Far from moving back as age has taken its toll on his legs, Pirlo has been fulfilling such a role all his career, seemingly getting better at it with every passing season. Indeed, if Gerrard wanted a template of how to play in that position, watching the Italian against opponents as illustrious as Germany and Spain would be the best place to start. If Gerrard exerted half as much influence over his country as Pirlo does over his, Hodgson could pick the cast of Last of the Summer Wine to support him and still sleep contented.