CHRIS SUTTON’S THREE KEY CLASHES: Harry Kane can answer his critics up against Joe Rondon

England and Wales are gearing up for Tuesday’s final group game showdown and Sportsmail’s Chris Sutton has picked out the key battles on the evening.

Harry Kane v Joe Rodon

I’ve grown bored of the Kane criticism. We have seen this movie before. He is criticised, questioned and condemned for being England’s undroppable No 9, then he delivers. 

Kane wants to open his World Cup account and standing in his way tonight will be Joe Rodon, his Tottenham colleague who is currently on loan to Rennes. 

Rodon starts in the centre of Wales’ back three, flanked by Chris Mepham and Ben Davies, also of Spurs. They know Kane’s game but Gareth Southgate should not even consider resting his star striker if he is fit to start.

Harry Kane finds himself in a familiar position with fans questioning the England captain

Harry Maguire v Gareth Bale

Bale isn’t as fast as he once was. He isn’t the 21-year-old who breezed by Inter Milan to score a hat-trick for Tottenham, or the 24-year-old who charged beyond Barcelona’s Marc Bartra to score in the 2014 Copa del Rey final for Real Madrid. 

He is 33 now and somewhat slower. But for old time’s sake, I want to see him engage in some foot races with England’s defenders. Maguire was our best player against the United States. 

He may have a few tasty aerial battles with 6ft 5in Kieffer Moore, but Bale remains Wales’ biggest threat.

Gareth Bale may not be the player he once was but he’s still capable of moments

Declan Rice v Aaron Ramsey

Legs wise, there is no contest here — Rice can out-run Ramsey over 90 minutes. The 31-year-old Welsh star has not had the best World Cup. 

Sportsmail’s player ratings from Wales’ 2-0 loss to Iran saw him receive a score of 3/10 — and that was probably generous! Wales hoped to see a renaissance from Ramsey at this World Cup, the version that made it into the Euro 2016 Team of the Tournament. Sadly they haven’t. 

Ramsey is a good technician and a talented footballer but Rice will look to pocket him tonight by restricting his time on the ball in midfield.