Well, there's no point moping about Sunday and banging on about what might have been. The best thing we can do is look forward to the next tournament.
This last season has seen quite a lot of promising young English talent showing their hands at club level. If this talent can be nurtured and developed over the next 2 years, we could have a team that can spring a surprise at the next World Cup.
I could see us fielding a team like this:
---------------------------Hart---------------------------
-----------Walker--Cahill--Smalling--Baines-----------
Walcott--Wilshere--Cleverley--Oxlaide-Chamberlain
--------------------Carroll--Welbeck---------------------
Carroll and Welbeck definitely earned their stripes at this tournament, and I think if we can get them playing together regularly, they could be a real threat up front for us.
With Wilshere working as a box to box player, moving our attacks along while breaking up the opposition's, that leaves room for an attacking midfielder like Cleverley to get forward and help the front two, along with two pacy wingers in the form of Walcott and Oxlaide-Chamberlain.
I really think England have got a bright future. Are we up there with the likes of Spain and Germany? Probably not, but there is no way we are anywhere near as bad as people like to say we are.
2014 World Cup Team
posted on 26/6/12
True, but if this England team is good enough to compete at the World Cup, then surely they're good enough to qualify.
posted on 26/6/12
Glen Johnson will be 29. Lescott will be 31. Parker, Barry, Cole and Terry will be 33. I cant see ALL of these players suddenly being dropped for the WC. I'd take Richards/Jones and Gibbs over Walker and Baines.
posted on 26/6/12
Oh and Darren Bent will surely be in contention as long as he stays injury free.
posted on 26/6/12
Yeah, you've got a point, it would be daft to drop all of those guys. The experience would actually do a lot of good.
And I completely forgot about Gibbs. I ruled him out cos I thought he was Welsh.
Must've been thinking of some other Arsenal youngster.
posted on 26/6/12
Carroll out, Rodwell in.
posted on 26/6/12
Walker--Cahill--Lescott--Baines
For me
posted on 26/6/12
Oh, and my team.
Hart
Richards - Lescott/Terry - Smalling - Gibbs/Cole
Walcott - Gerrard/Parker - Wilshere - Young
Bent - Welbeck
posted on 26/6/12
I would think Phil Jones could offer something - either in defence or midfield
posted on 26/6/12
I'd definitely assume the likes of Jones, Johnson, Carrol and AOC will play some role, albeit as backup.
posted on 28/6/12
I would go with this:
--------------------Hart
Richards, Jones, Smalling, A Cole/Gibbs
---------- Wilshere, Rodwell
Ox -------------- Clev ------------ A Johnson
----------------- Rooney
Then have a bench including the likes of Gerrard, Welbeck, Sturridge, Andy, Theo, McEachran etc.