The Road to World Cup 2010

Team Analytics

With England’s Euro hopes shattered by the recent defeat to Croatia, now is the time to predict how the side will shape up under a new manager on the long road to World Cup 2010.

The entrenched problem the next England manager must resolve is the Lampard/ Gerrard midfield conundrum. With neither of the pair reproducing their impressive club form for country it might be tempting to drop both. Gerrard has been eagerly accommodated by the last two England managers despite the fact that his international form has been consistently lacklustre. Lampard, on the other hand, was the England fans’ player of the season in both 2004 and 2005, but has seemingly lost his way since the last World Cup when his misfiring performances exemplified the team’s lack of cohesion.

However, I have resolved this problem by moving Gerrard to right-back. Gerrard does not appear to enjoy playing for England and his performances completely lack the ebullience he displays in his performances for Liverpool. The solution is to provide him a role with tighter parameters than central midfield. A more defined defensive role on the flank can enable him to flourish: he will retain some capacity to push forward, but will no longer have the multiple responsibilities of central midfield whilst overburdened with national expectation. John Terry is beleaguered by injury problems so Micah Richards will move over to take up a central defensive position next to Rio Ferdinand.

With Gerrard positioned at right-back, Lampard has the freedom of midfield and will have the opportunity to find his form: I sense that Lampard may be happier when his position is not under threat from another team ‘heavyweight’. Owen Hargreaves, who was a notable absentee for much of England’s Euro qualifying campaign, will provide sound defensive midfield cover behind Lampard. Joe Cole continues in reasonable form for club and country but Ashley Young will push for a place on the left of midfield. The right-midfield slot will be taken by Theo Walcott who also has the scope to push forward if a more attacking formation is required.

Up front, Peter Crouch will finally attain a reputation which befits his international form and goalscoring record. Perhaps he is still tainted with the ‘beanpole’ mockery that he experienced earlier in his career. Admittedly, over recent months, a lack of opportunities with Liverpool has not helped Crouch, but his international performances have generally been above the standard of other available forwards since he broke into the national side. The attack will therefore be built around him rather than the perennially unfit Michael Owen. Wayne Rooney is undoubtedly a very talented player, but in some sense is the opposite of Crouch in that his weighty reputation is not matched by international goals. However, Rooney and Crouch must be allowed to develop a partnership: the only time they have started together to date is in the Euro qualifier against Croatia in Zagreb when the whole team performed poorly. As Rooney’s career progresses I predict that he will increasingly adopt a deeper position within the team configuration and may eventually be regarded as an attacking midfielder.

England’s ideal line-up for the World Cup final in 2010 features below! A 4-4-2 formation should be utilised (it could be regarded as 4-1-3-2 if Hargreaves sits deeper than the other midfielders), but this can mutate into a range of alternatives. For example, if Young and Walcott push forwards, Rooney can then drop back to influence play from behind an attacking trio; the team will then be shaped under a 4-2-1-3 formation.

GK: Foster

RB: Gerrard
CB: Richards
CB: Ferdinand
LB: Cole, A

RM: Walcott
CM: Hargreaves
CM: Lampard
LM: Young

CF: Rooney
CF: Crouch

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Edward @ December 4, 2007