Monday 27 June 2016 19:59, UK
Former England striker Alan Smith expects Daniel Sturridge to start for England in their Euro 2016 round-of-16 clash with Iceland on Monday.
Liverpool forward Sturridge started the final group game against Slovakia after coming off the bench to score the winner against Wales and Smith believes he is the right man to unlock the well-drilled Iceland defence.
Iceland, like England, were unbeaten in the group stage - conceding only three goals - and Smith reckons their style of play will not suit Jamie Vardy's game so he has tipped Sturridge to play in Nice, along with Harry Kane.
Smith told Sky Sports News HQ: "It might be difficult for Jamie Vardy to have any influence because there won't be much room in behind to run into.
"I think somebody like Daniel Sturridge will play a big part. Somebody that can just drift into areas, see a pass, do something different and give us that little spark, because we don't need to go toe to toe with them in terms of slinging the ball into the box.
"The two centre-halves [Kari] Arnason and [Ragnar] Sigurdsson are very good aerially, very strong, and that will suit them, so we have got to be cute, try and get the ball wide and be patient."
If Sturridge does start, it appears likely he will be asked to play up front on the left by Roy Hodgson with Adam Lallana on the right and Kane in the middle.
Tottenham striker Kane has failed to fire in France so far and was replaced at half-time in the 2-1 win over Wales before coming on as a second-half substitute in the goalless draw against Slovakia.
Smith is hopeful the rest will have benefitted Kane as he believes he is integral to the England side as a focal point for the attack when he is playing at the top of his game.
"Harry has had a good rest and he has looked flat," said Sky Sports pundit Smith. "He says he is not tired and you'd expect him to say that. Hopefully he has been re-energised.
"Sometimes when you are sat on the bench and you are looking from there, just mentally, you can get a bit of life, a bit of a break I suppose, and you can come back stronger.
"So I would like to see him in the side because when he is playing well he is so important to us in the way he leads the line and holds up the ball. He is a very intelligent player and perhaps somebody like Sturridge can work off him."
Another possibility for Hodgson is playing Vardy and Kane together and Nigel Winterburn, another former England international, believes this could work as long as they combine as twin strikers.
The former Arsenal defender told Sky Sports News HQ: "I think if you went with both you would probably have to go with them as a front two. I don't see Kane and Vardy playing together if one is going to go out and play on the left-hand side or the right-hand side. I think you take away both of their strengths.
"If we were to change our formation and go with both of them up top and they played up top - one in behind the other, working off each other, keep swapping round - I can see that working.
"But then you have got to change the formation in behind them. That has been the frustration for me watching England struggle to break teams down."
