3 KEY CLASHES

ERIC DIER v MAREK HAMSIK

AS the anchor of England’s midfield three, Eric Dier will have to deal with Slovakia’s danger man Marek Hamsik coming into his area. Hamsik scored a superb goal from a short corner against Russia and Dier will be crucial in covering for the full-backs in these situations. Dier has slotted into the side as if he’s been playing for England for years and, given his two fine displays already, he is more than capable of dealing with Hamsik’s threat. What I’d like to see now is for Dier to start making more forward passes.

JAMIE VARDY v MARTIN SKRTEL

THE Leicester striker will be licking his lips at the chance to run in behind Skrtel. No central defender wants to play against pace and Vardy is a real pest, turning up in unexpected positions in the box. Skrtel will have seen what Vardy did to Dejan Lovren and Mamadou Sakho when Leicester beat Liverpool 2-0 last season and will have been happy he wasn’t playing! Vardy always sniffs out chances for himself but it is crucial that Dier and Jack Wilshere feed him with long passes so he can best replicate his club form.

CLYNE AND BERTRAND v WEISS AND DUDA

ENGLAND’S full-backs have done an incredible job going forwards so far at Euro 2016 so Nathaniel Clyne and Ryan Bertrand will have to pick up where Kyle Walker and Danny Rose left off. With both sides able to finish top of Group B, it will be an open game and if Slovakia’s wide men, Vladimir Weiss and Ondrej Duda, push too high up the pitch, England’s full-backs will be able to hit them on the counter-attack. Weiss and Duda have a huge responsibility in stopping them from surging forward.