World Cup 2014: Wayne Rooney, Jordan Henderson, Danny Welbeck and Raheem Sterling play two on two... as Daniel Sturridge commentates in American

England players took a break from training and club rivalries were cast aside as Rooney and Henderson and Welbeck and Sturridge teamed up

Daniel Sturridge and Wayne Rooney relax at England’s training camp in Vale do Lobo, Portugal (Getty)

Four of England’s World Cup stars swapped the football pitch for the hardcourt as they took up a game of two on two basketball.

Club rivalries were cast aside as Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney and Danny Welbeck and Liverpool’s Jordan Henderson and Raheem Sterling took opposite sides, with Rooney and Henderson facing Sterling and Welbeck.

England’s No 9 Daniel Sturridge provided most of the highlights in a pretty poor performance by the quartet, donning an American accent while providing commentary over the action.

In the three minute video the players, all of whom were shoeless except Sterling, failed to hit a single shot.

The lone highlight came from Wayne Rooney who showed off some pretty good leaping ability to block a Sterling shot close to the basket – sparking a wild reaction from the watching Sturridge.

Roy Hodgson's squad took part in their first training session at the Urca military base yesterday, as they prepare for Saturday’s opener against Italy.

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho said the time was right for Rooney to dominate at a World Cup.

The Manchester United star has not scored in eight matches across the 2006 and 2010 World Cups.

“I don’t agree with Scholes,” said Mourinho. “I think Wayne is right when he says this is ‘his’ World Cup, it is the right moment [for him]. He is not a kid any more, he is not an old player at the end of his career, he is in what I call ‘the best age’.

"I think it is his World Cup. I think he has also a role as a leader in the team, a little bit similar that he had at United this season. I think he is ready to cope with this.”