Roy Hodgson landed in Rio and then backed his strikers to fire England out of their group.

England’s battered and bruised squad touched down in Brazil on Sunday following a feisty encounter with Honduras.

Thanks to surging runs from Ross Barkley, Danny Welbeck and Daniel Sturridge, England created plenty of chances but they ultimately failed to convert them and the match ended scoreless.

Sturridge was the most guilty party, wasting two excellent chances in the second half.

A strong Italian defence awaits England in Manaus on Saturday but Hodgson is sure his team will have what it takes to break Cesare Prandelli’s men down.

“We didn’t score against Honduras but we scored five goals in the games against Peru and Ecuador, so I think it would be very harsh to start casting aspersions,” the England manager said.

“Daniel Sturridge is an absolute out-and-out goalscorer and we think Rickie Lambert is too.

“Of course we have got the Rooneys, Welbecks and Gerrards and Lampards, so I don’t think we’re short of firepower.”

Although Lambert scored a good goal against Ecuador, Sturridge is almost guaranteed to start against Italy in Manaus.

Any doubts Hodgson may have had about the Liverpool striker were put to bed when he scored a glorious goal against Peru at Wembley before England departed for Miami.

It is the rest of England’s attack which Hodgson has to decide the make-up of in the coming days.

Barkley performed well in the two games at Sun Life Stadium but it looks as though he will have to settle for a place on the bench after Hodgson criticised him for giving the ball away.

Danny Welbeck looks to have secured one of the wing places thanks to a good display against Honduras and Wayne Rooney may end up playing out wide after an encouraging display there against Ecuador.

That could leave a space for Raheem Sterling to play just behind Sturridge, as he has done on several occasions for Liverpool this year.

“There is the boy we haven’t seen yet, Raheem Sterling,” said Hodgson.

“There is a good chance he would have played in that position (behind Sturridge against Honduras) had he not been sent off against Ecuador.

“It is not purely Barkley or Rooney, we have got Danny Welbeck who can do it and we have got Sterling.”