Football
ESPN staff 10y

Raheem Sterling to get England nod

Raheem Sterling will start for England behind striker Daniel Sturridge, while Wayne Rooney plays wide against Italy on Saturday, according to reports from Manaus.

Rooney is set to play on the right, as Roy Hodgson prefers a Liverpool partnership in the centre.

The 19-year-old Sterling missed England's final warm-up match after being dismissed for a wild tackle against Ecuador. He did not start any of England's warm-up matches for the World Cup.

Hodgson chose Sterling and Danny Welbeck over Adam Lallana, while Steven Gerrard and Jordan Henderson also start.

The back line of Glen Johnson, Gary Cahill, Phil Jagielka and Leighton Baines will protect Joe Hart in goal.

Italy will be without goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, who injured his ankle in training, and set to field an inexperienced defence including goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu along with Matteo Darmian and Gabriel Paletta.

^ Back to Top ^