England manager Roy Hodgson has named a 23 man squad to go to the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Here are CaughtOffside’s predictions on the big questions posed to the Three Lions this summer.
Who was most unfortunate to be left out?
ADAM DAVIES:
Jon Flanagan. The Liverpool youngster has proved excellent in both full back positions, and has arguably performed better than his club colleague Glen Johnson for the Reds this term.
Only a lack of experience will see him miss out.
JORDAN CHAMBERLAIN:
John Terry. In terms of pure footballing ability, he should be one of the first names on the team sheet.
Granted, he’s retired from international football, but I find it difficult to believe that if Roy Hodgson hadn’t moved heaven and earth to convince him to return, he wouldn’t have.
Instead, Hodgson will select Phil Jagielka, who to be fair, isn’t in Terry’s league.
STEVEN GREEN:
Fabian Delph. Aston Villa have been awful this season, but in the fleeting moments they’ve played well Delph has been at the heart of it.
His tenacity and energy would be vital in the middle and he can tackle and pass as well as anyone that will travel to Brazil.
He carries a very real goal threat, too; you’d only have to look back at his goals this season to see how deadly he can be.
RICHARD MORGAN:
Michael Carrick was brought out of international retirement specifically by Roy Hodgson, only to be cut at the death.
Who was lucky to be included?
AD: Frank Lampard. The 35 year-old could easily have suffered the same fate as Ashley Cole, having not featured for Chelsea nearly as much as in previous campaigns, and looking decidedly leggy when selected – which could prove decisive in the heat of Brazil.
Lampard no longer has the dynamism or goal threat of previous years, and does not make for a great substitute given he is unlikely to change games.
JC: Luke Shaw. While his talent is undeniable, his form has not been as outstanding as the media has led many to believe.
He might be in the future, but right now, he’s not a better player than Ashley Cole.
SG: Rickie Lambert. He’s played well over the past two seasons, but realistically he won’t make much of an impact, if any.
Too old, too slow, and about as far from world class as you can get.
RM: Chris Smalling. The Manchester United defender had an ordinary and unconvincing campaign at the back for his club.
What will be Roy Hodgson’s preferred starting XI?
AD:
4-2-3-1:
Hart; Johnson, Jagielka, Cahill, Baines; Gerrard, Henderson; Lallana, Rooney, Sterling; Sturridge
JC:
4-3-3:
Hart; Johnson, Cahill, Jagielka, Baines; Gerrard, Henderson, Wilshere; Sterling, Sturridge, Rooney
SG:
4-3-3:
Hart; Johnson, Cahill, Jagielka, Baines; Gerrard, Milner, Wilshere; Welbeck, Sturridge, Rooney
RM:
4-2-3-1:
Hart; Johnson, Jagielka, Cahill, Baines; Gerrard, Wilshere; Lallana, Sterling, Rooney; Sturridge
Who will be England’s best player?
AD: Steven Gerrard. Barring a horrendous mistake against France at UEFA Euro 2004, Steven Gerrard has always performed at major tournaments, and has scored three times at two FIFA World Cups.
Now captain of the Three Lions, Gerrard will lead by example, and play as well as he has for Liverpool all season from deep midfield.
JC: Steven Gerrard. The skipper is England’s most experienced, and based solely on this season’s form, their best player. He’ll provide the side an excellent platform from which it can perform, and create things from deep with his exceptional array of passes.
SG: The temptation will be to say Wayne Rooney, but Jack Wilshere (if fit) will be up there.
RM: Raheem Sterling. On form, confident and fresh.
Who will be England’s weak link?
AD: Leighton Baines. The Everton left back’s best attributes are all going forward, and his set piece delivery is superb.
Having never played in the UEFA Champions League proper, he has little experience against the very best wingers and forwards in world football beyond the Premier League, and Roy Hodgson has yet to trust him in a competitive game against the biggest nations in the game.
In the wake of Ashley Cole’s exclusion, it could be a steep learning curve for the 29 year-old.
JC: Roy Hodgson. The manager plays a defensive, uninspiring brand of football – and unless he deploys Daniel Sturridge in his proper position up top, England will struggle to break down stubborn international defences.
SG: The centre-backs. Not so much Gary Cahill, but whoever partners him.
RM: Phil Jagielka. The Everton captain has barely played all year and is not getting any younger either.
Who will be England’s top impact substitute?
AD: Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. While he appears to have lost his place in the England starting XI to Raheem Sterling, the Arsenal youngster possesses speed, strength and immense skill on the ball, and could either drive England forward from central midfield or offer trickery and end product on the wing.
JC: Rickie Lambert. Because he’ll come off the bench in the 119th minute and bag his penalty in the shootout.
SG: Raheem Sterling. He has attributes that aren’t immediately apparent and he may take a few team by surprise.
RM: Ross Barkley is a real gem and just the player you want coming on with a game to rescue.
Which young player will make the biggest impression at the tournament?
AD: Raheem Sterling. Previously labelled a mere pace merchant, the Liverpool winger has shown versatility, skill, inventiveness and assured touch and finishing in the final third.
19 year-old Sterling has all the assets to become a genuine superstar.
JC: Raheem Sterling. He’s the only one who deserves a starting spot, with Barkley and Shaw likely to start from the bench. His talent is ludicrous, and his pace is equally devastating.
For Liverpool, he’s given the licence to roam the final third, and it will be a test of Hodgson’s mettle if he’s willing to give Sterling the creative, free role that his ability warrants.
SG: Hopefully Ross Barkley. Though, Hodgson has an exciting young squad at his disposal for the first time in a long time, so there may be a few players that could be our wildcard.
RM: Raheem Sterling. The best and brightest of all England’s current starlets on display.
Who would your five penalty takers be?
AD: Rickie Lambert, Leighton Baines, Steven Gerrard, Daniel Sturridge, Wayne Rooney
JC: Steven Gerrard, Leighton Baines, Rickie Lambert, Frank Lampard and Wayne Rooney. (Bringing Lambert and Lampard off the bench in extra time!)
SG: Wayne Rooney, Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard, Daniel Sturridge, Danny Welbeck
RM: Wayne Rooney, Daniel Sturridge, Steven Gerrard, Leighton Baines, Jack Wilshere
AD: Quarter finals. I accept I’m being ridiculously optimistic. England will scrape through a tough group on goal difference, with Uruguay eliminated narrowly being eliminated. They might well be capable of beating one of the Group C teams in the second round – Cote d’Ivoire, Colombia, Greece or Japan – but with either Brazil or the Netherlands likely waiting in the quarter finals, England will stumble.
JC: Group stage. We’ll fail to get out of the group, having bored everyone to death with implausibly bland football played in jungle like conditions. We’ll draw with Italy and Uruguay, but miss out on goal difference – and Hodgson will leave. Or we might go and win it. You never know.
SG: Group stage. It may be an exciting squad but it lacks tournament experience. Italy will be able to take advantage of that, Uruguay have strikers that will be too much for our defence and Costa Rica are just the kind of banana skin that could spring a nasty surprise. I hope I’m wrong, though.
RM: Group stage. England will not get out of the group phase at this World Cup, ending the campaign in third place behind powerhouses Italy and Uruguay, and without a win to enjoy in the entire tournament.