Former England midfielder Paul Scholes has urged manager Roy Hodgson to pick a player to specifically man-mark Italy's Andrea Pirlo when the two sides meet in their World Cup opener in Group D a week on Saturday.

Scholes said that a similar tactic was used by Sir Alex Ferguson in 2010, when Park Ji-Sung stopped Pirlo in the Champions League for Manchester United, and suggested that Danny Welbeck was suitable for the role.

"Park was the perfect man for Pirlo in 2010 and never gave him kick," Scholes told BBC Sport.

"Looking at the squad, Danny Welbeck - a good defender who can nick the ball well - could be an option and would be a bold decision, one which gives England a creative outlet and saddles Pirlo with defensive work."

England drew 2-2 with Ecuador on Wednesday night, while Italy were held by Luxembourg.

Written by
Matt Domm