England 0 Honduras 0: Honduras tackling was 'horrific', claims Steven Gerrard as England held to draw in storm-delayed World Cup warm-up

England's over-aggressive opponents picked up a number of bookings in the 0-0 draw as well as having Brayan Beckeles sent-off for a second yellow card

Ross Barkley is brought down during the friendly against Honduras (Getty)

Steven Gerrard last night described some of the tackling by England’s opponents Honduras as “horrific” in the 0-0 draw between the two teams in Miami.

The last World Cup warm-up game before the squad arrive in Rio de Janeiro today featured seven bookings, four of them for the Hondurans as well as the dismissal of defender Brayan Beckeles for a second yellow card for an elbow on Leighton Baines. The hostility of some of the challenges surprised the England players, and Roy Hodgson felt that the American referee was not hard enough on his team’s opponents.

In the first half the Celtic full-back Emilio Izaguirre was booked for a foul on Daniel Sturridge and then kicked the ball at the striker as he lay on the ground. Gerrard said: “I don't understand the referee when the ball is being kicked into a player's chest. That should have been a straight red card and with 10 men it could have been different.”

He added: “I had a tight groin in midweek so it was always the plan for me to play just 45 minutes. We're quite frustrated in the dressing room. We thought the referee was poor, they were doing some stupid fouls. Maybe we could have moved the ball a bit quicker, but there were some horrific challenges. I certainly got caught by one.“

Hodgson said: “It's time for the real thing now [in Brazil]. Everyone is fit, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is making progress and I think he will make the tournament. Honduras were quite physical and it was one of the most frustrating games I have been involved in for a long time.

“I thought the tempo of our play and effort to score in the second half was commendable. I will take the draw and take the fact we got away without any injuries. We go to Brazil in the right frame of mind.“