England and Wales do battle tonight in a huge World Cup group-stage clash.
The Dragons need a win to hold out any hope of reaching the last-16 while Gareth Southgate’s Three Lions are all-but secure of a knockout berth after an unbeaten start.
Here is where the game could be won and lost...
Harry Maguire v Kieffer Moore
Moore, all 6ft 4ins of him, will pose a threat to England in the air, particularly from set-pieces. Gareth Southgate’s defence held firm in the face of a barrage of late corners in the 0-0 draw against the USA, with Maguire particularly imperious.
With Wales set to take any chance to fling the ball into England’s box, the Manchester United defender will be tasked with stopping forwards Moore and Gareth Bale, who is also a danger aerially, from nicking a goal.
Joe Allen v Jordan Henderson
Allen came off the bench against Iran on Friday and was at fault for both late goals, suggesting the midfielder remains some way from his sharpest after injury.
The veteran is expected to start tonight, where he will be up against his former Liverpool team-mate Henderson, who is expected to come into Southgate’s side. Allen being back to somewhere near his best will be crucial to Wales’s hopes of getting a foothold in the game and hurting England.
Harry Kane v Ben Davies & Joe Rodon
Southgate is set to resist calls to rest captain Kane, who will be up against a Wales back three including Tottenham team-mates Davies and Rodon, who is on loan from Spurs at French club Rennes.
The pair should know as well as anybody how Kane can be handled, but equally the striker will have an idea of their weaknesses as he looks to get off the mark in the tournament.
