Roy Hodgson’s job could be on the line
There’s no disputing that England have found themselves in a very tricky group with Uruguay, Italy and Costa Rica, but failure to advance from this group would still be a huge disappointment for Hodgson’s lions after a spectacular 2013/2014 Premier League season. While England’s 2012 Euro’s team, who lost to Italy in the quarterfinals on penalties, consisted of the old guard, Roy this time around has gone in preference of a younger team selecting the likes of Everton’s Ross Barkley, Liverpool’s Raheem Sterling and Southampton’s Luke Shaw. The side also includes the majority of the team that helped Liverpool contend for the title, minus Luis Suarez, who is racing back from surgery for Uruguay’s final group game against England. But with a mixture of young, inexperienced lions in his den, Hodgson has a lot to consider when he picks his starting lineup just a few weeks from now against Italy. Does he play a mixture of young and old or just the best players in top form?
Of course, playing against three nations from three different continents will yield plenty of variety, meaning Hodgson will presumably have to alter his lineup to his opponent. But for argument’s sake, if he were to pick one line up for the tournament he must decide who wins the smaller battles for a starting spot.
Barring injury, Joe Hart seems to be solidified to start as England’s keeper, although Celtic’s Fraser Forster has been impressive and could soon replace Hart in the next few years. In front of Hart most likely will be the partnership of Gary Cahill and Phil Jagielka, who both scored in England’s tune up game against Peru, while also helping secure a clean sheet. Leighton Baines’ quality going forward and his set pieces should earn him the left back spot with no Ashley Cole in the squad and teenager Luke Shaw not quite ready for the World Cup, although expect Shaw to start for England in Euro 2016.
Right-back is a little trickier than every other defensive position, but still most likely straight forward. Liverpool’s Glen Johnson is the favorite, yet his defensive abilities are constantly called into question. With lethal attacking opponents in Italy and Uruguay, Hodgson may want to opt to a more solid defender at right back like Phil Jones. That way they have creativity bombing down the left in Baines and still have defensive stability, as they’ll be unlikely to be caught out on the counter with Jones starting over Johnson.
The midfield is where England’s manager has the most decisions to make, as here is where most of his younger squad members reside. His captain, Steven Gerrard, will start as the holding central midfielder. The first thing he’ll need to decide is which young player should partner Gerrard and play as an energetic, box to box midfielder to aid the forwards and wingers. The two clear candidates are Jordan Henderson and Jack Wilshere and not Frank Lampard, whose partnership with Gerrard in Euro 2012 was a disaster. Henderson would provide more chemistry with his teammate Gerrard, while having a better goal scoring record this past season. Wilshere, however, has a bit more quality and experience from the 2012 Euro’s. As for the wings, expect two out of Adam Lallana, Raheem Sterling, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, James Milner and Danny Welbeck. With Rooney, Sturridge and Rickie Lambert in the squad, and having not impressed during United’s horrid campaign, Welbeck won’t see time up front. Lallana had the best season of the bunch for Southampton and has the best combination of dribbling, passing and crossing. But then Ox and Sterling come in the form of more direct, speedy wingers who could cause huge problems for defenses. Milner and Welbeck come in the form of energetic, defensive wingers who provide great protection for full backs and still offer a bit going forward. Hodgson will probably go with a combination of one defensive winger and one creative one, say: Adam Lallana and James Milner.
Up front, Wayne Rooney will play under Daniel Sturridge. Rickie Lambert will be a bench asset to come on when England needs a goal and be a target for dangerous crosses. This is a massive tournament for the two strikers after Sturridge’s stellar season, and Rooney’s failure to really grab a tournament by the horns since a decade ago at Euro 2004, when he was just a youngster.
The intriguing thing that this sort of lineup would create is a young, talented bench. Hodgson can go with a polished starting lineup and have young guns like Sterling, Ox, Barkley and Henderson/Wilshere ready to impact the game and play more direct football. Many pundits aren’t taking England to progress, but if the back line plays well, England has the creativity, either in their eleven or from their bench, to create the chances to go through, and even atop their group. Above all, Rooney plays a massive role, and an early goal for Man United’s hit man at the World Cup, could do wonders for the young lions. Hodgson is under great pressure and has been criticized for his selections often; this will be the ultimate test.
Projected XI: Hart; Baines, Cahill, Jagielka, Johnson; Gerrard, Wilshere, Welbeck, Lallana; Rooney, Sturridge
My XI: Hart; Baines, Cahill, Jagielka, Jones; Gerrard, Henderson, Sterling, Lallana; Rooney, Sturridge