Arsenal hero Martin Keown says Liverpool ace Steven Gerrard deserves more recognition for the way he has played at the World Cup.

Gerrard will lead England into today's knockout game with Germany.

"They (England) played exceptionally well the other night, especially Gerrard," said Keown. "I was sitting here watching it with some South African people and they couldn't believe how good he was.

"We just take him for granted. The rest of the world have been thinking, 'Who is this player'? Ashley Cole is another player who looks really sharp. Jermain Defoe did a good job playing off the shoulder of the last defender and England got more out of Wayne Rooney.

"He and Gerrard seem to have the same psyche. They play the game at that same breakneck speed and have great technical ability to go with that drive and they played intelligently against Slovenia, swapping positions and not congesting the centre of the pitch."