Skrtel: Anfield friendships will need to be put to one side

The fixture in Saint-Etienne will prove crucial in deciding the outcome of Group B and which teams qualify for the knockout phase of the tournament.

England top the standings with four points, while Skrtel’s Slovakia and Wales are right behind them on three. Russia prop up the table with a point, but still have an opportunity to progress.

And with the Reds centre-back set to face Anfield colleagues Daniel Sturridge, Adam Lallana, James Milner, Nathaniel Clyne and Jordan Henderson, he insists there’ll be no room for sentiment with so much at stake.

Skrtel said: “It’s not a normal situation for me, but we’re professionals and it’s all part of the job. Everyone will be giving their all for their team and doing their very best to win the game.

“We’ll see what happens. I know them and they know me, though there’s more to the match than just that.

“It’s a game between two nations, and England have got one of the best teams in the world. In a match like this there are no such things as friends. You can maybe be friends before or after the game, but not on the pitch.”

England go into the game buoyed by Sturridge’s last-gasp strike in Thursday’s dramatic 2-1 victory over Wales.

Nevertheless, Skrtel is eager to stress it’s not just the threat of his fellow Red he’ll need to be wary of.

He added: “There’s not just Sturridge, Jamie Vardy or Harry Kane. There are not just the strikers and the midfielders. There are 11 players we have to beat.

“The smaller countries have probably got more team spirit, especially when they come up against the big countries.

“The pressure will be on the English, though I think they have enough experience to be able to handle it.

“It’s all going to come down to what happens on the pitch, and I think we can reproduce our performance against Russia. We showed heart, character and motivation.”