With Euro 2012 having finished a week ago and the Olympic football tournament yet to start, I’m in an unusual position of not having any meaningful upcoming football to talk about. I’ve taken the opportunity instead to reflect on where English football might be in the future. In particular, I’ve starting thinking about what the England team may look like come the 2014 World Cup (assuming they qualify…) Rather than trying to predict a starting XI, in this article I look at the players I think will be pushing for squad places in Brazil.
Goalkeepers
Based on what we saw in Euro 2012, barring injury or major loss of form, Joe Hart will certainly be England number 1 for many years to come. Support could well come from Jack Butland who has attracted some Premiership interest and is in the 2012 Olympic squad.
Right backs
After some assured performances in Euro 2012, Glen Johnson is the man in possession and it will take some effort to dislodge him. Kyle Walker is certainly an exciting prospect but may need to become a better defender. Don’t discount Micah Richards either who is likely to remain a Manchester City regular.
Centre backs
We’re likely to see a changing of the guard with John Terry and Rio Ferdinand both leaving the England fold. Chris Smalling and Phil Jones have shown great promise and could be in line to become first choice centre backs for Manchester United in the near future. Nevertheless, as an England partnership, 2014 may come too soon for them both so expect experienced figures like Gary Cahill and Joleon Lescott to be England regulars for the next of couple of seasons.
Left backs
Roy Hodgson will want to keep some experienced figures in his starting XI at Brazil so expect Ashley Cole who’ll be 33 come the World Cup, to remain firmly in the frame. Leighton Baines is currently the shoo-in understudy for Cole but will expect some stiff competition from Kieran Gibbs and Ryan Bertrand who are likely to be Cole’s long-term successors.
Central midfield
Lots of promise for England in this area. Jack Wilshere is already well-established and will be certainly be one of England’s most important and influential players come the next World Cup. Jack Rodwell is in prime position to take over the defensive midfield position from Scott Parker / Gareth Barry. Add Josh McEachran and Tom Cleverley to the mix as well and there’ll be plenty of young talent to draw on in 2014. James Milner will offer experience and a move away from Man City could enable him to establish himself in his preferred position in the centre of the park. Steven Gerrard, who will be 34 come Brazil 2014, might also one final tournament in him.
Attacking midfielders and wingers
England’s current squad players in this area are still young so I’d expect the likes of Theo Walcott, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, and Ashley Young to be firmly in the mix for the World Cup. A move away from Man City again may help Adam Johnson. His rare trait of being a left-footer who can dribble past people will be useful to England. Expect other young up-and-coming talent to also stake a claim.
Strikers
This is an area that particularly concerns me as I’m not aware of any new talent coming through. Wayne Rooney of course is a no-brainer. He’ll be 28 by the time of the next World Cup and therefore hopefully in the prime of his career. Having seen off both Michael Owen and Dimitar Berbatov at Man United, expect Danny Wellbeck to become a United and England regular. Andy Carroll is your stereotypical England number 9 so he’ll also be in the running. And again, expect a new young charge to gain prominence ahead of the World Cup.
I’m sure those with more extensive football knowledge than myself will throw some additional names into the mix too. All in all, I expect the next World Cup squad to be considerably different to the one seen in Euro 2012. Whether any of these predictions actually come true or not is a different matter. That’s something for me to write about in 2014!
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