The striker admits while he is ready to “do anything” to beat the South American side in their Group D game, he will not bend the rules for success at the World Cup

Daniel Sturridge has revealed he will not “cheat” to win England’s “do or die” Group D game against Uruguay on Thursday.

The Three Lions lost their opening World Cup fixture 2-1 against Italy on Saturday, and defeat to Oscar Tabarez’s side would all but end their hopes of progressing to the knockout stages.

And Sturridge – who netted against the Azzurri – says that while he will “do anything” to make sure England stay in the competition in Brazil, his methods will not stretch to breaking the rules.

“We’re an honest country,” he told reporters on Monday. “We go about our business in an honest way. No disrespect to other countries, I’m sure they are honest, too.

“But we play within the laws of the game. We don’t bend the rules. We play by the book. There’s nothing wrong with that.

“We’ve gone a long way doing it, from 1966 when we won the World Cup. We played within the laws and that’s how I was brought up, how everyone in our squad was brought up.”

Sturridge’s Liverpool team-mate Luis Suarez attracted controversy by handling on the line to deny a certain goal for Ghana in the 2010 World Cup quarter-final, with Uruguay progressing in a penalty shootout.

Although Suarez showed no qualms over his actions by celebrating wildly afterwards, Sturridge says it is not in his nature to seek victory in a similar manner.

“We don’t like to cheat to win,” he continued. “We want to play in an honest way. That’s how I feel football should be played. I will stay on my feet. I will never dive on purpose to get some guy sent off.

“I’m not going to handle a goal to stop the ball going in the net because it’s not in my nature. So not diving, but I will do anything – just like every single one of my team-mates – as Uruguay will, too.

“They’re hungry, just like us. And we’ll work our socks off, do more than we’ve ever done before.

“I’ll be truthful. I am going to do anything in my power to win this next game. I am prepared to do anything and I am talking anything.

“I’m being serious. It is do or die. It’s a World Cup. I’m hungry, I’m confident and I’m so happy to be out here.

“This means everything to every single individual in this squad. Do I want to go home early? No. I want to win this World Cup like everyone back home wants us to win it and I’d be gutted to go out in the group.

“It means the world to me to play for England and I’d be devastated if that happened. So, yes, anything. And I’m being totally honest with you guys.”

Suarez sat out Uruguay’s shock 3-1 defeat to Costa Rica as he battles back to fitness following knee surgery before the tournament, but Sturridge insists that even if the forward does not play, Uruguay have enough talent to cause Eng;and problems.

“The best are unpredictable and Luis is unpredictable,” he said. “So it’s not for us to worry just about Luis. We’re the players that are up against him most, the English defenders. We know him better than anyone else at the World Cup.

“Sure, he’s a world-class player, but we’re facing Uruguay, with [Edinson] Cavani and [Diego] Forlan, who is a legend in Uruguay and has done really well in Europe. There are other players who are technically very gifted.

“Would I want Luis to be injured? Would I want to play against him? It doesn’t really matter. If Luis is fit, good luck to him. If not, there’ll be another hungry player doing his best. We’re worrying about Uruguay as a team, not just him.”

The Liverpool forward has been recovering from a knee injury for the past three weeks and insists that if he does feature on Thursday it is because he is fully fit

Uruguay striker Luis Suarez says he will only play against England on Thursday if he is 100 per cent fit, but admitted he did not want to risk coming off the bench during the defeat to Costa Rica.

Suarez has been building up his fitness since having knee surgery at the end of May, and was forced to watch from the sidelines on Saturday as his side were humbled 3-1 by los Ticos.

Oscar Tabarez’s men now face a crucial second-round match with the Three Lions, who also suffered defeat in their first outing, and Suarez insists that if he features it is only because he is ready for action.

“I wanted to go on and help out [against Costa Rica], but it was better to stay off. I could’ve gone on and my knee could’ve played up,” he told the press on Monday.

“At no point did I think I would miss the World Cup. I have not missed one day of recovery work, and if I am going to play it’s because I am at 100%.”

Following an interview in the British press last week, the Liverpool striker once again stated that he knows the weaknesses of the English defence, but would still not reveal his exact plans.

“I know all the players in the England team, either as team-mates or rivals,” he added. “They have defensive weaknesses that we can take advantage of, but I am not going to say in front of the press how to play against them.

“I still have faith in the team, we are the first ones who want to improve the situation that we are in.”

The striker is expected to return from a knee injury for the crucial Group D fixture between England and Uruguay in Sao Paulo on Thursday

By Greg Stobart in Rio de Janeiro

Daniel Sturridge hopes Liverpool team-mate Luis Suarez is passed fit to face England – and says Roy Hodgson’s men have no fear about facing Uruguay on Thursday.

Suarez is expected to return from a knee injury for the clash in Sao Paulo despite missing Uruguay’s 3-1 defeat to Costa Rica in their opening Group D fixture.

Sturridge says he has not heard from his Suarez but holds no fears about his club team-mate as England look to bounce back from their 2-1 defeat to Italy on Satuday.

“I hope he’s fit, we want to face the best Uruguay possible,” Sturridge said at England’s training base in Urca.

“It’s about our team and we will look to play the same way whether he’s fit or not.

“I’m not on texting terms with Luis at the moment. I don’t think Steven Gerrard, Jordan Henderson, Glen Johnson or Raheem Sterling are either. I don’t think he wants to give away how he’s feeling.

“He’s not asked me for any clues, and I’ve not asked him for any clues. Whether they have Luis or not, we’ll play the same.”

Sturridge felt England deserved at least a point from the Italy game in Manaus and admits Thursday’s fixture has become make-or-break for the Three Lions’ hopes of qualifying for the second round.

“We realise it’s a big, big occasion for ourselves and our careers,” he added.

“Some people only get to play one World Cup so you don’t want to go home early. It’s the results that matter, not the performances.

“I don’t think it’s a game anyone wants to miss, whether they are a player or a supporter, from Uruguay or England.

“Nobody is going to want to miss this one, whether from Uruguay or England. Kids will be leaving school early to watch the game.”