Hodgson torn down the middle over final picks
WHEN Roy Hodgson spoke of a World Cup selection quandary after the midweek win over Denmark, the chatter was about the battle between left-backs Ashley Cole and Luke Shaw.
Yet he may have bigger problems in central midfield – and that is before considering Jack Wilshere’s broken foot. Captain Steven Gerrard is a certain starter, but who he lines up alongside for the tournament opener against Italy on 14 June is less clear.
Chelsea’s Frank Lampard, Wilshere of Arsenal and Manchester United pair Michael Carrick and Tom Cleverley have all featured regularly since Euro 2012 in what has tended to be a three-man central midfield.
But Lampard has wilted with a lack of club action, while Cleverley’s reputation has taken a pummelling during United’s turbulent season. Carrick looked on from the bench on Wednesday as Liverpool’s Jordan Henderson gave his most convincing international display to date.
Wilshere, too, has been short of his best, and now faces a battle to be fit, while Southampton’s Adam Lallana is increasingly authoritative and can play centrally or wide – like Hodgson favourites James Milner and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. Throw in Liverpool’s Raheem Sterling overtaking Tottenham’s Andros Townsend as flavour of the month, and the fact that England have no more fixtures before Hodgson names his 30-man long-list for the tournament in Brazil on 13 May, and the headache becomes clear.
Wilshere has strong claims if he can recover, having featured in England’s last eight games, while Lampard’s experience and Carrick’s role in qualification makes them hard to drop, though it is feasible either could make way for the emerging Henderson. Should Wilshere fail to recover, Everton’s Ross Barkley might profit.
Lallana and Sterling appear to have the momentum which, with Oxlade-Chamberlain a versatile and popular choice, may spell heartache for Milner or Townsend when Hodgson confirms his final 23 on 2 June.
WORLD CUP SQUAD: WHO’S IN?
PACKING LUGGAGE
■ GOALKEEPERS: Joe Hart, Fraser Forster, Ben Foster
■ DEFENDERS: Glen Johnson, Kyle Walker, Chris Smalling, Gary Cahill, Phil Jagielka, Leighton Baines
■ MIDFIELDERS: Steven Gerrard
■ FORWARDS: Wayne Rooney, Daniel Sturridge, Danny Welbeck
CROSSING FINGERS
■ DEFENDERS: Luke Shaw, Ashley Cole, Phil Jones
■ MIDFIELDERS: Frank Lampard, Jack Wilshere, Michael Carrick, Jordan Henderson, Tom Cleverley, Ross Barkley, James Milner, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Adam Lallana, Raheem Sterling, Andros Townsend
■ FORWARDS: Rickie Lambert, Jay Rodriguez, Jermain Defoe