Two Manchester United men and just one Liverpool player in the first XI.
Costa Rica’s shock 1-0 win over Italy on Thursday confirmed England’s early exit from the 2014 FIFA World Cup, ending the nation’s irrational hopes of global domination for another four years.
After next week’s now rather meaningless game against the Costa Ricans, a handful of England players, including captain Steven Gerrard, will probably never represent their country again.
This World Cup is over for us, so, in the words of legendary poet Jay Z, on to the next one.
We are already focused on Russia 2018 and we’ve cobbled together a future lineup of the stars we think are likely to start the next World Cup as England first XI.
Goalkeeper: Joe Hart
The Manchester City man is an excellent stopper and he will have just turned 31 – a good age for a keeper.
Left-back: Luke Shaw
The teenager made 35 Premier League starts this season and was one of Southampton’s most impressive players.
He looks set to move to Manchester United this summer and, with four years of Old Trafford development under his belt, Shaw could be one of the best full-backs in the world.
Right-back: Calum Chambers
Kyle Walker has the physical and technical attributes to make this position his own, but the Tottenham Hotspur defender’s shortcomings in the brain department will ultimately let him down.
We reckon Southampton’s Chambers will win a keenly contested three-way battle with John Stones and Jon Flanagan for England’s right-back spot.
Centre-back: Chris Smalling
After becoming accustomed to having John Terry and a fit Rio Ferdinand at the heart of our backline, having to watch Phil Jagielka plod about has been a tad demoralising.
Fortunately, Smalling is going to grow into very good player and Jags won’t be anywhere near the plane to Russia.
Centre-back: Gary Cahill
Cahill should remain in the team for the next four years, although his place could come under pressure if Phil Jones forms a successful partnership with Smalling at Man United.
Formation
Before we go through the rest of the team, I would just like to say: ‘Ladies and gentlemen, England will be playing 4-4-f***ing-2.’
In all seriousness, the traditional system suits our national style of play. It is what we played at Italia 90, France 98 and in the Far East in 2002 – three very good campaigns that all ended in narrow defeat at the business end of the tournament.
People will argue that football has changed since then and that 4-4-2 is archaic.
However, the game has not changed as much as people pretend it has and we don’t have to follow what everyone else is doing.Left midfield: Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
The youthful Ox is fast, fit and incredibly versatile, making him the ideal candidate to fill the dreaded left midfield slot.
As well as having the ability to beat his full-back and deliver crosses for the forwards from wide positions, he would have the tactical discipline and awareness to know when it was necessary to play narrow and help out the two central midfielders.
Right midfield: Raheem Sterling
Liverpool wonderkid Sterling will be scarily good in four years, even if he improves by just 10%.Centre midfield: Jack Wilshere
Wilshere would have played a much bigger role at Brazil 2014 had he been fully fit.
He has the potential to become an England great.
Centre midfield: Ross Barkley
So far in his young career, Barkley has been predominantly used in an advanced number 10 position.
However, he has a great engine and the perfect physique to become a really dominative box-to-box midfielder.Forward: Theo Walcott
Walcott was an out-and-out winger when he joined Arsenal from Southampton in January 2006.
However, Gunners boss Arsene Wenger has plans to transform him into a top striker, just as he did with a certain Thierry Henry. That turned out ok.
Forward: Wayne Rooney
It’s scary to think that ‘young Wayne Rooney’ will be 32 when the next World Cup rolls around.
Nevertheless, playing as a genuine striker and with a partner, Rooney could still shine in Russia.Key subs:
Daniel Sturridge
Many will argue that Sturridge should be starting in this team and, yes, on last season’s form he should.
However, he is likely to find it very hard to continue scoring at such an impressive rate, especially once Luis Suarez leaves Anfield, which he almost certainly will before 2018.
James Ward-Prowse
Another excellent product of Southampton’s youth system, Ward-Prowse is a very tidy all-round midfielder and his deadly delivery of set-pieces could prove vital in the final 20 minutes.
Connor Wickham
Wickham played a starring role in the Sunderland’s miraculous great escape in the Premier League at the end of last season.
The big frontman, 21, scored five goals and provided one assist in the final six games of the campaign, helping the Black Cats secure away wins over both Manchester clubs, as well as a 2-2 draw at Chelsea.
He is the closest thing to a classy Andy Carroll you will ever find.
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