Roy Hodgson's main concern as England begins its qualification program for the 2014 World Cup finals on Friday is that Moldova will be seen as a walkover.

Over-confidence is understandable if unprofessional. Moldova is rated 137th in the world by FIFA and 47th out of 53 in Europe above Malta, Kazakhstan, Liechtenstein, the Faroe Islands, Andorra and San Marino.

It has won eight of the 42 internationals it has played, mainly against the aforementioned six, so the loss of left-back Ashley Cole because of an ankle injury on Tuesday was hardly likely to give England manager Hodgson sleepless nights. Believing victory is a certainty is more worrying.