Alan Shearer: 'Wayne Rooney, Daniel Sturridge partnership is crucial'

Alan Shearer has claimed that England's hopes of progressing to the latter stages of the World Cup hinge on the partnership between Wayne Rooney and Daniel Sturridge.

Ahead of their campaign in Brazil, Shearer believes that the way Rooney links with Sturridge from a deeper role could prove to be the difference as England look to make it out of a tricky Group D.

"The best partnerships I played in I never had to work at them - Les Ferdinand, Teddy Sheringham, it just happened," the former England striker told members of the media.

"And if that happens with those two, with Rooney playing a deeper role, fingers crossed it clicks and it works and if it does England have a better chance of going further in the tournament."

England will take on Italy, Uruguay and Costa Rica in the group stage.