Midfielders
The reason I chose seven defenders was to bolster the midfield, only way for the team to even get out of the group stages after having paired with Italy, Uruguay and a potential banana sink in Costa Rica. Steven Gerrard leads the team out with the captain’s armband finely tucked on his left arm. Michael Carrick will also be an integral part of the side while Jack Wilshere should be fit to board the flight. To add extra solidity I opt for Everton’s vibrant and youthful exuberance of Ross Barkley. Jordan Henderson too makes the flight as does my hopes on City’s hardworking James Milner. Frank Lampard faces an anxious wait but gets the benefit of experience while sadly Jonjo Shelvey misses the bus to the airport. For the wings Raheem Sterling and Oxlade Chamberlain make the flight too as Wolcott’s injury rules him out of the showcase event. The final midfield spot goes to Southampton’s man of the season, Adam Lallana. As Chris Waddle of BBC said of the left footed youngster, “I would try to find a place in the team for him. He gets space, he makes space, he can see a pass, he can go inside and outside of players and he can score a goal himself. He has energy, he can see a pass and he is ideal for international football.”