Strike duo could shake up World

GARETH SOUTHGATE believes England can take the World Cup by storm with a twin strike force.

Southgate played in an era of Alan Shearer and Teddy Sheringham, while Gary Lineker formed a lethal partnership with Peter Beardsley, and the BBC pundit has bemoaned the “dying breed”.

But Southgate signalled a return to playing with two strikers, by using Jamie Vardy and Tammy Abraham against Germany, and believes it can work in a

3-5-2 system.

Harry Kane (top) is England’s established firstchoice striker but Three

Lions boss Southgate has options with Vardy (left middle), Marcus Rashford (left bottom) and now even Abraham (right middle), to play alongside him.

Southgate (right) said: “I think everybody saw that system and what it allowed us to do the other night, and what it might allow us to do moving forward.

“We have some flexibility, because we’ve got different players to come back into the team and squad. But I like the idea we can get two forwards on the pitch. Not so many teams do that these days and it’s not a problem defenders have to face so often.

“It can cause an opposition a fresh challenge.”

The manager is ready to experiment and playing with two strikers might yet signal a chance for Daniel Sturridge (right bottom), if he can get more games at Liverpool.

But Southgate really wants to test England’s squad against Brazil, who he says can “destroy” opponents.

“Brazil are different to Germany and, in many respects, more difficult,” he added. “Since the new coach (Tite) has been in, they are very difficult to score against. They are physically very strong and have clever individual players in the attacking areas, real threat on the counter attack and present a different test to the other night.

“But that’s why we’ve taken the game, as we don’t often get the chance to play against South American teams. Brazil have comfortably won the South American qualifying group.

“It shows the size of the task for a young team such as ourselves, but it’s going to be a great opportunity.”