With expectations of the England team at an all-time low, Seat343 takes an in-depth look at Hodgson’s picks, and the non-picks, and see if this really is England’s best possible team heading into Brazil 2014.
GOALKEEPERS
Probably the biggest formality of the side. Manchester City and England number 1 Joe Hart will of course be the starting goalkeeper for England in Brazil. After what was a turbulent winter of the 27 year-old, Pellegrini seemed to show a loss of faith, dropping the shot stopper to the bench in place of Costel Pantilimon. Hart has seemed to hit form again though towards the end of the season with a stunning display against Liverpool in the 2-0 loss. Hart has been the best England ‘keeper since Seaman’s early days and should keep Hodgson’s men in good hands this summer. After 6 years on the fringes at Newcastle, Fraser Forster joined Celtic in 2012 and has been a revelation for the Scottish side. With stunning displays in the league and showing his true worth with a masterclass at the Nou Camp in the Champions League, the 26 year-old is safe backup to Hart. Surely it wont be long until we see Forster back in the Premier League? Ben Foster has had an up and down relationship with the England team. With inconsistent performances at the start of his international career, the indefinite break from international football he announced in May 2011 has seemed to work for the experienced ‘keeper. After joining West Bromwich Albion in 2012, Foster has hit his peak form again and helped the Baggies to their highest finish in 30 years, winning fans player of the year and player’s player of the year on the way. Foster could bump Forster out of the second choice position through experience and performance in training, but it is no doubt Hart will start, and only injury will see the appearances of Foster or Forster.
DEFENCE
With John Terry being the stand out English defensive performer in the Premier League this season, many onlookers questioned whether, after revealing he’d be happy to play for England this year in Brazil, Hodgson would call up the 33 year-old Chelsea skipper; with many questioning who would partner Gary Cahill at the back? Hodgson decided to leave out the experienced centre back instead opting for a youthful outlook with 22 year-old Manchester United versatile defender Phil Jones seen as favourite for a starting spot with Chelsea’s Cahill or will he be used as a right back? The dilemma only just begins here though, with a first World Cup call up for Everton captain Phil Jagielka. A stand out performer this season providing the backbone for Everton’s most successful season ever, the 31 year-old also holds the credentials to partner Cahill in England’s opening match against Italy on June 14th in Manaus. The clear benchwarmer in the squad though is Manchester United’s Chris Smalling. After missing the first 10 weeks of the Premier League season after having surgery on a broken metatarsal, Smalling never seemed to reach the full potential expected after what was a successful 2012/13 season finishing in triumph. Whether it is the lack of pre-season preparation, or the guidance and coaching of flop David Moyes, we are yet to see the potential expected and predicted of the 24 year old defender, but could see him start if Hodgson opts to play Phil Jones at right back over Glen Johnson. With outstanding performances from Steven Caulker and Curtis Davies for relegated Cardiff and Hull City, many wondered if the curse of players for lower placed clubs being left out of the squad being broken, but as shown here, once again, it remains. Is it time to see this curse broken? With clearly Davies and Caulker performing better than Smalling in the league, not even seeing them on the reserve list seemed an insult to the pair, with Everton youngster John Stones being favoured.
With England’s full back formality Ashley Cole left out of Hodgson’s 23-man squad, England fans shouldn’t see this as a concerning time for the left back position, but, more of an exciting one. With 18 year-old Southampton left back Luke Shaw making the squad ahead of the seasoned veteran, it shows the quality produce the country, Southampton in particular with many other young players seemingly on their path to England futures, is developing after the key role he played for Southampton in a hugely successful season for the south coast club. But the favourite for the starting spot is Everton star Leighton Baines. The 29 year-old began to show signs Cole’s time was up in recent seasons with consistent performances in the Premier League for Everton and since his first England call up in 2010. After flourishing under Roberto Martinez this season at Everton, Baines seems to have hit his peak heading into Brazil 2014. With a whipping left foot, England’s free kick duties also seem in good hands, with similarities to Everton and Ireland legend Kevin Sheedy. Right back duties are taken on by Liverpool’s Glen Johnson, who began the season with impressive form, shown especially against Manchester United at Anfield early on in September until he came off injured. But after coming back never seemed to hit the same form, with reserve listed youngster Jon Flanagan finishing the last weeks of the season in Liverpool’s starting line-up. Tottenham’s Kyle Walker has been a key man for England in recent years but injury will see him miss his first World Cup opportunity, but will we see United’s Phil Jones used as a right back or a centre back? With Johnson being the stand out league performer, surely we should see the experienced right back start? Or will Hodgson go with versatile Jones?
MIDFIELD
England’s ageing midfield duo of captain Steven Gerrard, 33, and Frank Lampard, 35, make the squad for their third consecutive World Cup but will we see Chelsea legend Lampard play more of a bit-part role than seen in previous tournaments? With Liverpool rising star Jordan Henderson involved in his first England tournament after a hugely successful title-chasing season with the Merseyside giants, will Hodgson decide to start the duo who have been the heartbeat of the reds this season? With Wilshere and Barkley the only other clear candidates for the central midfield role, and with in-experience of Barkley at an international level and Wilshere’s failure to hit consistent form this season, is it a surprise Everton midfielder Gareth Barry hasn’t received a call-up instead? Yes. With international experience and a player who has excelled this season and in previous seasons in the holding midfield role and more appearances, 32 compared to Lampard’s 20, with a higher consistency surely the secondary option to Henderson and Gerrard should have been Barry? Obviously not in the mind of Hodgson. Another question is as to why Manchester United midfielder Michael Carrick also didn’t seem to be in Hodgson’s mind? A rose between a thorn of a season for United, Carrick was a stand out performer in the midfield, with composed performances showing his experience and with a pass success rate of over 88% compared to Lampard’s 82%, it’s clear to see Hodgson has chosen tournament and international experience with Lampard, who can nurture and guide Wilshere and Barkley alongside skipper Steven Gerrard.
The most refreshing call-up to the squad seems to be have been that of Southampton captain Adam Lallana. The versatile midfielder has been a revelation this season in the Premier League and the rise to Premier League stardom from the low lights of League One just a few seasons ago for the 26 year-old just adds more to the appeal of the seemingly down to earth personality he carries. The question though remains… Where would Lallana play? After making 37 starting appearances in the Premier League this season out of 38 games, the Southampton man is not without play time, but with 10 of those being in the right sided attacking midfielder role, another 10 being in the central attacking midfield role and 9 of those in the left sided attacking midfield role, it seems anywhere across the midfield areas Lallana can slot in and assist the strikers, building on his 6 assists and 9 goals from the Premier League campaign.
Arguably the most key absentee of the squad is Arsenal winger Theo Walcott. After what was a great first half of the season for Walcott, seeing the change in role as a more central attacker he seemed to yearn for, a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament kept him out from January onwards, seeing him narrowly miss out on returning for Brazil 2014. Walcott’s injury though paved the way for Liverpool’s 19 year-old wide man Raheem Sterling to earn his stripes in an England shirt. After impressive performances in friendlies against Sweden, a man of the match performance at Wembley against Denmark and consistent performances in the Premier League for the Reds, Sterling could be a possibility to start on June 14th in Manaus. With Roy Hodgson’s squad seriously lacking pace in wide men, Sterling could be the key attacking spark England need, with alternatively James Milner starting on the opposite side to Lallana. With only 12 Premier League starting appearances to his name this season, Milner has been a bit-part player for Pellegrini’s side and the lack in depth of the side when it comes to wide players is displayed clearly with the inclusion of Milner. An excellent crosser of the ball, Milner is not short of an end product, but lack of pace and questions as to what he can add to the side when it comes to beating men down the wing, you have to wonder what he can add. The inclusion of injury hit Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was an interesting one. With a total of 14 appearances in the Premier League this season for Arsenal, 8 of them as a substitute, the 20 year-old has lacked game time. But the question of where the youngster is best suited on the pitch still remains up in air to many fans. Out of all 8 of his starts this season, 2 of which in the Champions League, 4 of which have been in the defensive midfield role, 3 of which right attacking midfield and 1 left attacking midfield, showing versatility or confusion? One clear fact though is the strength and speed Chamberlain possesses, surely making him a favourite to feature out wide for Hodgson’s pace stricken side.
STRIKERS
Possibly the most predictable and easiest choice of position Roy Hodgson had. With four strikers on the plane, the decision was easy. The only dilemma was that of Jay Rodriguez and who, with four spots available, would miss out in his place. But after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament in April against Manchester City, the on form Southampton striker was given the cruel news of missing out on the World Cup. This allowed the formality placements of Wayne Rooney, Daniel Sturridge, Danny Welbeck and Rickie Lambert to take hold. With 21 goals to his name, a prolific partnership with Uruguayan Luis Suarez, Sturridge has the best goal scoring tally heading into the World Cup. With 21 goals in 26 starting appearances the 24 year-old has found peak form at Liverpool and will surely start with Manchester United and England key striker Wayne Rooney. With 17 goals to his name this season Wayne Rooney hasn’t been as prolific as we have seen in the past, but with 10 assists from playing a slightly different role behind the striker, will we see Rooney be the playmaker Sturridge is used to with Suarez at Liverpool? The only classic, strong striker in the squad, Rickie Lambert will surely be used as an impact player in this summer’s World Cup. The 32 year-old is the oldest striker in the side but is the only stand out striker who fans know can hold up the ball well and offer the powerful aspect that can make an opposing defenders life a nightmare. Expect Lambert to make an impact off the bench, but expect him to be on the score sheet. Danny Welbeck is yet to prove himself a world class player and doesn’t seem to be able to find the consistency it takes to be a stand out performer in the Premier League. With 2 goals from 11 starts for Manchester United, the 23 year-old doesn’t seem to be able to produce goals week in/week out that will see him become a formality in the international set-up. Expect Welbeck to make an impact of the bench, but only off the bench.
So has Roy picked the right men? In just under a month we will see. The youthful approach that Hodgson has taken is a refreshing one and one that has delighted many fans, but will the back four let down the England side? At its weakest for a very long time and the decision to not include John Terry alongside fellow Chelsea team mate Gary Cahill is a bizarre one in our eyes. The experience that Gerrard and Lampard can provide to the young and inexperienced midfielders could be key, but the inexperience in the middle of the park could be what let’s this England side down, but that could be counter-acted with the class in Rooney and Sturridge if they can bring through their club form after impressive campaigns in the Premier League this season. Brazil 2014 could create England heroes, with Lallana, Barkley and Shaw being tipped for stardom, but is this the future? Or the lack of world class players a once great footballing nation seems to be producing? Will the predicted hype of players such as Wilshere finally creep to the surface? With expectation non-existent this time around, Brazil 2014 is the time to show it.
Seat343 