SWINDON TOWN LEGEND GLENN HODDLE PREVIEWS ENGLAND'S EURO 2016 CAMPAIGN

DIAMONDS could be England’s best friend at the European Championships, according to former Swindon Town manager Glenn Hoddle.

Much has been made of the way Roy Hodgson’s side should line up for their opening game against Russia on Saturday evening.

Hoddle, who made 53 appearances for his country before taking over as manager for three years after departing the County Ground, has waded into the debate, and while he thinks a diamond formation will be best, he knows England must be flexible depending on their opponents.

“There is nothing wrong with England playing a diamond formation with Wayne Rooney behind Jamie Vardy and Harry Kane (inset). What is wrong is the way they played it against Portugal,” Hoddle told The Daily Mail.

“At times it looked more like a 4-3-3 than a diamond, with Rooney occupying the position furthest up the pitch and Kane and Vardy splitting wide down the right and left channels.

“If you’re going to do that, you might as well have proper wide men, rather than Kane and Vardy. I would persist with this formation against Russia with Kane, Vardy and Rooney.

“I like the idea of three forwards in the first game against Russia. I think England need to make a positive start and most of the teams Russia will have played recently will have only had one striker up front.

“I’m sure the formation will switch between games. So while I would start with a diamond against Russia, I would probably switch to a 4-3-3 against Wales.

“Chris Coleman likes to play a back three, so if you play two wide men, such as Raheem Sterling and Adam Lallana, and push your front three very high, you create a problem for Wales.”

Hoddle has picked his starting line-up for tomorrow’s opener, with notable absentees being Tottenham Hotspur full-backs Danny Rose and Kyle Walker.

While being impressed with John Stones during England’s friendly with Australia at the Stadium of Light, Hoddle has gone for the centre back pairing of Chris Smalling and Gary Cahill.

“Stones was excellent against Australia and showed much more maturity,” he added. “He didn’t put the ball at risk, was prepared to put his foot through it and still did three or four things that were outstanding and different.

“That said, against Russia I would start with Chris Smalling and Gary Cahill, but I feel we’re getting closer to the point when either two out of three works.

“Of course in all of this Eric Dier has a really important role.”