Sam Allardyce names his England XI for Russia World Cup with Raheem Sterling edging out Marcus Rashford

EX-ENGLAND boss Sam Allardyce has picked his starting XI for the Russia World Cup with Raheem Sterling edging out Marcus Rashford.

The former Blackburn and Everton manager selected his former Goodison goalkeeper Jordan Pickford to hold on to the No1 shirt for their opener with Tunisia on Monday.

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And the 63-year-old put John Stones at the heart of his three-man defence, despite admitting he is a risk without the ball.

On , Allardyce said: “Jordan Pickford is definitely the number one, for me.

“I don’t mind the back-three if it gets an extra man in midfield or an extra attacker, so I would have Gary Cahill over Harry Maguire for his experience. I’d pick Kyle Walker.

“And I’d have John Stones because of his ability to come out from the back. He can be a bit risky at times, but if you take that risk he’s probably the best with the ball and coming out from the back with it. If you put him in the middle of the three, that can be very strong.

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“If you’re having wing backs I think Kieran Trippier and Danny Rose.

“I’d have both Jordan Henderson and Eric Dier in midfield and leave them there sitting and have one player in front of them, and that would be Dele Alli for me.

“Harry Kane would obviously be up front.

"I would have one of Raheem Sterling or Marcus Rashford up there with him – I’d probably go for Sterling.”