Conor Davies previews England's opening game of the World Cup , their Group D match against Italy (11pm)
It's finally here - the day England fans have been either fearing or looking forward to for months and months. England go into the tournament without much expectation but with one of the youngest squads in years, fans ought to be optimistic. The likes of Sturridge, Sterling, Lallana, Barkley all making their tournament debuts, it could all go wrong, sure, but these are exciting young players who will only learn from the experience. Then there's Italy, the last side we faced in a knockout tournament, that turgid 0-0 a horrible 120 minutes for all England fans. Few personnel have changed in the proceeding two years for the Italians, their reliance on Andrea Pirlo and Mario Balotelli still clear for all to see. Young strikers Immobile and Insigne offer some pacy alternatives, but the likes of de Rossi, Buffon and Abate will be familiar for English fans. Let's hope we offer a far more attack-minded approach in Manaus!
Probable Line-Ups
England: Hart; G Johnson, Cahill, Jagielka, Baines; Gerrard, Henderson; Lallana, Rooney, Sterling; Sturridge
Italy: Buffon; Abate, Bonucci, Chiellini, De Sciglio; Pirlo, De Rossi, Verratti, Candreva, Marchisio; Balotelli
Venue: Arena Amazonia, Manaus
England Links - All of the England side is based in the Premier League, aside from Celtic's Fraser Forster, who goes as back-up to Joe Hart and Ben Foster.
Italy's English links - There are no England-based players for Italy, but Mario Balotelli and Liverpool flop Alberto Aquilani have both moved from the country back to their homeland.
Derby County links - England: Among the more recent Derby additions to the England squad have been Frank Fielding, the former Rams keeper making a few of Fabio Capello's squads, Tom Huddlestone who has made a middling impact in the team and Seth Johnson, the last man to receive an England cap whilst on Derby's books, back in 2001, against, funnily enough Italy.
Derby County links - Italy: Italy's impact on Derby County has been massive in both positive and negative ways, and that's not an understatement. Eranio, Ravanelli, Lupoli, Baiano and Carbone. Some good, some bad, but all memorable. Baiano came across with Eranio in 1997 and both made excellent impacts for the Rams as they lit up the Premier League. The combination of the two was very successful, Baiano the scorer, Eranio the architect, although the latter, an import from AC Milan, did score the first Derby goal at what was then Pride Park Stadium. Fabrizio Ravanelli arrived in 2001, on a free transfer and massive wages, and couldn't keep the Rams in the Premier League that season. He did score a great free-kick on his debut against Blackburn Rovers though, something this fan remembers well! Arturo Lupoli was a part of the 2006-07 promotion season, and was an integral figure that season, scoring a hat-trick in the FA Cup and providing cover for the great Stevie Howard up top, before moving onto Fiorentina.
Battle to watch: Daniel Sturridge vs Giorgio Chiellini: If England are hoping to test Italy more than in the aforementioned Euro 2012 clash, they'll be looking toward Daniel Sturridge for much of their attacking threat. The Liverpool frontman has had his best season to date, and Hodgson's focus on sticking as many Liverpool players as he can into his first XI, should provide Sturridge with confidence and familiarity. He'll be hoping himself and Wayne Rooney can combine aswell as himself and Mr Suarez have this season. Chiellini has won the Scudetto for the last three years, and has remained Italy's main defender, his partnerships with clubmates Bonucci and Buffon essential to the cause. He's also a major threat from set-pieces, as most of the Italians, given that the deliveries are made by a certain Andrea Pirlo.
