Steven Gerrard tells FATV about the benefits of Monday's game.

Steven Gerrard believes yesterday’s warm-up game with South African top flight outfit Platinum Stars will stand England in good stead ahead of their World Cup opener against USA on Saturday.

The Three Lions used the open training session exercise to get used to playing to a match intensity in the high altitude of which they will experience in Rustenburg at the weekend and Gerrard reckons the game was a perfect preparation for Fabio Capello’s team.

"It was difficult, the conditions were really hot and it was difficult to breathe out there at times,” he told FATV after the game.

"They were a tidy team too, they kept the ball well so it was a good work out for the lads and it's part of the preparation.

"We know that the more important games are just around the corner and the most important thing is that we're right for the USA now.”

You can watch the full interview with Gerrard now by clicking on the link to the right.