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It’s that time of the year when millions of eyes from across the world will turn to the direction of the South American continent to bear witness to the greatest show on Earth. The destination of choice for this year is the carnivalistic land of Brazil which is synonymous with the word “football”. As always, one of the most hyped team heading into the clash of the champions is Roy Hodgson’s England squad.
Though trade pundits are skeptical about England’s chances in this competition due to them being placed in the proverbial Group of Death with Italy, Uruguay and Costa Rica for company, the hype created by the English dailies and their supporters refuses to die down. It’s hard to blame them for it though because on paper the team looks highly formidable but it’s hard for the fans to forget the debacles in the 2002 and the 2006 World Cup which was said to be the golden generation of English Football.
The squad consisted of players like David Beckham, Paul Scholes, Michael Owen, Frank Lampard, John Terry, Rio Ferdinand, Wayne Rooney, Steven Gerrard and Ashley Cole. Only three of the so called golden generation have retained their place in the current squad as Hodgson has gone for a complete overhaul giving priority to youth over experience and for a good reason too as their performance in the last World Cup campaign would reflect.
There is a gap of four years between these two tournaments and let’s face it, time has caught up with them in the form of injuries and retirements. Most of the players in the 2010 World Cup squad have been lost in the shuffle and have left their glory years behind. Now the question that the whole nation is asking is that can the young guns fire on the grandest stage of them all? Granted Wayne Rooney, Glen Johnson, Leighton Baines, Rickie Lambert, Joe Hart, Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard cannot be considered to be young talents now but they have shown that they still have the ability to bring it on the field in this year’s Premier League.
They are the experienced professionals who would bring that much needed experience factor to the squad whose average age is 26. In defense they have Luke Shaw of Southampton, Phil Jones and Chris Smalling of Manchester United aged 18, 22 and 24 respectively with the experience of Phil Jagielka (Everton), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Leighton Baines (Everton) and Glen Johnson (Liverpool). The midfield and forward positions are the areas where you see the most emphasis given to youth over experience.
Along with midfield general Steven Gerrard who acts as an anchor in the middle of the park, you have the sublime skills and athletic abilities of players like Jack Wilshere whose goal for Arsenal against Norwich won him the nomination for Goal of the Season, Jordan Henderson who had an inspiring season at Liverpool helping the Mersyside outfit to register their place in 2014-15 Champions League by claiming the runners up position in the Premier League and teammate Raheem Sterling who has made quite a name for himself in the red jersey of Liverpool.
Another player who has created quite a stir in the English football landscape is the youngster Ross Barkley who has been in scintillating form at the heart of the Everton midfield this season and already has big clubs like Liverpool, Manchester United and Arsenal taking out their checkbooks in order to pry the future star away from Everton.
The forward line boasts of the ever consistent Wayne Rooney who has sparkled for his club but failed to make an impact on the international level and this may be his last chance to shut his critics up because age and time definitely won’t be on his side when the Cup returns after 4 more years. By the time 2018 rolls in he would be in his thirties and would struggle to make an impact.
This is the part where the young talents of England step in as Daniel Sturridge who is all of 24 would strive to leave a mark in this edition of the tournament and with his fellow Liverpool team mate Sterling for company, England could have a rather formidable attacking line up, not only in this year’s World Cup but the next one as well. Danny Welbeck aged 23 is an interesting selection in the attacking line up considering his irregular playing time at Manchester United as his side finished 7th in the league.
His detractors would say that he has had enough chances but with age on his side only time will tell how far this young gun could go in the coming days. As of now his inclusion in the squad is still questionable and raises a doubt on the pedigree of English strikers in England. This England squad has a lot of potential heading into the World Cup but the question remains can they live up to it?
