Daniel Sturridge is the man for England, says Darius Vassell

The former Aston Villa striker believes the ex-claret and blue youth player will shine in Brazil.

Vassell was at Manchester City as Sturridge broke through at the Etihad in 2006 before he left for Chelsea.

And he has watched the 24-year-old smash 25 goals for Liverpool this term ahead of a potential Premier League title decider against Chelsea tomorrow.

And Vassell reckons his fellow Brummie has come of age.

He said: "Daniel's a mature player and now he can go into the World Cup and do what he's trained to do from an early age – score goals. He is going to be a big striker for England He's a Birmingham lad and I know him pretty well. He's a lot younger than me but we got quite close so I knew he had the ability. It's not surprising where he's at now.

"There's a stigma attached to goal scorers when they are young, 'he's greedy, wants it all himself' but he's gone past that now."

Sitting in the tunnel at Villa Park Vassell also ponders his retirement.

"People have been saying to me I'm 'only' 33 but it feels like I've been playing for such a long time," he says with a hint of weariness.

"I started when I was 18 and played at every level there is to play at, more or less, so the question for me is what can I achieve that I haven't already achieved?

"Next year I might retire, we're discussing it as a family right now.

"It's been a long period of time since I played. I had a bad injury at Leicester so the longer I'm out the less likely it is for me to get back in at the level I want to play at."

The former Aston Villa and England striker has played just once since suffering a cruciate knee ligament injury against West Ham in 2011.

Some websites have him as already retired from the game but Vassell remains active, even if he cannot see himself dropping down the leagues.

Yes, memories of him leading the national line at the 2002 World Cup may be fading but that's no bad thing for Vassell.

There is a certain enjoyment in escapism from the game, especially in an all-consuming World Cup year.

Happy to sit in the background, Vassell wants to take A-Level French – he already has his GCSE – and learn the guitar again after starting to play during his time at Manchester City.

As the spotlight is fixed on a global game, Vassell wants to be known as more than just a former footballer.

"It's hard to lose that moniker of just being a footballer. I don't want to lose it but there's more to me," said the 33-year-old, who is also taking his coaching badges as he keeps his options open in search of a second career.

"I'm a family man, I'm into my music, I want to continue learning a language, I want to live abroad and take in different things.

"Football is the reason I'm like that. I'm more grateful than anything. But there are other things on offer which I'm seeing now.

"Football has been a massive part of my life and made me into a certain type of character who can deal with things. I probably couldn't have done that if I didn't play football.

"I'm looking forward to the next phase of my life now and I have to get used to that sooner rather than later.

"You hear the stories about footballers who come out of the game who don't know what they're doing and get up to all sorts of things. I want to be finely tuned and a good family man.

"I feel football has given me the base to do that and now I know it's the right time for me."

Travel is another vice for Vassell who has one last stint abroad on his to-do list, despite his last one being generally perceived as a nightmare.

In 2009 he joined Turkish side Ankaragucu and, as a former England World Cup star, was mobbed by fans on his arrival. But five months later after an uninspiring return of three goals in 11 games, the move quickly turned sour with Ankaragucu chairman Cengiz Topel Yildirim and the club clean out of cash.

Despite repeated promises, they failed to pay his hotel bill in the Turkish capital and Vassell was evicted. But he insists the experience has not scarred him.

"You can imagine what it's like now; I walk out of my house and people say 'there's the lad who went to Turkey and had a nightmare'," he says.

"That's what people think but the truth is it was great out there. It was a fantastic place and great people but with one problem – the club and its owners had no money and they simply couldn't pay the players.

"That trickles down into loads more problems but everyone was in the same boat.

"The camaraderie you get over there is totally different to back here.

"They look at football differently and show their passion in ways we never would. To be a part of that was great and I'm so grateful to have the opportunities I've had throughout my career."

His Turkish trouble led to a blog and it was here the wider world gained an insight into the studious, considered, man who continues to belie the stereotype of a modern-day footballer.

He struck a chord with ex-pat Brits and their long-distance lives and he became an unlikely sounding board after his first entry went online.

"People want money, people want goals, they want me to stay, but I'm missing my home. The smile on my face, disguises the case, I bury the truth deep down in my soul."

Musings over the language also gave an understanding of his loneliness.

"My favourite sentence is "Bier cay lutfen" (one tea please) but there is only so much Turkish tea that I can drink before the novelty wears off."

It was an escape for the player before he left Turkey and Vassell re-started the blog last year, although he has put it on temporary hiatus while he plans his next move.

"I started the blog again because, more or less, I was on the verge – every week – of going to a team abroad," he remembers.

"I always felt the blog was a tool which helped me when I was out there and I could go somewhere and write about that culture and what I'm seeing.

"The moves never materialised so I've put the blog on hold because there's not much to talk about at the moment. It's pretty boring!"

Despite a few troubles, Vassell is indebted to the sport which took him from the Birmingham Boys League with Romulus to the World Cup with England.

The former John Wilmott School pupil was a trainee at Villa and set a new club record when he scored 39 goals in a single youth season.

A senior debut at Middlesbrough followed in August 1998 and he scored his first two goals with a brace in a 3-2 UEFA Cup win over Stromsgodset a month later.

His development and a further 17 goals during the

2001-02 season, including a debut strike in the 1-1 draw with Holland, when he made his bow along with fellow striker Michael Ricketts, earned him a World Cup call for Japan and South Korea under then England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson.

And he freely admits to the ride being a blur up until he started the Three Lions' opening World Cup game, a fairly underwhelming 1-1 draw with Sweden in Saitama.

"The journey getting there – I didn't even realise it was happening – was such a dream. I know everyone says the same sort of thing but it's true, it was," says Vassell, who scored six goals in 22 appearances.

"Playing the first game, singing the national anthem, starting the World Cup finals and knowing everyone is back home watching is big. You take a deep breath and realise it's all down to you now. You've got to where you wanted to be and you have to perform.

"I can't imagine anything bigger than playing for your country.

"The only comparable thing, I guess, is the Olympics and representing Great Britain on that stage.

"I wouldn't know about that because I've never been in the position but England, in my world, well, is the biggest thing."

Sweden was his only start at the 2002 finals as substitute outings against Nigeria and Brazil followed with England knocked out when Ronaldinho's freak free-kick soared over David Seaman in the quarter-final to consign Eriksson's side to a 2-1 defeat.

And two years later, a missed penalty in the Euro 2004 shoot-out defeat to Portugal was Vassell's nadir after the Saitama high.

It led to a national goldfish bowl swallowing the squad, the headlines merciless after crushing disappointment as Sven's 'Golden Generation' came in for criticism.

From the WAGs of Germany 2006 to the confines of Rustenburg in South Africa 2010, the squad remains under constant scrutiny.

Their every move and word is studied but Vassell dismisses any suffocating nature – he could cope with all of it.

"I didn't find it consuming, personally. You're there and when you're there you do a job. It's not difficult, all you have to think about is football and everyone there is involved in football anyway," he says, matter-of-factly.

"You're just together; you grow together, you get to know people and you chat to them.

"With the technology we have at our fingertips today you can speak to your family and see them on the computer. I, personally, was chilled out.

"It is difficult, yes, but the management team are very understanding. There are always moments for families.

"I was lucky at the World Cup because at the time I didn't have any kids and I wasn't in a long-term relationship. I was more or less on my own.

"My mates were the ones in the team. I wasn't like one of the older players who had kids who wanted to come along to the tournament.

"The players only have to worry about the games, though, that works for everyone. I was a bit more reserved. I like listening to my music, I like sleeping – a lot – I liked to get my rest in because I found training in a hot climate difficult at times.

"The masseurs and backroom staff in the England team, the kit guy, this is where they come into their own.

"They get round the players, they could be playing darts or whatever but they get to know people. It's a soap opera sometimes in a way because you are there that long, but once it's down to business and the games start you get a bit of both, which is what you need."

But it is the aftermath where Vassell admits to feeling a little lost.

He explains: "The difficult thing is when you get back and deal with the outcome of it and all the fall-out. Then it gets a bit like 'what am I supposed to do now?'

"For me, not so much with the Wold Cup, but with the European Championships there was a bigger issue having missed that penalty in the shoot-out

"That's when it started to feel a bit of a drag. You can't forget about it because it's happened, but once the outcome is decided the only thing you've got left is your club.

"There's not usually another England game for a long time after that so you go back to your club, concentrate on your fitness and look to perform well again in the next season.

"It was worse for David Seaman after 2002 with the stick he got for that Ronaldhino free-kick, as in 2004 everyone felt like we hadn't made mistakes and it wasn't so much our fault.

"We gave a good show of ourselves and were proud at the end of it.

"When you come back and play for your club, you haven't seen people there for a long time so you get back and it's all about getting back to business. If you play well for your club you'll be selected again.

"It's not as bad as you think, football always seems to solve the problem so, as long as you're playing, it's fine."

This year in Brazil players will have more than boredom to combat with temperatures expected to soar, especially when England open their campaign against Italy in the rainforest city of Manaus on Saturday, June 14.

Some venues will mirror the conditions in Japan and Korea 12 years ago, forcing the European countries to adapt quickly. Although from experience, Vassell can't see there being a problem.

He says: "They're going to Miami and they'll do some hectic training there to make sure everyone is conditioned so when the World Cup does come along they have as little to worry about as possible.

"I don't think the weather will be a factor, the England set-up now will take care of it and make sure the lads are accustomed to the temperature way before the tournament starts.

"I never really liked it too hot, I was always uncomfortable but I didn't play all of the games – I was on the bench. I wasn't always on for 90 minutes, it was 20 minutes at the end trying to make a difference with my pace when the game was stretched and the opposition tired. The other players didn't really have a problem with the heat, though. No-one is ever really in danger."

This year under Roy Hodgson, unlike in 2002, expectation is low – significantly lower from the time Vassell played with England's 'Golden Generation'.

Expectation

Then the likes of David Beckham, Michael Owen and Paul Scholes were tipped to end England's World Cup wait for glory. That never happened and, this time, fans just hope England can make it out of their group as Italy, Uruguay and Costa Rica await.

"It's going to be difficult to win it, yes, but if they can get to the quarter-finals then I think that's a realistic expectation," reckons Vassell.

"Once you get there anything can happen. The players will be looking forward to it.

"The build-up to the first game is all about getting yourself into the team and being as prepared as possible. Once you are there you know where you are and what you're trying to do for the rest of the tournament.

"I have always admired Brazil and the way they play and Argentina too – that's what the struggle is going to be, matching teams like that.

"They both have a free-flowing attacking style and I'm not sure if we're going to be able to counter that.

"But maybe we can do a bit of the same. The England players now are similar to the guys abroad – they are fast, strong quick and skilful.

"You never know we might have a bit more flamboyance and flair come the World Cup."

For the record, England's team for that World Cup quarter-final against Brazil in Shizuoka was: David Seaman, Danny Mills, Ashley Cole, Rio Ferdinand, Sol Campbell, David Beckham (Dyer 63), Paul Scholes, Owen Hargreaves, Emile Heskey, Darius Vassell (Joe Cole 74), Michael Owen. Subs not used: Trevor Sinclair, Robbie Fowler, Brown, Nigel Martyn, Wayne Bridge, Martin Keown, Gareth Southgate, Teddy Sheringham, Nicky Butt, David James.