The World cup is 99 days away and unlike most countries, England fans haven’t got the faintest idea of how their squad is going to look like in Brazil. Barring the few certainties – Captain Steven Gerrard, Wayne Rooney and Joe Hart no English player has a guaranteed ticket to the showdown in Rio. England boss Roy Hodgson has made it pretty clear that he is not afraid to break senior players’ World Cup dreams in order to take his best 23 to Brazil. Wednesday’s fixture against Denmark gave English fans a brief idea about what the team is going to look like but Roy still hasn’t yet made up his mind about the personnel he wants on the plane to Brazil.
In Defence, Roy Hodgson’s most likely back-4 will include his preferred centre-back pairing of Phil Jagielka – Gary Cahill. The Everton skipper missed out on the friendly against Denmark due to injury but Roy has made it clear that he trusts Jagielka as his first-choice centre back. Gary Cahill on the other hand has become a National Team mainstay over the past 24 months. The former Bolton man has been a rock in the heart of defence. His displays show heart and Terry-like determination. His threat in the opposition box is a very under-rated quality Cahill possesses. Everton full-back Leighton Baines is very much the first choice left back for Hodgson. The Mersey-sider has long been Ashley Cole’s understudy in the national set-up. With Roy Hodgson showing faith in Baines and his consistently steady performances on the left side of Everton’s back-4, Banes is one of the few certainties to Brazil if fit. Liverpool right-back Glen Johnson seems to have made a comeback to the national set-up after months of injury lay-off. When fit, Johnson is an asset to any team with his attacking attributes and defensive awareness. Its only his fitness that is the biggest concern.
Phil Jones looks to be a certainty to Brazil despite his current injury as the Manchester United youngster can operate in a number of positions for the team. Kyle Walker looks set to battle it out with Glen Johnson for the right-back spot with the Spurs full-back having a decent season at the lane. The choice between Chris Smalling and Steven Caulker is another brave decision for Roy to make. Both young central defenders have impressed Hodgson in the past. With Caulker missing out on the friendly but clearly in Hodgson’s thoughts, the former Spurs man has it all to prove to Hodgson until the end of the season that he deserves to be on the plane to Brazil.
Then comes the biggest dilemma for Hodgson; experience or youthful exuberance ? international pedigree or current form ? Ashley Cole or Luke Shaw ? 107 times has Ashley Cole appeared in the Three Lions colours but the attacking full-back hasn’t had the best of season at Chelsea under Jose Mourinho. Luke Shaw on the other hand, has literally played his way into the national set-up with consistent impressive performances for the Saints all season. It’s down to the former Fulham and Inter Milan coach to take his pick for Brazil.
In my opinion, Luke Shaw deserves the England berth and for all of Cole’s excellent services warming the bench for Chelsea doesn’t help his cause for England.
