I've been thinking more and more about the World Cup next summer in South Africa, and more specifically England's chances at said tournament. I know it's a long time away, with a lot of football to be played, injuries to be surmounted and form to be gotten into and out of, but I'm excited as hell and I want to talk about it...
So, my feeling is based on the qualifying tournament and how Capello has transformed the atmosphere around the camp. I think there are 3 sides that are definitely better than England, Brazil, Spain and despite qualifying struggles under the mercurial but flawed Maradona, Argentina. Holland, France, Italy, Germany, Portugal and Russia are all potentially on the same level as England, and the African Nations Cup in January will potentially demonstrate the ever increasing strength that exists in that continent. Of the contenders outside of the top 3, England appear to be finding form and consistency, the match in Kiev aside, and I think that the semi finals are a realistic possibility, and by then its one off matches all the way. Yep, I'm fantasising completely here...
England will have to pray that the form and fitness of their top players are both peaking next June and there are already a few worries that need resolving. Ferdinand's struggle to maintain his high standards, and play more than 1 game in a row could potentially break up England's long serving defensive partnership, but the who else is there? Would you want Matthew Upson or Wes Brown, good as they can be, trying to break down Kaka, Luis Fabiano and co in a pressure cooker quarter final? I'm not sure, but there is time to go. Can Joe Cole be fitted into a talented attacking force? What role may Owen Hargreaves play, if any?
As much as Capello says that no player is safe, I think it's pretty clear that there are a number of players who would struggle to play bad enough to miss out. 10 excluding Heskey, for now...) of Capello's apparent preferred line up must be nailed on to go, and one or 2 others who have excelled from the bench or as viable alternatives to start. So already I think that the following will fly to South Africa, if fit, for sure:
Green
Johnson, G
Cole, A
Terry
Ferdinand
Barry
Lampard
Gerrard
Walcott
Rooney
Defoe
Upson
James
So, that means there are 10 more to find. For me, I think the overall make up of the squad should reflect a combination of the quality of play a player produced in the previous season and quality global football experience, be it Champions League or international tournaments. England do have a number of players available who fulfil this requirement, and of those I would also take:
Robinson
Woodgate
Hargreaves
Beckham
Lennon
Cole, J
Crouch
Owen
Heskey
There's a few that I've left out which may be surprising. Wes Brown isn't naturally first choice for Man Utd, and Woodgate has the sort of game to possibly back up Ferdinand and provide the same kind of balance, and I've gone with no direct right back cover as I believe that Hargreaves (who is obviously massively reliant on keeping is fitness for the season once he returns) can do a excellent job at right back, and would be a contender to start there against certain opposition.
King's fitness is too questionable and against Arsenal looked a shadow of his old self. Carrick is having a bit of scratchy season so far, desperately searching for passes that aren't there and not being allowed to control midfield area as he prefers. Wright Phillips always seems a bit of a headless chicken for England, and the emergence of Walcott and re-emergence of Lennon, plus 'the Beckham Option' means for me he's 4th choice for the right wing. There are probably others who slip my mind just now also...
There is sometimes though room for a bit of a wild card. From those without perhaps that sort of experience, but have emerged more recently I pick only one, Kieran Gibbs, as from what I've seen he has the tenacity, quality and attitude to understudy Ashley Cole, and Wayne Bridge hasn't looked assured in an England shirt for some time.
That means that the likes of Carlton Cole (Heskey has the nod for me as the 'big bustling line leader' category), James Milner (has impressed for England but too soon), Stewart Downing (injured currently anyway, but generally flatters to deceive), Gary Cahill (who?), Joleon Lescott (fails to convince at this level), Ben Foster (a few errors this season and not likely to be a regular at his club), Darren Bent (could make a late run, but unproven at international level), and I'm sure many more, are left hoping for injuries or others' serious form loss to have a chance of making it on the flight.
It's a tough exercise and when I'd first thought about it a couple of weeks ago there were a few differences to the above, but having considered what it takes to win tournaments (guts, quality, experience, an 'x' factor, perhaps?) this is what I've gone for. I'm sure most would disagree somewhere with the selection, and I'm surer I will by the time the squad is selected, but thats how I currently see it, and I think there is the ability within those players to beat anyone on their day, even with one or 2 of those in the squad suffering injuries mid-tournament.
With that in mind, I also had a think about who might be selected to start in that big match quarter final against Brazil, for example, after 4 games already of intense pressure and nail biting drama. I'm allowing for the way that some players emerge from the shadows in big tournaments that may not have started that crucial first group game and become important to the cause. For what it's worth, which is little, my XI for a quarter final against Brazil, fitness permitting, would be:
GK: Green
RB: Hargreaves
LB: Cole, A
CB: Terry
CB: Ferdinand
CM: Barry
CM: Lampard
AM: Gerrard
RM: Walcott
LM: Cole, J
CF: Rooney
The added composure of Owen Hargreaves would be such an asset in this game, and his big match experience for me puts him above the impetuous Johnson, who could though make an excellent impact sub if things aren't going England's way. I struggle to see Capello leaving out the sublime Joe Cole of the starting line up for too long, and while against weaker sides it may be Walcott who misses out allowing Rooney to roam behind Heskey, I think that 5 in midfield, with the wingers charging on where possible, would provide England with the best platform to attack the hapless Brazilian goalkeeper!
What excites me most is that we have some pretty good options to bring on if needs be. Aside from Johnson and Heskey, the likes of Lennon, Beckham, Defoe and Crouch can make discernable claims to be potential game-breakers.
Of course there are many ifs and buts between now and squad/team selection stage, and its almost guaranteed that at least one of the players I've "selected" will be out injured. And yes, it will probably be Owen Hargeaves. But I'm an optimist, sometimes, and am very much living in a fantasy world here, and so therefore I declare that the above will represent a successful method to England's inevitable rise to the post of World Champions!
You'll see...
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
4 comments:
Argentina will not get through the group stage if Maradona is the manager. If Heskey is the best option to replace Rooney i wouldnt put my money in England. Ferdinand is having a hell of a season and your beloved Hargreaves hasnt played for ages.
In the other hand you have one of the most successful managers in the past 15 years. I dont like his tactics but his teams are always competitive, you cant deny that. I think the key for England will be Rooneys fitness, as Gerrard and Lampard have never mixed up well..at least these are my premature world cup thoughts on England..
oh by the way...didnt know you had a rather bad time in Madrid! (as it seems in your past posts!)
ah don't worry Ivi, the stuff on Spain was very 'heat of the moment' and I think you'll find I do say that I loved Spain, or words to that effect, and you knew that anyway.
On your footballing comments, I haven't seen Argentina play recently, but have heard of their problems. I don't believe Diego will still be manager next summer anyway, he's too temperamental, and they do have such a talented group of players that I have to put them in such a position.
The way Capello's tactics have developed I don't see Rooney's back up being Heskey. Emile will likely do a job starting leading the line in the group stage, if say Rooney was out by the quarter finals then Heskey may start but the shape of the team would probably change, with either Gerrard or Joe Cole playing as a 2nd striker, or otherwise Defoe may deputise leading the line. Heskey fits into one system that has been successful for England and so that's why I include him.
I have acknowledged the issues with Rio and Hargreaves, but this is pure fantasy stuff and as such I'm making the massive assumption that both are fit and playing well, which as I'm sure you agree would mean 2 top class players being involved. Capello has found a way of helping Gerrard and Lampard gel, I think any issues there were in the past were blown out of proportion by the 2 previous managers as an excuse for their own failings. I do agree that Rooney's fitness, and maybe more pertinently his discipline, is a key factor in how far England can go.
It's all pointless anyway, as we all know that the Spanish will wipe the floor with everyone anyway!
I know its a completely different 'ball game'. but look what happened to spain in the confed cup!! I mean i know it's not the world cup by a long shot, but a final none the less. International footballing superioty and that impressive undefeated record were at stake and we saw the mighty spain came unstuck. Like the old cliche says its a funny old game!!
regarding the post there are just a couple of niggles in an otherwise, from my point of view, a fairly comprehensive preview.
As Ivan said we are still waiting on hargreaves return. He made a big name for himself last time around and is an obviously proven player but at right back you say? surely against the flair of the Brazilians (for example) we need him running his socks off between our semi-circle and theres cutting the supply lines? But yeah, Johnson does have a lot of defending to do for the remainder of the season!! A glaring player, for me, that you mentioned all too breifly is James Milner. A player that is proving himself more and more this season with increasingly educated wing play. I think he should definatly be on the plane but then that raises questions on the 'Beckham debate' which is a whole other blog.
Ah where to go next, so much to discuss - Is Barry a sure enough player for the big later rounds? my head says yes but... you know what i mean?? Gibbs re-enacting the walcott mistake?? and finally our beloved strikers. Owen not really played. Needs to re-ignite himslf as the fox in the box. I'm gonna flick over Heskey coz your guess is as good as mine. Rooney + big pressure game + up front alone + maybe not recieving the service he requires/expects = boiling point for the feisty scouser?? Again my head says he has matured and will play a level headed game but again my heart says over agreesive, over talkative and maybe over complicated play (i mean in looking for work instead of patiently holding the line). I reckon i gone on enough now speculation is fine but basically the need for big players to perform on the biggest stage wins the ultimate prize!!
Post a Comment