Sturridge: I watched clips of Maradona
He has excelled in tandem with a Uruguayan throughout this season, but it was an Argentinian whom Daniel Sturridge was watching closely for tips before representing England on Wednesday.
The 24-year-old Liverpool striker nodded home a header with nine minutes remaining on the clock at Wembley, securing a 1-0 friendly victory over Denmark three months ahead of the World Cup in Brazil.
Afterwards, the Reds' No.15 - who has struck 21 times in 24 appearances for his club this season - revealed an interesting source of inspiration for his winner: the legendary Diego Maradona.
Sturridge explained: "During the afternoon before the Denmark game I was watching Maradona's clips to take pointers from the skills he was doing.
"There are a lot of inspirations for me. I have watched clips of so many players. I'll be watching players like Michael Owen, Paul Gascoigne, Pele, Ronaldo - all these older players who have done it before me.
"There are no guarantees I will be on the plane [to Brazil] but I am working as hard as I possibly can to make sure I will be there.
"It is important that I keep improving. For me, I can never stop improving no matter what age I am at and what club I am at. I have to push myself as hard I possibly can to get as good as I possibly can.
"I am not getting too excited about anything that is going on - I am just humbled by it. Whichever opportunities come my way, I do my best to take them. I work as hard as I possibly can and give 100 per cent in every game."
In partnership with Luis Suarez, the Englishman has terrorised defences the length and breadth of the country, synchronising their individual skills in front of goal to fire Liverpool into second place.
Since bringing the forward to Anfield from Chelsea in January 2013, Brendan Rodgers has provided a platform for Sturridge's career to truly lift off - and the man himself revealed his gratitude.
"I've learned a lot from Luis, but I have been given the opportunities to play now and that is what is more important than anything else," he added.
"If you're not given an opportunity then you can't produce. If you don't play as a young player, it is difficult to progress.
"It is about the team, it is not about myself - it's not about me feeling amazing or anything. I am just humbled to be given the platform to play for my club and my country.
"The senior players have helped me so much and helped all the young players who have come into the squad. We don't know what these occasions are like. They've been through all of this before us.
"I am just doing what I used to when I was a young player. I have been given a platform to be able to perform and I don't get too excited about anything.
"I am humbled by everything that is going on right now. I am grateful to God and grateful to the managers for believing in me. I am happy with the way everything is going."