Lampard: 'Players will be most nervous the night before their first game'

The ex-Chelsea and Man City midfielder spoke to the 'BBC' about his thoughts on England's first game at this summer's World Cup, and believes that many of the England squad who are playing at their first World Cup will being feeling very nervous ahead of the clash with Tunisia.

He said: "It will feel huge for the new boys in the England team and I know from my own experience that right now they will definitely be nervous. The night before the first game is when your nerves are worst.

"The most important thing at that point is probably not to over-think things because by then the work is done - the fitness work and the tactical work is all there, and it is just about getting yourself in the right frame of mind."

Lampard has also stressed the importance of trying to break down the Tunisian defensive unit, which will probably be disciplined and compact in trying to stop the English attack from producing results. 

As a result, the new Derby manager believes that England's attacking midfield pairing of Dele Alli and Jessie Lingard will be crucial England's hopes of breaking through the Tunisian lines.

"Alli and Lingard also have to stay high because, with three central defenders and Henderson in the team, they will not need to come back and get the ball in their own half too much," he argued.

"To make their role work, they will need to be mobile and find space in between Tunisia's lines, staying on the move to make angles so people behind them can play the ball through to them as quickly as possible."

While he feels that the pairing could be effective against weaker opposition such as Tunisia, Lampard has warned that the young duo could face problems in later games:

"Against stronger sides, they will have to take on the more disciplined side of the role, which will find them having to do a lot more work further back, but that is not an issue in these first two matches."