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Roy Hodgson unconcerned by Moldova pitch condition

Hodgson unconcerned by pitch
© PA Photos
Roy Hodgson plays down the impact that the condition of the pitch will have in England's World Cup qualifier against Moldova on Friday.

England boss Roy Hodgson has played down the significance of the Zimbru Stadium playing surface ahead of the World Cup qualifier against Moldova on Friday.

The Three Lions begin their road to Brazil 2014 with a trip to Chisinau tomorrow night and Moldova assistant manager Ion Testemitanu has criticised the state of the pitch at the national arena.

However, Hodgson believes his squad are mature enough to cope with the conditions and insisted that they won't be a deciding factor in the match.

"We haven't seen the pitch yet and quite frankly we haven't spoken about it," Hodgson says.

"I'm pretty sure that I have a very experienced group of players and they'll have played on many pitches, and I really don't envisage any particular problems there."

England host Ukraine at Wembley on Tuesday in the second of their qualifying double-header.

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