A laboured 1-0 win that secured top spot in Group D and eliminated co-hosts Ukraine, built on the foundations of another solid if uninspiring defensive display, endorsed Hodgson's self-confessed pragmatic approach to his new job.
Unsurprisingly, captain Steven Gerrard revealed growing confidence in the team, after sealing a quarter-final clash with Italy in Kiev on Sunday. "No-one believed in us at the start, but we're gaining momentum at the right time," he said.
"We've been criticised in the past maybe for not turning up, underperforming and we can take that... We're man enough... But when you get criticised, it's not nice and you have to react."
If the sound of words being eaten in some quarters of the British media was not echoing around the Donbass Arena, the clearly-demonstrated excellence of England's goalkeeper and his back four was causing reappraisals of their prospects.
Cole and Terry, of course, were key players in Chelsea's progress and final triumph over Bayern Munich in the Champions League last month, another feat achieved with meticulous planning and remarkable defending.
Both right back Glen Johnson, felt by some pundits to be a controversial selection ahead of Hart's Premier League title-winning Manchester City team mate Micah Richards, and his club colleague Joleon Lescott also performed admirably.
For this, much credit should go to the unsung Hodgson, who also overlooked the media-fanned claims of Manchester United's Rio Ferdinand for a call-up when another Chelsea defender, Gary Cahill was injured, preferring not to ruffle any feathers.
That resolution in his thinking, and courage in ignoring the lure of populism, was manifested clearly in Tuesday's performance, notably when Terry ran back to clear off the line when Ukraine thought they had equalised in the second half.
