Blackburn Rovers defender Christopher Samba lists two England strikers as his most difficult opponents this season.

He said: "Peter Crouch is difficult, he has good feet. I don't know if it's because I had a hard day but Emile Heskey has been my hardest opponent. Heskey has very good timing.

"He's not easy to play against - he's quick as well and Wigan play on that. But my red card against him was very light.

"When a player throws himself down because you touch his shoulder, it's ridiculous.

"I'd prefer to be sent off for a bad tackle, not a tap on the shoulder."

He added: "This game is beautiful in England. We don't have to be like Spain or France. It's tougher than Germany, more physical and quicker. People like to see tackles. You have to accept the way it is.

"Now we are playing Manchester United, the best team in the country, and that's why you play: to play the best. It is your chance to show your quality against the good teams.

"Ronaldo, Rooney and others are very good players, but it is about us. I've admired them for a long, long time. Now is not the time to admire them, but to beat them."