Forwards (3)
1. Wayne Rooney. England’s best player and bright hope for the tournament if he can stay healthy and continue his current form to the end of the season. If Rooney plays well and makes the sort of impact on a big tournament that we know he can, England have a chance of beating anyone. One of the few truly World-Class players in the country.
2. Danny Welbeck. Not everyone’s cup of tea, but appreciated for his skills and work rate by players and managers, Welbeck’s all-round play is superb, and at United this season, he seems to have discovered how to finish as well. In the World Cup however, also a very useful option off the left-flank, where he has played most of his games for England. His understanding and link-up with Rooney could be vital to the team.
3. Daniel Sturridge. If he can regain the form he showed for Liverpool in the early part of the season, then Sturridge is a no-brainer. Bright young player and looks every inch the international striker he kept promising to be at Chelsea.
So the full 23-man squad is as follows:
J Hart, B Foster, F Forster, A Cole, L Baines, G Cahill, P Jagielka, P Jones, C Smalling, G Johnson, S Gerrard, J Wilshere, M Carrick, F Lampard, T Cleverley, J Milner, A Lallana, A Oxlade-Chamberlain, R Barkley, A Young, W Rooney, D Sturridge and D Welbeck.
With my 11 to start against Italy being:
Hart
Johnson Cahill Jagielka Cole
Gerrard (c) Carrick
Milner Lallana Welbeck
Rooney
Players unlucky to miss out:
K Walker (RB, Spurs) – Just couldn’t find a space for him in a squad with only 7 defenders. Bright talent.
J Ruddy (GK, Norwich) – Just gets pipped by Forster and Foster as back up to Hart, with some less-than-convincing performances this season.
L Shaw (LB, Southampton) – Excellent young player, and looks ready for the big stage, but unlucky to be behind two of the best left backs in the world.
S Caulker (CB, Cardiff) – Just not done enough to force his way into the squad.
G Barry (CM, Everton) – Very good midfielder who looks after the ball very well, but pays the price for being in England’s most competitive position.
T Huddlestone (CM, Hull) – Great passer of the ball, but I just don’t think Roy will have the confidence to pick him and throw him straight into a World Cup.
J Henderson (CM, Liverpool) Very close call between him and Cleverley, and if he keeps his form up has a good chance of going. Just needs to keep performing to dislodge the man who is already in there.
R Sterling (RW, Liverpool)– Just not ready yet for the biggest stage of all.
A Townsend ( RW, Spurs)– Not convinced there is enough end product, but bright talent and might sneak in.
A Lennon (RW, Spurs)– Has never done it on the big stage and needs to find some form to have any chance.
J Rodriguez (FW, Southampton)– Just hasn’t quite done enough, although a drop in form for either Welbeck or Sturridge could see him going.
R Lambert (ST, Southampton)– Form has tailed off this season, and I think he has missed his chance.