World Cup 2014: Sturridge hitting top form for England

Daniel Sturridge is an almost certain England World Cup starter

As England, Italy and Uruguay were in action over the weekend, Michael Lintorn examines Group D's talking points...

Daniel Sturridge is starting to deliver for England

Though Sturridge's Brendan Rodgers and Luis Suarez-assisted journey to superstardom has been in process for almost a year and a half, the process has been slower at international level. Some of his early displays were peripheral and there were a few too many injury withdrawals.

Roy Hodgson even publicly queried his appetite for England action when explaining why he played the forward against Germany when he wasn't fully fit, a move that contributed to him missing nine games for Liverpool shortly afterwards, by admitting that he was "putting that resolve to the test".

However, it seems to have worked, as Sturridge has started and lasted 82-plus minutes in three straight England fixtures, breaking the deadlock in the last two, including Friday's 3-0 victory over Peru. The former Man City and Chelsea forward is a 60.059/1 outsider to be World Cup top scorer.

Italy have too many eggs in the 4-3-1-2 basket

The headline-grabbing incident in Italy's 0-0 draw with Republic of Ireland was Riccardo Montolivo's World Cup-killing broken tibia injury, but as unfortunate as that was, the bigger concern as far as their prospects go is the indication that 4-3-1-2 will be Cesare Prandelli's favoured formation.

The final squad was configured with that consideration in mind. Seven specialist central midfielders - including Alberto Aquilani and Marco Parolo - were squished into a 23 that couldn't accommodate Giuseppe Rossi, one of the better Craven Cottage performers. Even uncapped Romulo claimed that Prandelli planned to pick him only for the Verona man to concede his place due to fitness worries.

As well as clogging up the centre of the park, a 4-3-1-2 puts too much pressure on the full backs - of which they have just three travelling to Brazil - to get to the byline, and as few of their midfielders are defensively minded, they aren't adequately protected. It was also alarming how often, despite all those bodies in the middle, Thiago Motta and co squandered possession on the edge of their box.

Both the 3-5-2 and 4-3-3 have been used by Italy under Prandelli and appear far better suited to both his best players and the opposition that they will face, whilst still keeping the midfield well populated. Despite their unconvincing preparation, Italy remain 2.89/5 favourites to top Group D.

Uruguay aren't Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani-centric

All the talk about the threat that Uruguay pose England and Italy in Group D has focussed on the firepower provided by Cavani and - if he recovers sufficiently - Suarez, yet it would be erroneous to overlook the role that a well-drilled defence has played in their success under Oscar Tabarez.

At the last World Cup, they were one of only two teams to get through their group without conceding a goal and they leaked a mere two across their first two knockout ties. Their Copa America 2011 triumph was built from the back too as they gave up three goals across six matches.

They kept a clean sheet in an otherwise underwhelming 1-0 win against Northern Ireland last time out and have been breached just once in their last four encounters and are 1.910/11 to shut out Costa Rica in their first Group D clash.