Meanwhile, Hodgson has revealed his players will take malaria tablets before they head to the Amazonian rainforest to face Italy on Saturday - despite fears of possible side-effects. Hodgson and his squad fly to Manaus on Thursday morning and will start taking the tablets two days before they leave, and for five days afterwards, as a precaution against the illness. He said: "As far as I'm concerned I've got to go with medical opinion. If the doctors are telling me that when we go to Manaus the players must take malaria tablets whether it has side-effects or not, what can I do? "I can't turn around and say 'we will not take malaria tablets' because the bottom line is better stomach cramps for one player in 10 rather than have someone contract malaria." http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/27789874
I think the chances of one or two players being below par are pretty high, but considering the potential for malaria I'm also convinced all players need to protect themselves.