Daniel Sturrige Stunner inspires England to victory over Peru as Hodgson's side depart for Brazil adventure

A party with a happy atmosphere sent England on their way to Brazil. There was music, a bit of  Mexican wave-style dancing, and some games with paper aeroplanes that kept the guests amused. Whether this England team will fly quite as gracefully once the serious stuff begins is another matter entirely.

The most famous Peruvian visitor to these shores took to hanging about antiques shops in Portobello Road and kept marmalade sandwiches under his hat, so it is fair to say not a huge amount was expected of the visitors and they did not disappoint.

Some skilful, enterprising play on the counter, was followed by some woeful defending of set-pieces that afforded England two second-half goals from corners, and a scoreline with emphasis.

Class act: Daniel Sturridge curls home the opener after 32 minutes to put England on the road to victory

Spot the ball: Time stands still after Sturridge unleashed a magnificent effort just after the half hour mark

No chance: Peru keeper Raul Fernandez clutches at thin air as Welbeck's shot flies into the net

Get in: Skipper Steven Gerrard was one of the first to congratulate Sturridge after his screamer

The eyes have: Sturridge hit his fourth international goal ahead of England's flight to Miami

Match facts

England: Hart, Johnson, Cahill, Jagielka (Smalling 73), Baines (Stones 75), Gerrard (Wilshere 64), Henderson, Lallana (Milner 73), Rooney (Sterling 66), Welbeck, Sturridge (Barkley 82). Subs not used: Foster, Lampard, Lambert, Flanagan, Forster.
Goals: Sturridge 32, Cahill 65, Jagielka 70.
Booked: Gerrard.
Peru: Fernandez, Rodriguez, Callens, Ramos (Riojas 68), Advincula (Velarde 78), Yotun, Cruzado, Ballon, Ramirez (Hurtado 60), Deza (Ruidaz 66), Carrillo (Flores 86). Subs not used: Forsyth, Gambetta, Trauco, Gallese.
Booked: Cruzaldo.
Referee: Viktor Kassai (Hungary).

It will not be this easy in Brazil. The Italian back four have seen the odd inswinger and, first of all, you have to get up their end of the field to win it. On this evidence, what progress England do make in that direction will be painstaking.

The energy levels grew as more players with a point to prove — those not in the starting line-up — were introduced, but if this was a dry-run for England’s tempo in the heat, slow and steady wins the race seems to be the motto.

Still, a win is a win, and there is nothing wrong with Leighton Baines showing his worth from corners as he did on two occasions once captain Steven Gerrard had left the field and surrendered his duties.

It was Baines who picked out Gary Cahill in the 65th minute for a thumping header that gave England a two-goal cushion and dispelled any hope of Peruvian revival. The marking was ordinary and it helps when the man guarding the far post would need a step-ladder to reach any header steered towards the top corner, as Cahill’s was.

Towering: Gary Cahill doubled England's lead, connecting with Leighton Baines' corner to power a header home

Three Lions on a shirt: Cahill beams after doubling England's lead

No mistake: Phil Jagielka fired home through a crowd of bodies to put England on easy stret

Queuing up to score: Jagielka reacted first in a crowded box to put the gloss on victory

Double act: Cahill and Jagielka kept a clean sheet and both got on the scoresheet

There was a degree of fortune with England’s third, however, the entirely unconvincing Raul Fernandez in Peru’s goal dropping what should have been a simple gather, the ball clipping Cahill’s head on the way down and falling to Phil Jagielka who prodded it smartly through the hapless goalkeeper’s leg. Fernandez then collapsed to the floor as if injured — his pride more than his body, one suspects.

The usual regiment of substitutes invaded towards the end, but we are well and truly in phoney war territory now. Roy Hodgson, the England manager, says he has not made his mind up on the team, but performances in training are as likely to influence his decision as any of the matches — unless a player turns in a performance of extremes, positive or negative.

There was nothing at either end here. England did what was expected, but need to step it up this summer. When one of the paper planes floated down and struck Peruvian substitute Hansell Riojas, playing at right-back, it drew the biggest cheer of the night. Quite right, too. Skill like that you don’t see every day. This, we’ve sort of seen before.

Man-of-the-match Daniel Sturridge scored a cracker to set England on the road to victory... view his heat map and more in our Match Zone

Lift-off: Gerrard and his team-mate applaud the home fans after a satisfying result at Wembley

A big hand: Joe Hart was called into action several times but kept Peru at bay

It may be that Hodgson had instructed his squad to imagine this was a stifling night in tropical Manaus and to play at a tempo conducive to saving energy in heat and humidity. We can only hope. If not, the turgid opening 30 minutes was genuinely England attempting to play at the tempo required to dominate World Cup fixtures and the omens are not good, no matter the result.

No matter the conditions, a  certain rhythmic level is required and England lacked it for long  periods. It is not a good sign when the greatest uproar is provoked by the gentle landing of a large paper plane in the opposition penalty area; nor when this event instantly inspires hundreds of imitators. Sadly, all that was proven was that the English are as inconsistent with their folding as they are with their football — the very occasional near miss enlivening a rather dismal  succession of failures. Much like the game.

It took 20 minutes for England to register and attack of note, Adam Lallana bustling through. The ball was never quite under his control but it ended up at the feet of Daniel Sturridge, who swung hurriedly, connected but missed the target.

And that genuinely was it until the 32nd minute, when a lovely goal from Sturridge broke a pretty underwhelming deadlock. He won’t get space like that in Brazil — or come up against a defence as dozy — but Hodgson won’t mind that. This was about posting a feelgood win before getting on the plane. Peru are no Italy, or even Uruguay. They were here to do a job — or, more accurately, have a job done on them.

On the front foot: Ross Barkley plays the ball as the England playmaker stretches the South Americans

Special moment: John Stones made his England debut, replacing team-mate Baines in the 75th minute

Terrifying pace: Raheem Sterling came on in the second-half and produced some trademark bursts of speed

Pain game: Luis Ramirez winces after coming off worse in a challenge with Rooney

Caught out: Danny Welbeck slips while trying to evade the attentions of Christian Ramos

So when Glen Johnson took a quick throw-in on the right, Hodgson will have been mightily relieved that the two nearest defenders were apparently in repose and in no position to stop Sturridge receiving the ball and turning towards goal. He was forced out to just beyond the penalty area by the one Peruvian paying attention but it was not enough. Sturridge sighted the target and hit a lovely left-foot shot that curled away from Fernandez, who is not the most imposing presence, it must be said.

Within three minutes another reasonable chance presented itself — a Gerrard corner met by Wayne Rooney at the near post, steering his header just over.

If the paucity of chances was a cause for concern, England’s vulnerability to Peru’s counter-attacks was equally disconcerting. The best — the only — saves of the first half were made by Joe Hart and the fact that on two occasions he was left to clear his lines one on one will not have calmed those who feel the absence of John Terry leaves  England at a defensive disadvantage compared to their last tournament in 2012.

Job done: Hodgson replaced skipper Steven Gerrard with Jack Wilshere

Looking up: Wayne Rooney skips past Josepmir Ballon as England launch an attack

Watching brief: The England bench observe proceedings at Wembley

Plenty to ponder: Roy Hodgson named a strong team for the final game on home soil before the World Cup

By royal approval: Prince William is flanked by FA chairman Greg Dyke and Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis

After Hart had gathered one mildly overstruck pass, he was given a real test on 19 minutes when a shot by Jean Deza struck Phil Jagielka on the back of a leg and looped up in the air. For a moment it looked as if the visitors would strike lucky but Hart dived, reached out a giant paw and plucked the ball from mid-air.

In the final minute of the first half, England were undone by the one aspect of football no coach can guard against — a poor linesman’s call. Luis Ramirez looked to be in an offside position when he received the ball but England’s appeals were forlorn and it needed Hart to speed from his line and save at his feet to keep England’s  noses in front. He may be busy in Brazil, on this evidence.