Queens Park Rangers midfielder Joey Barton has lavished praise on Italy's Andrea Pirlo.

The Juventus playmaker is expected to play a key role for his country in tonight's World Cup clash with England and Barton has revealed his respect for the veteran.

"I've got a bit of a man-crush on Pirlo at the moment," he told BBC Sport.

"He's a brilliant player, he's got great hair and he just does everything brilliantly. I saw him yesterday. It's difficult to make a football tracksuit look good but, with his shades on, he made it look good. He does everything coolly.

"He goes into positions that midfielders aren't supposed to go into. When I've seen Pirlo at his worst, which is rare, it's when he's forced to go the other way, back towards his own goal."

Pirlo has made 109 appearances for his country.