so far.
Peru's best chance of the half came at the very end as Ramirez was played onside by Johnson, only to be denied by a good save from Hart. Hart was also forced into action earlier in the half, reaching up to pluck a deflected effort out of the air when it was threatening to loop over him and into the net. England's defence has generally looked fairly comfortable tonight, but Peru have shown glimpses of being able to nick a goal.
Roy Hodgson will undoubtedly be starting to think about changes already, and you can expect a whole host of them in the second half. However, he will also be keen to keep his preliminary starting lineup for the Italy game out there for a little longer in order to help the team get to know each other, so I wouldn't be surprised if he waiting until the hour mark to make the main bulk of his subs.
England's performance hasn't been electrifying so far, but that could well be a deliberate ploy from Hodgson. It is unlikely that they will be able to play at a quick tempo in the heat of Brazil, so getting his side accustomed to this slow build-up could all be part of his plan.
Perhaps the main priority for England now will be to avoid any injuries. There were a couple of suspect challenges in that first half, but at the same time it shouldn't be the case that either set of players hold anything back in this match.
As expected, no changes for England at the break - and Peru have come out with the same XI as well. So the same 22 will start the second half as did the first - something of a rarity in international friendlies nowadays!
KICKOFF: We're back underway for the second half at Wembley as England look to hold on to, and perhaps extend their one-goal lead here.
Lallana has made a few promising runs forward tonight, and he looks to be one of the few England players looking to inject some pace and flair into their attacks. He is doing his chances of starting the opening World Cup game no harm at all.
Decent chance for England to break as Rooney slides a well-controlled pass down the left for Sturridge. The Liverpool man holds the ball up while waiting for support, but when it does arrive his pass is right between Henderson and Lallana. England keep hold of it and Johnson almost bundles his way through, but Peru eventually scramble it clear.
Some nice football from England gives Rooney the chance to cross the ball from the right, but his delivery is cleared away from both Sturridge and Welbeck. It drops to Gerrard on the edge, but his first-time volley is blocked.
There have just been a couple of lapses in concentration at the back for England tonight, and that will worry Hodgson. Both Cahill and Jagielka have been careless in possession at times, while Johnson has been caught out of position on a couple of occasions. While Peru haven't had the quality to punish them so far tonight, you'd have to think that Uruguay and Italy would.
CLOSE! Oh my word, Deza comes close to scoring an absolute screamer at Wembley. He picks the ball up on the halfway line and carries it forward before letting fly from at least 35 yards when seeing he had nothing else on. Hart appeared to have it covered, but it swerved and dipped late on, landing on the roof of the net with the England keeper beaten.
As we near the hour mark, Hodgson will surely be starting to think of changes now. The likes of Sterling would give this game a timely injection of pace, while Wilshere or Barkley would add a driving presence from midfield that Henderson isn't really providing at the moment.
It must be said that a number of England players have not had their best match tonight. Rooney and Johnson in particular are struggling to make their usual impact.
PERU SUB: The first change of the evening comes from the visitors as Paolo Hurtado comes on for Ramirez, which means that Deza will move into a more central role.
A Mexican wave is now making its way around the stadium as the fans look to entertain themselves. The action on the field isn't doing much to keep them gripped at the moment, with neither side really looking like scoring.
Great defending from Jagielka as he makes an important block to deny Deza. It came about from a poor touch from Johnson as he was robbed of the ball. Peru came forward at pace and almost took full advantage of the right-back's mistake.
ENGLAND SUB: England first change of the match sees captain Steven Gerrard make way for Jack Wilshere, who is still on his way back to full fitness after injury troubles at the end of last season.
GOAL! England 2-0 Peru (Gary Cahill)
England have their second, and it is Gary Cahill who has doubled the hosts' lead! The Chelsea man did well to get to the ball from behind two Peru defenders, stopping to guide a fine header past the keeper and the man on the line. Surely that is game over now.
ENGLAND SUB: Wayne Rooney, who hasn't had his best game tonight, makes way in the immediate aftermath of that goal, with Raheem Sterling replacing him.
PERU SUB: The visitors made a change of their own after that second goal, with Ruidiaz coming on for Deza.
PERU SUB: Another change for Peru as Hansell Riojas comes on for his international debut, taking the place of Ramos.
England get a first glimpse of Sterling's pace as Henderson floats a ball over the top for his Liverpool teammate. The youngster takes it in his path well but is eventually crowded out by two Peru players and only wins a corner.
GOAL! England 3-0 Peru (Phil Jagielka)
Jagielka joins his centre-back partner on the scoresheet as England make it 3-0 from another set piece. It was poor from Fernandez, who came out to catch the ball but then dropped it at the feet of the Everton man, who had the simple task of slotting it home. Fernandez wants a free kick, but the ref is right not to award one.
England are starting to play with a little more freedom now and their build-up play has more pace about it, which is making it harder for Peru. Sterling has certainly added something for England.
ENGLAND SUBS: Double change for the hosts as Jagielka and Lallana are replaced by Chris Smalling and James Milner.
ENGLAND SUB: Another change for the hosts as John Stones comes on for his England debut, replacing Everton teammate Leighton Baines. What a moment for the young defender.
Such a flurry of subs usually have an adverse effect on the rhythm of a match, and that has been the case again here. However, the players who have come on for England will be desperate to make an impression and, with Peru's resistance broken, they could well have a chance in the final 15 minutes or so.
PERU SUB: The visitors make another change as Mario Velarde replaces Advincula.
It has certainly not been a perfect performance from England tonight, but a 3-0 win while not at their best is certainly a positive for Roy Hodgson to take from the match.
ENGLAND SUB: Roy Hodgson gives Ross Barkley a run-out for the closing stages of this match as he replaces Daniel Sturridge, who opened the scoring for the hosts tonight.
This match is fading out at the moment, it must be said. The third goal well and truly ended things as a contest and now both teams seem to be waiting for the final whistle. Wembley, meanwhile, is slowing emptying.
CHANCE! Good chance for England to get a fourth as Welbeck's persistence allows him to win the ball back in a good position. He gives the ball to Barkley, who in turn slides it through for Sterling. The Liverpool man seems to be in two minds as he drifts an effort wide of the post when in a good position.
PERU SUB: Edison Flores will get a couple of minutes at the end for Peru, coming on for Carrillo.
Sterling wins a corner for England and it is worked out to Barkley on the edge of the box. He tries to curl an effort into the far corner, but scuffs his shot and Peru deal with the immediate danger. Barkley gets it back, however, drifting a cross towards the back post where Smalling's header is eventually cleared.
The fourth official indicates a minimum of four minutes added time at the end of this match. This one was over as a contest long ago, though.
It must be said that Glen Johnson has been poor tonight. He has been caught out of position on a number of occasions and has also been careless with the ball a few times. He isn't under much pressure at right-back with Walker injured, but Jones and Smalling can both play there. He can ill-afford such a performance against Uruguay and Italy.
FULL TIME: England 3-0 Peru
There is the final whistle as England cruise to a 3-0 win over Peru, getting their World Cup preparations off to a positive start. There is certainly room for improvement, and a similar performance in the group stages of the tournament itself may not be enough, but it was a decent run-out for Roy Hodgson's side and he will have learned a thing or two about his side tonight.
It was Daniel Sturridge who opened the scoring for the hosts with a sublime curling effort into the top corner, and it was timely moment of quality in a first half severely lacking in it otherwise. England's centre-backs both weighed in with a second-half goal apiece too, with Gary Cahill doubling his side's lead before Phil Jagielka added the third after a mistake by the Peru keeper.
Right, that is all we have time for this evening! Thank you very much for joining Sports Mole for tonight's match as England set off on the home straight to Brazil with a comfortable victory. I will leave you with our match report, and be sure to stick around for reaction and analysis. We have more live football for you in the form of Spain vs. Bolivia, while we will also bring you coverage of England's other two warm-up games on Wednesday and Saturday respectively. Until then, though, it is goodbye from me!
Written by
Barney Corkhill
Barney Corkhill
