Reality check for England at start of World Cup trip with visit to Brazil's biggest favela

England national soccer team player Daniel Sturridge, front left, joins in a Capoeira dance demonstration with locals watched by his teammate Jack Wilshire, second left, during a visit to the Rocinha Sports Complex on the edge of the Rocinha favela in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Monday, June 9, 2014. The England soccer team are staying in Rio de Janeiro as their base city for the 2014 soccer World Cup. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham) (The Associated Press)

England national soccer team players Danny Welbeck, center right, and Daniel Sturridge, center left, join in a Capoeira dance demonstration with locals during a visit by a five England players to the Rocinha Sports Complex on the edge of the Rocina favela in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Monday, June 9, 2014. The England soccer team are staying in Rio de Janeiro as their base city for the 2014 soccer World Cup. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham) (The Associated Press)

RIO DE JANEIRO – Dancing in the shadow of Brazil's largest favela, England players had a glimpse of the other side of life in Rio de Janeiro during their first full day at the World Cup on Monday.

At the foot of the sprawling Rocinha slum, Danny Welbeck joined in the capoeira, a Brazilian martial arts dance that incorporates singing and playing traditional instruments.

Had coach Roy Hodgson been on the artificial pitch there would have been a few anxious moments as the striker fully embraced the capoeira's acrobatic elements.

But Welbeck emerged unscathed from the visit that is as much about players escaping the confines of their hotel after training as it is about mixing with locals.

At Rocinha, Welbeck said "it's humbling to see that backdrop and something you take note of."