Less pleasing were further injury problems to a squad already affected by the withdrawals of injured midfielders Frank Lampard and Gareth Barry.

Chelsea defender Gary Cahill required a scan on his jaw after being pushed by Belgium’s Dries Mertens into Joe Hart, while John Terry will have a scan after feeling a tight hamstring. It left Hodgson not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

‘I’m more than satisfied with what the players are giving,’ he said. ‘I am getting closer to knowing the line-up I want to start the game against France.’

But of the challenge on Cahill, he added darkly: ‘Unfortunate is too kind a word for it. If you’re a defender, you take very unkindly to a shove like that.’

Belgium provided good opposition for England even if a Mexican wave from a relaxed crowd after 14 minutes underlined this was a friendly.

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