Football
Kevin Palmer 10y

Sturridge not worried about heat

England striker Daniel Sturridge has insisted his teammates cannot use the humid weather that awaits them in Brazil as an excuse if they fail to perform at this summer's World Cup.

Sturridge and his fellow England squad members flew out to Miami for a final training camp before they head down to Brazil ahead of their first game against Italy in Manaus on June 14.

England boss Roy Hodgson has asked his players to train in heavy training kit to give them a taste of what he believes could be "uncomfortably warm weather" in Brazil, but Liverpool forward Sturridge is confident that should not be an issue for his team at the World Cup.

"We never make excuses about conditions, and going into the World Cup, it's going to be the same," Sturridge told reporters.

"You have to adapt your style to the conditions. You can't always play the way you want to play when it's warmer. It's not about worrying about the heat, the rain or the snow. You just adapt your style to whatever the conditions are and you look to play your football regardless of how it is.

"It's going to be a lot more difficult in terms of the conditions when we get to Miami, much warmer. That is great preparation for us because when we go to Brazil, it's going to be even warmer."

Sturridge is tipped to start alongside Wayne Rooney in the England team at the World Cup, but the striker who enjoyed a fine season in Liverpool colours last season believes his place in the side is not assured.

"For me there are no guarantees in football and I will just work hard and not worry about which team the manager will pick," Sturridge added.

- Brewin: Sturridge shines
- #WCR: Daniel Sturridge

"Regardless of what team the manager picks, that is the manager's choice and I am just here to work hard in training and in the games and show what I can do, which is the same for everyone else in the squad.

"There are obviously certain players who have their spots nailed down, but in my mind I haven't and I am working hard every day to continue to show what I can do. I will focus on what I can for the team and leave the decisions to the boss because that is what he does."

Meanwhile, Chelsea defender Gary Cahill believes he is forging a solid relationship with Everton's Phil Jagielka at the heart of the England defence, as the relatively new-look pairing begin to develop a bond at international level.

"I think we've got a good understanding, which comes from playing a few games together now, as it always does," said Cahill, who played alongside Jagielka in England's 3-0 win against Peru last Friday.

"You don't all of sudden hit it off straight away. I feel we hit it off quite quickly and there is definitely an understanding in each other's game. There's another clean sheet against Peru so we're pleased with how it is going.

"We carry on and keep working, not just on the pairing of me and Jags but also the other defenders and getting a good reaction with them all.

"Before the qualifying campaign it was relatively new with Jags and since then we've got a good understanding, a good relationship. We've got clean sheets under our belt and at the minute it is going well.

"I think Jags is experienced as well. You look at his age, what he has done in his career, his caps for his country. He has been around a lot in the Premier League, he is an experienced player."

^ Back to Top ^