Costa Rica vs England World Cup 2014: John Terry and Ashley Cole should not have been left at home, says Ray Wilkins

Roy Hodgson made a major mistake not taking the experienced pair

Former England midfielder Ray Wilkins says Roy Hodgson made a mistake not taking John Terry and Ashley Cole to the World Cup.

LIVE: Follow today's games, including England v Costa Rica, Italy v Uruguay and events in Group C

England have been knocked out at the group stage for the first time since 1958 after defeats to Italy and Uruguay in the opening two matches.

The Three Lions face Costa Rica tonight with nothing on the line, with Hodgson expected to name a number of young players for the match.

But Wilkins believes Terry and Cole would have helped England get out of the group stage.

"Defensively, I've been worried since we went out [to the World Cup]," Wilkins said in talkSPORT.

"The conversation should have been had with John Terry, And I honestly felt we should haven taken Ashley Cole because, from a defensive point of view, he is still our best left-back."

England's back four of Glen Johnson, Gary Cahill, Phil Jagielka and Leighton Baines have received criticism for their performances, particularly the manner of the two goals conceded against Uruguay.

Wilkins believes Ashley Cole is still the best left back England have (GETTY IMAGES)

"As much as you like to attack and you like to score goals, you have to think about defending your own goal as well and we started these guys just a little bit too quickly."

Wilkins, who won 84 caps for the Three Lions, believes that Hodgson should have made more use of Frank Lampard. The fomer Chelsea midfielder, 36, didn't play in either of the first two games, though he will captain the team against Costa Rica.

Wilkins added: "We are 2-1 down in the first two games, we are crying out for a goal. Frank Lampard scores goals.

"He is a fox in the box and he scores like a centre-forward. If we bought him on for 20 minutes, he has got the know-how to turn up in space and put the ball back of the net. But we haven't used him at all."