Gerrard vows to make experience count

Steven Gerrard vowed to make his vast experience count when he leads England into World Cup battle with arch rivals Germany on Sunday.

The Liverpool midfielder, a veteran of two Champions League finals as well as England’s quarter-final appearances in Germany four years ago and at Euro 2004, believes England have a significant advantage over an emerging German side with an average age of under 25.

“Experience helps,” England’s captain said on the eve of the match.

“I have been involved in massive games throughout my career and I think that holds me in good stead for this one.

“There is a lot of pressure and it is a tense situation with so much at stake. But it is more excitement. I can’t wait to get out there and hopefully win the game.”

After a stuttering start to their campaign, England came good by securing a 1-0 victory in must-win final group clash against Slovenia and a resolute defensive display under late pressure in that match looks like resulting in an unchanged line-up being pitched into battle in the tie of the second round.

“We are very confident going into the game on the back of a good performance against Slovenia,” Gerrard said.

“The mood is good and we will do whatever it takes to get over the line and into the last eight.

“Ideally we will win in 90 minutes but if we need extra time and penalties, we will be ready.”

Gerrard added: “It is difficult to say if this is a bigger match than the quarter-final against Portugal four years ago.

“That was massive at the time. But it’s gone now, it’s history.

“What I am in control of now is tomorrow’s game. I have to make sure I play well, the team plays well and we have no regrets.”

England coach Fabio Capello was equally upbeat about a match he billed as possibly more significant than all the great club derbies he was involved in as a hugely successful manager of AC Milan, Real Madrid, Roma and Juventus.

“It is a very important game, one of the most important,” the Italian said. “We want to go forward and play the next game.

“I know the value of Germany but I also know the value of my players. There is pressure but that is normal when you play the World Cup, the players understand that.”

Capello said he had already decided to field “probably the same” line-up for the match.

That means West Ham centreback Matthew Upson is set to continue alongside John Terry in central defence, despite Ledley King having recovered from a groin strain and Jamie Carragher being available after serving a one-match suspension.

England received a major boost on the eve of the match when the squad’s medical staff confirmed that Wayne Rooney had recovered fully from an ankle injury that had resulted in him being substituted with 20 minutes left in the win over Slovenia.

“He is training very well,” Capello reported. “He is shooting well and scoring a lot of goals.

“I hope tomorrow will be the same. He didn’t score in the last games but he always he is very important for us, for the movement, the assists, for everything.”

Gerrard said Rooney, who has not scored in nine matches for club and country or in seven World Cup appearances spread across the campaign in Germany and the three group games here, was not under any more pressure than the rest of the squad.

“The pressure is not just on Wayne, it is on the whole team. Top players put pressure on themselves and I’m sure Wayne is doing that.

“I believe it is only a matter of time before he scores and hopefuly that is tomorrow. I’m very confident in him playing well because he played really well in the game against Slovenia and he has been looking really sharp in training.”