Brailsford 
is called 
on to inspire Hodgson’s Brazil squad

Brailsford, who has overseen an incredible period of success in cycling, will visit the squad to speak to the players ahead of England’s friendly against Peru on May 30 – the final match before they fly out to their pre-tournament base in Miami.

Hodgson hopes that Brailsford, performance director for British Cycling and Team Sky principal, will inspire the England players, especially in terms of preparing themselves mentally.

Hodgson said: “Dave Brailsford will come and speak to us, which we are looking forward to.

“He has made a commitment he’s going to come and speak to us in that period of time that we have before we play Peru.

“He will basically talk to us about his experience and how he has found it preparing a team of the British cyclists’ quality to win gold medals and to give the players a bit of a feel, maybe as well, that this is a fantastic occasion.

“One forgets sometimes how important these tournaments are and what big occasions they are. You don’t get that many shots at it and you have a lot of time to regret if you don’t give it your best shot.

“I bet the world is full of players who reflect back on tournaments they have had and have said, ‘I wish had done a bit more, I wish I had concentrated a bit more, I wish I had known then what I know now’.

“Maybe Brailsford can put a few thoughts in their head.”

Brailsford has said before that football can learn from cycling, and previously had meetings with Sir Alex Ferguson and Roberto Mancini while they were at Manchester United and Manchester City respectively, to swap experiences.

He has suggested Hodgson’s team need to tame their “inner chimp” if they are to progress in major tournaments, specifically if faced by penalty shoot-outs.

“In sport people talk about the zone, switch off the frontal lobe, emotional engagement,” Brailsford said. “Switch off the chimp. Penalty kicks are a great example [of how] silencing the chimp would be beneficial.”

Brailsford, who turns 50 later this week, believes Ferguson’s success at United was down to his ability to “retain total control” within the club.

Brailsford was knighted last year in recognition of masterminding British Cycling’s record successes at the Beijing and London Olympics, and Bradley Wiggins’ Tour de France victory.