Sturridge and Agger set for intriguing face off…
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5 Key Battles:
1) Daniel Sturridge v Daniel Agger
In what could be an extremely interesting battle, Liverpool teammates Sturridge and Agger are likely to face each other at Wembley on Wednesday night.
While Sturridge has been on fire in the Premier League, scoring 18 goals in just 17 starts, the Danish centre-back has had a nightmare of a season – struggling with injuries and poor form.
For their international sides though, Sturridge is a rookie, and Agger is the Denmark captain – and will surely be keen on heading back to Melwood (Liverpool’s training rights) with the bragging rights.
2) Chris Smalling v Nicklas Bendtner
With Jagielka injured, Smalling is likely to start at the back alongside Cahill. The Arsenal forward is leaving the Emirates in the summer, and will surely be keen to silence some of the English critics that have dogged his Premier League career.
He regularly scores headed goals for his country, and with Smalling standing at 6 ft. 5″, The United stopper will likely be charged with dealing with the threat of the maverick Danish forward.
3) Jordan Henderson v Christian Eriksen
With Roy Hodgson likely to rest Steven Gerrard, it’s likely that his in-form club mate Jordan Henderson will get the nod to start in the middle of the park. Henderson’s energy and combative style will be crucial in keeping Denmark’s most creative player Christian Eriksen quiet.
While he is often deployed from the left for Spurs, he is given the pivotal no.10 role for his country, meaning Henderson may have to tame some of his attacking instincts to make sure Eriksen doesn’t get too much space.
4) Jack Wilshere v William Kvist
Kvist is currently on loan at Fulham, and plays in a deep-lying anchoring midfield position.
Wilshere will likely be the England midfielder given the most licence to get forward and use his intricate passes to create chances – meaning the two of them will be in direct competition for space and possession.
The Englishman more than has the ability to dominate Kvist, who like Bendtner, will perhaps feel he has something to prove at Wembley.
5) Leighton Baines v Lars Jacobsen
This could well be Baines’s chance to nail down the starting left-back spot ahead of Ashley Cole at this summer’s World Cup…
The Everton man will likely get the nod, as Cole hasn’t played much for Chelsea recently, and will get the chance to get forward up the left flank with England expected to dominate possession.
Lars Jacobsen is 34-years-old, and totally lacks pace, meaning Baines could well get the chance to bomb forward and put in telling deliveries from the byline.
