Young and free

England’s key player is Ashley Young. Our two wide players will be running marathons trying to track back and support the defence and the two midfielders, Scott Parker and Steven Gerrard, will have to be disciplined.

England will try to mirror Chelsea’s performance against Bayern Munich, so it’s crucial for Young to find pockets of space at the other end. He has had mixed success in that ‘Rooney role’ and finds it harder when the opposition play a midfield three, as France will, with a holding player to close the space.

Key man: Ashley Young is England's most important player

It’s a specialist’s position; when the ball comes your way, you have to decide whether to
pop it off or control, turn and run. He’s quick but his natural game is not playing with his back to goal.

The far left

France’s strong point is their left side of Patrice Evra and Franck Ribery.

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