• World Cup

Gerrard relieved England emerge unscathed

Steven Gerrard admitted his relief that England picked up no serious injuries after criticising "poor" refereeing in the fiery 0-0 draw with Honduras in Miami.

In a match delayed for 30 minutes during the first half due to an electrical storm, Honduras had four players booked while Brayan Beckeles picked up a second yellow card for a stray arm on Leighton Baines.

A string of other strong challenges went unpunished, with Gerrard himself caught by a late tackle from Honduras midfielder Luis Garrido in the first half.

Steven Gerrard was caught by Honduras midfielder Luis Garrido © Getty Images

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"I think if you look at the chances we had the better, but we're quite frustrated," Gerrard told ITV.

"I'm quite frustrated. I thought the ref was poor, the game was interrupted, there was a big one in the first half and they were doing stupid fouls. There was no rhythm, we're frustrated but relieved at no injuries.

"They were making some horrific tackles for a friendly a week before the World Cup. I certainly got caught with a bad one."

Gerrard's Liverpool team-mate Daniel Sturridge also had a ball kicked into his chest by Honduras defender Emilio Izaguirre while he was lying on the grass.

"I don't understand refs seeing balls slammed into players' chests... It's a clear red card," Gerrard added.

"But we came through with no injuries. We're frustrated, but we got a clean sheet and no injuries."

Gerrard's sentiments were echoed by England goalkeeper Joe Hart. He said: "The Honduras team were hell-bent on breaking it up, legally or illegally.

Jordan Henderson confronts Emilio Izaguirre after he kicked the ball at Daniel Sturridge © Getty Images

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"Stevie caught a bad one, Sturridge got smashed in the chest and Bainsey nearly had his head taken off and the lad got sent off."

England manager Roy Hodgson was also left frustrated, admitting the long delay didn't help his side.

"They were quite physical," he said. "It was a real stop-start game, one of the most frustrating I've been involved in for a long time. We had a long stoppage, I thought we dealt with it and in the second half it was attack v defence.

"They got their men behind the ball and we didn't take our chances. We attempted to make them but this is a game I will soon forget.

"I will take the draw and that we got away without injuries and that we have experience against Central American opposition."

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