On Saturday evening, Roy Hodgson will be charged with the task of picking the most important England starting lineup since he took charge of the Three Lions two years ago.

Italy will be their opponents in Manaus as both European nations get their World Cup campaigns underway in what is expected to be humid conditions.

After three friendlies in quick succession - the most recent of which ended in a 0-0 draw with Honduras - there have been many discussions as to which 11 England players should take to the pitch inside the Arena da Amazonia. Here, Sports Mole has selected the team that we believe should start the encounter.

GOALKEEPER AND DEFENCE

Joe Hart, unsurprisingly, picks himself between the posts, while the four-man defensive unit is a relatively straightforward one to select. Gary Cahill has proved himself to be the most commanding centre-back available to Hodgson, although the same cannot be said for his potential partners. Chris Smalling looked particularly nervous against Ecuador and despite the fact that Phil Jones grew into that game, Phil Jagielka gets the nod, largely because he's played alongside Cahill on a number of occasions, meaning that the pair - hopefully - should have some sort of understanding.

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The steady and dependable Leighton Baines plays at left-back, from where he can also pose an attacking threat. "Steady and dependable" are not words that can be used to describe Johnson, who can count himself lucky that there is no natural alternative at right-back. The Liverpool defender has looked a little casual of late, but hopefully the seriousness of a World Cup will focus his mind.

MIDFIELD

No longer a midfielder that marauds from box to box, captain Gerrard will take up a more reserved role in front of the defence. From there, the Liverpool man can dictate the play and tempo in a similar way to Andrea Pirlo, who is expected to pull the strings for Italy from a deeper position.

For the majority of the season, Gerrard was more than ably partnered by Jordan Henderson. The Sunderland-born midfielder has by no means let himself down during the recent friendlies, but Jack Wilshere's impact against Ecuador and then Honduras have been too difficult to ignore. Henderson's work rate is understandably an attractive quality, particularly when considering the conditions in Manaus, but Wilshere has the ability to unlock a defence 20 or so yards from goal, which could end up being vital.

THE ATTACKING TRIO

Rickie Lambert's rise to international football has been quite rightly lauded, but Adam Lallana's route to the big time is also not too shabby. The 26-year-old has gone from being a League One player to one of the country's most creative midfielders in a matter of years. He may not have shone in the friendlies, but the fluency and versatility that he possesses allows him to play anywhere across the midfield, which sees him included in the team.

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Although he has plenty of pace, Danny Welbeck has been in indifferent form for both club and country since the turn of the year - an accusation that cannot be aimed at Raheem Sterling. The Liverpool winger has shown maturity well beyond his 19 years and while his speed could well prove to be a key asset from the bench in the final 20 minutes, the Italian defenders will find it difficult to contend with the youngster's movement and guile from the very beginning.

Then we have another teenager based on Merseyside, but on this occasion he is of a blue persuasion. Despite Hodgson's words to the contrary, Ross Barkley made England a much more enjoyable team to watch against Ecuador and he had a similar impact as a second-half substitute in the Honduras encounter. His decision making can every now and then see him lose possession, but he has the capability to win matches - something that England are not overly blessed with.

LONE STRIKER

All strikers miss chances, but those spurned by Daniel Sturridge against Honduras were alarming. Against Italy, England may only carve out two or three opportunities and they have to be converted. Failure to do so against such World Cup-hardened opposition is likely to be punished.

Sturridge had what was undeniably a positive season in front of goal for Liverpool, but question marks over his decision-making still remain. It was evident last night and was also a topic of numerous heated discussions between himself and Luis Suarez at Anfield last term. The fact that he was the leading English goalscorer in the Premier League would make dropping him a harsh decision, but such verdicts for big games need to be made.

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There are those that believe it's time that Wayne Rooney was benched, while others have him propping up the bar at the last chance saloon. He's been played in a variety of positions in the three friendlies and has seemingly found it difficult to blow away the cobwebs. Nevertheless, if the Manchester United frontman can rediscover his form, he will give the Italian rearguard problems. Like Barkley, he's unpredictable in the final third, but you'd back him to bury one chance, whereas with the likes of Sturridge or Welbeck, the outcome is a little uncertain.

If he fails to deliver the goods again, though, the 28-year-old may well find himself watching on from the sidelines against Uruguay, with those that have defended him up until this point finding it increasingly more difficult to do so.

Sports Mole's England team to face Italy: Hart; Baines, Jagielka, Cahill, Johnson; Gerrard, Wilshere; Lallana, Barkley, Sterling; Rooney

Written by
Liam Apicella