Chances of England in the FIFA World Cup 2014

Roy Hodgson, manager of England national football team

England are usually drafted in FIFA World Cup’s as one of the strongest squad on paper, but all they manage to gain out of this tournament is an early exit. A lot has changed from the previous edition of this mega event. The Three Lions are no longer considered a strong favourite or even a dark horse to lift the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

A brief look at their performances in recent World Cup’s:

The 1990 FIFA World Cup in Italy did bring a ray of bright hope for England and their fans as they reached the Semi finals. Under the guidance of manager Sir Bobby Robson the English took the world by surprise and players like Paul Gascoigne and Gary Lineker proved their worth as world class players. Then it was semis and they were defeated at the hands of eventual champions West Germany in a typical English manner of losing a match in penalties.

They didn’t qualify for the next World Cup held at United States of America in 1994. The World Cup in 1998 wasn’t fruitful for them either, as they were beaten by Argentina in Round 2 and David Beckham for his red card was made a scapegoat for their exit. It was yet another loss for England in penalties!

They continued to ride their way in a path of misfortune. In 2006, this time in quarter-finals England faced Brazil. The Brazilian magician Ronaldinho curled in a 35 meter free kick to beat a shocked David Seamen in front of England’s goal post. England lost 2-1, even after Michael Owen scored the opening goal for The Three Lions. The loss to Portugal on penalties in 2006 was another chapter added into their quest for a World Cup trophy turning into a disaster. The game saw Rooney getting a red card because of his former Manchester United team mate Cristiano Ronaldo and Beckham limping off the ground due to injury. This turned out to be David Bechkam’s last world cup game.

The FIFA World Cup in 2010 is no different story for England. Frank Lampard was denied a sure 2-2 equaliser in Round of 16 against Germany, when his long range effort crossed the goal line but was not seen by any of the match officials.

Chances of England in 2014 FIFA World Cup:

All possible odds are against England and perhaps a few will back them to come out with something at 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. And that “S.O.M.E.T.H.I.N.G” in World cup literally means winning the esteem championship.

The chances for England in the 2014 FIFA World Cup looks bleak and Roy Hodgson has a monumental task up his sleeves to win the cup again.

England were undefeated and topped their group in 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers with 22 points from 10 games but had to survive a scare from Ukraine, as they were trying to barge in their way at the top spot. Ukraine missed the pole position by just 1 point and England directly qualified for the World Cup.

England hosts English Premier League which is arguably one of the most competitive leagues in the world and still finds it difficult to match the tactical brilliance of teams across the globe. We hardly find a good English player playing abroad for a club, so that is no excuse that these players cant gel and fit into a system that England has been aiming for, to bring back the cup they last won in 1966.

England under Roy Hodgson, have been impressive so far, at least in their intent. He often gives rookie and young footballers a chance. Players like Wilfried Zaha, Jack Rodwell, Kieran Gibbs, Kyle Walker, Jay Rodriguez, Adam Lallana, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Ross Barkley, Andros Townsend and Luke Shaw have been benefited playing under the former Liverpool manager Hodgson.

He looks to build a team for future and that is an interesting game plan even when the World cup in Brazil is days away. Giving experience to his younger breed of players is a sign of way forward and a possible indication that a lot of young players may start or be used as substitutes more frequently.

Brazil will be hot during the World Cup and certainly having a mix of youth and experience players will come in handy for Hodgson and his men to cater fatigue and a different playing condition.

At every World Cup the nucleus of any national team is build upon the Domestic championship winning club. Manchester City are strong favourites to win the EPL but hardly play any English player regularly except for goal keeper Joe Hart and winger James Milner.

More than City, it is now Liverpool that is in frame to win the Barclays Premier league. Right-back Glen Johnson, central-midfielder Steven Gerrard and striker Daniel Sturridge are certain Scousers to start for England in Brazil while Raheem Sterling and especially Jordan Henderson has impressed one and all and will make it to the squad if not start. Jon Flanagan is another possible inclusion from Liverpool in the English 23 men squad for the 2014 World Cup.

Under Brendan Rodgers, Liverpool has been playing an attacking brand of football. Rodgers has made sure every player gets involved in a game and not just Luis Suarez. Roy Hodgson may look to play with a similar strategy and not put all the pressure on the shoulders of Wayne Rooney.

England’s team will surely revolve around the players from Liverpool and to be honest it looks a team that can win games not just by sitting deep but by attacking all corners of the game just like Liverpool has been doing in the 2013/14 EPL season.

Imagine a front trio of Rooney- Sturridge- Lallana/ Townsend/ Sterling and it looks like a pack of wolves going in for goals. You have wealth of experience in Stevie G/Lampard/ Carrick to sit back in a deep lying playmaking role. Henderson/ Wilshere could play in as a box-to-box midfielder. And you have Oxlade-Chamberlain/ Barkley to play in the hole behind the striker.

The squad has depth and players with raw and brute force to play in the extreme and challenging conditions in Brazil.

No matter what odds are being set for England and what previous managers Glenn Hoddle, Sven-Göran Eriksson and Fabio Capello achieved, World Cup 2014 will start on an even note for all the teams. Roy Hodgson has to be optimistic with the word go and look to bring in players who can play in his required set of formations and not world class players who aren’t versatile enough to play together!

England has been drawn in Group D in the so called ‘Group of Death’. They face a stiff challenge against Uruguay, Italy and Costa Rica to qualify for the second round. Uruguay lifted the 2011 Copa America while Italy finished runners up in 2012 UEFA European Championship. Both Uruguay and Italy reached the semis of 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup. England faces teams who have been consistent in recent global and confederation football tournaments.

But again they have a team with potential and this is football won on field and not on paper. Roy Hodgson squad selection will be really important if he wants to even compete against such giants of the game. Just one loss in his last 22 games for England, Hodgson has a massive opportunity to take this team far when nobody is giving them a chance to sail on white water.

Probable 23 men squad for England in FIFA 2014 World Cup, Brazil:

Possible Formation: 4-2-3-1

Possible Formation and Starting 11 for England in 2014 FIFA World Cup

Can England do it?

A squad with such potential can beat teams. The only problem remains what type of game play they will opt for against other fast counter attacking teams. Remember they no longer have the services of Rio Ferdinand and John Terry at the back to provide an extra cushion of stability. The possible pairing of Phil Jagielka and Gary Cahill does provide a solid base and aggressive intent at the heart of defence and it would depend a lot on them to combine well at crunch situations.

If England wins the 2014 FIFA World Cup, it will be a story like no other.