101 Sports: World Cup 2014: England must use counter-attack against Italy

World Cup 2014: England must use counter-attack against Italy

There has been a actual feel-good factor surrounding England ahead of this World Cup - but now is the time to deliver.
I have a nice feeling that, if they produce a positive performance against Spain in our first game, it will set us up nicely for the remainder of the match.
The temperature in Manaus will play a part in how England perform and, sadly, so will the state of the pitch, which is not nice.
For the life of me I cannot see why in the event you have seven years to build a stadium you don't get the most important thing right, which is the playing surface. I do not understand the way you can make those mistakes.

It is disappointing, but it will be the same for both sides. It might even suit England in a way if it prevents Spain finding any rhythm in their passing but, of coursework, it might cease Roy Hodgson's side, .
It is of those things where England are going to must deal with it the best that they can, but I am confident the manager will have his team set up in the right way.
Welbeck and Lallana the first line of defence
I am expecting the team that started in the warm-up games against Peru and Honduras to be Hodgson's beginning XI on Saturday.
That would be my team to face Spain, . It is a solid and experienced line-up, and has also got energy in the midst of the pitch - with Jordan Henderson and Adam Lallana and Danny Welbeck, who will be on either wing but tucking inside.
England are probably not going to be playing with much width because the important thing is not to get outnumbered in the midst of the pitch, which is where Spain are strongest.
But the aim will be to counter-attack quickly when they win possession and, in the event that they do that, I think the flexibility in England's front means they may cause issues.
In the event you look at the Spain midfield of Andrea Pirlo, Daniele De Rossi and Marco Veratti, they are all amazing on the ball but they won't be the quickest to recover in the event you put rapid, energetic players in and around them to try to dispossess them and then spring forward.