‘Missing’ stars Wayne Rooney and Frank Lampard were today challenged to finally put on a World Cup show for England.

E&S analyst Ron Atkinson believes the Three Lions cannot afford any more passenger performances as they go into the Round of 16 battle with old rivals Germany.

The former Villa and Albion boss and hugely-experienced pundit is convinced England have what it takes to get past the Germans this time and clinch a place in the quarter-finals.

But Atkinson warns a nation preparing to come to a standstill for tomorrow’s big clash that it will need the so far misfiring Rooney and Lampard to raise their performance levels considerably.

Atkinson said: “It’s time Rooney and Lampard showed up. it really is.

“They are much-vaunted players with big reputations and aspirations to be considered genuine world class. This is the stage on which you do that and we haven’t seen it so far.

“They need to come to the tournament now because their country needs them. It’s like I’ve always said to players who talk a good game – ‘Don’t tell me, show me.’ That’s where we are with this pair.

“We asked those questions of John Terry after his comments at the weekend. Stop talking about it and show us instead – and he delivered. He came up with a standard of performance which he now has to maintain.

“Lampard has barely touched the ball – I think we have seen one decent shot from hm in three games and he’s nothing like the Lampard we see playing for Chelsea.

“If Rooney isn’t fit he shouldn’t be playing. It’s as simple as that. But if he is to play, then he has got to be told to stay within the width of the goal.

“Twelve months ago I recall Capello saying the same thing – that Rooney needed to play more in the penalty box.”

Atkinson, a keen advocate of the five-man midfield which would bring Rooney closer to Steven Gerrard, the player who seems to bring out the best in him, nevertheless expects Fabio Capello to keep the England captain chained to the left in a 4-4-2.