England World Cup Squad 2014
Roy Hodgson announced his 23-man squad for the World Cup in Brazil on Monday with no real surprises.
Positives were the inclusion of several young, up-and-coming players in the mix of established stars such as Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard and Wayne Rooney, the blend of youth and experience is nevertheless highly encouraging.
Michael Carrick and Ashley Cole are both left behind, with Cole calling time on his international career after learning that he was not one of the lucky 23.
Cole is fifth in the all-time list of most-capped England players, just one game away from matching Bobby Moore’s record number of appearances for a defender in the national squad.
Southampton’s Luke Shaw has effectively made Cole surplus stock, with Shaw, 18, one of three Saints players that have made the cut, the others being 26-year-old Adam Lallana, an attacking midfielder, and striker Rickie Lambert.
Carrick, meanwhile, has performed with credit for Manchester United this season but is displaced on the plane to Brazil by 20-year-old Ross Barkley.
Barkley, who has three senior caps to his name, has impressed for Everton this season, scoring seven times in 38 appearances, and will be joined by Toffees teammates Leighton Baines and Phil Jagielka.
He will have plenty of Merseyside company with Liverpool providing 5 of Brendan Rodgers’ Liverpool stars set to board the plane for Brazil, including the hugely exciting Raheem Sterling.
Sterling, 19, Steven Gerrard, Jordan Henderson, Glen Johnson and Daniel Sturridge make up the quintet of Reds players in the squad.
They all played big parts in Liverpool’s strong title challenge this season and their on-field synergy will be an asset for England this summer.
Betting….
In the outrights, the Three Lions are virtually available across the board at 33/1, though there is some of the leaders going just 25/1 about England.
Given, that getting out of the group may be the first challenge?
Top goalscorer market is predictably headed by Wayne Rooney?
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Full Squad…..
Goalkeepers
Name: Fraser Forster
Age: 26
Club: Celtic
Club games this season: 49
England caps: 1
England debut: v Chile, 15 November 2013
Won his third consecutive Scottish top flight title with Celtic this year and has plenty of Champions League experience. He was the star performer when the Bhoys beat Barcelona at Parkhead in November 2012, but he has just one England cap.
Name: Ben Foster
Age: 31
Club: West Brom
Club games this season: 25
England caps: 6
England debut: v Spain, 7 February 2007
Retired from international football in 2011, but returned last year in a friendly against Republic of Ireland at Wembley. Sidelined with a foot injury after two games of the Premier League season, he returned in December to help West Brom avoid relegation.
Name: Joe Hart
Age: 27
Club: Manchester City
Club games this season: 39
England caps: 39
England debut: v Trinidad & Tobago, 1 June 2008
Dropped by Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini in November 2013 following several high-profile mistakes for his club and country. He returned to form in December to reclaim his spot as City’s and England’s undisputed number one.
Defenders
Name: Leighton Baines
Age: 29
Club: Everton
Club games this season: 35 (6 goals)
England caps: 22 (1 goal)
England debut: v Egypt, 3 March 2010
Subject of a £15m bid from Manchester United last August, Baines remained at Everton to help them finish the season with a club-record Premier League points tally. The free-kick specialist was on the standby list for the 2010 World Cup, but will make his attack forays down the flank for England in Brazil.
Name: Gary Cahill
Age: 28
Club: Chelsea
Club games this season: 47 (2 goals)
England caps: 22 (2 goals)
England debut: v Bulgaria, 3 September 2010
Established himself as Jose Mourinho’s first-choice alongside John Terry at the heart of Chelsea’s defence this season and is now one of the senior men in England’s back four, too. Started the final four games of England’s World Cup qualifying group when the pressure was on.
Name: Phil Jagielka
Age: 31
Club: Everton
Club games this season: 30
England caps: 24 (1 goal)
England debut: v Trinidad & Tobago, 1 June 2008
Starting centre-back alongside Cahill for the latter part of England’s World Cup qualifying campaign. A hamstring injury sidelined the Everton defender in February and he looked doubtful to make the final England squad but returned to play the final two club games of the Premier League season.
Name: Glen Johnson
Age: 29
Club: Liverpool
Club games this season: 30
England caps: 50 (1 goal)
England debut: v Denmark, 16 November 2003
The attacking right-back was criticised following Liverpool’s collapse at Crystal Palace, adding weight to the belief that he is better going forward than defending. Cemented his place in the Liverpool side from late February following an injury-hit season during which he has played just two friendlies for England.
Name: Phil Jones
Age: 22
Club: Manchester United
Club games this season: 38 (3 goals)
England caps: 9
England debut: v Montenegro, 7 October 2011
Once likened to Manchester United great Duncan Edwards by Sir Alex Ferguson, Jones has yet to live up to that formidable billing. A physical and versatile performer, he has played at right-back, centre-back and in midfield for United but is yet to nail down a specialist position for club or country.
Name: Chris Smalling
Age: 24
Club: Manchester United
Club games this season: 38 (two goals)
England caps: 10
England debut: v Bulgaria, 2 September 2011
A difficult season for Manchester United has stunted the defender’s progress somewhat. A good reader of the game, he can play at right-back or in the centre of defence, but his distribution needs to improve.
Name: Luke Shaw
Age: 18
Club: Southampton
Club games this season: 38
England: 1 cap
England debut: v Denmark, 5 March 2014
Very highly rated left-back who makes it into Hodgson’s squad at the expense of veteran defender Ashley Cole. Quick, with good defensive awareness and penchant for attacking, he fits the modern full-back mould and he has already been the subject of a reported £27m bid from Manchester United.
Midfielders
Name: Ross Barkley
Age: 20
Club: Everton
Club games this season: 38 (7 goals)
England caps: 3
England debut: v Moldova, 6 September 2013
Having been loaned out to Sheffield Wednesday and Leeds last season by David Moyes, the midfielder has established himself as one of England’s most creative players under Roberto Martinez this term.
Name: Steven Gerrard
Age: 33
Club: Liverpool
Club games this season: 39 (14 goals)
England caps: 109 (21 goals)
England debut: v Ukraine, 31 May 2000
Played a deeper midfield role, while still scoring regularly, as he helped Liverpool to a title push. Their challenge ultimately fell just short, with his slip in a 2-0 defeat by Chelsea proving costly.
Name: Jordan Henderson
Age: 23
Club: Liverpool
Club games this season: 40 (5 goals)
England caps: 8
England debut: v France, 17 November 2010
Has finally won over his critics following his 2011 move to Liverpool for a reported £16m. Played a key role in the Reds’ engine room during their title challenge this season.
Name: Adam Lallana
Age: 26
Club: Southampton
Club games this season: 42 (10 goals)
England caps: 3
England debut: v Chile, 15 November 2013
Hugely impressive season for the creative midfielder in a dynamic Southampton squad this season. Could join several of his England colleagues at Liverpool before the finals begin.
Name: Frank Lampard
Age: 35
Club: Chelsea
Club games this season: 40 (8 goals)
England caps: 103 (29 goals)
England debut: v Belgium, 10 October 1999
England’s eighth most-capped player of all time had been far from a certainty for a World Cup place. Has still chipped in a few goals for Chelsea this season but is not the threat he once was. Almost certainly his last international tournament.
Name: James Milner
Age: 28
Club: Manchester City
Club games this season: 44 (2 goals)
England caps: 45 (1 goal)
England debut: v Netherlands, 12 August 2009
The definition of solid but not spectacular, Milner played 31 games for Manchester City in their Premier League title-winning campaign, although 19 of these came from the bench.
Name: Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
Age: 20
Club: Arsenal
Club games this season: 20 (3 goals)
England caps: 14 (3 goals)
England debut: v Norway, 26 May 2012
Had an injury-hit season, spending five months out after injuring his knee on the opening day of the season. It had been feared he was a World Cup doubt with a groin problem but manager Arsene Wenger said he should be fit to play.
Name: Raheem Sterling
Age: 19
Club: Liverpool
Club games this season: 38 (10 goals)
England caps: 2
England debut: v Sweden, 14 November 2012
It is easy to forget he is still a teenager, having been on the scene for a couple of years. Had a huge role in Liverpool’s 11-game winning run that took them to the brink of the title. Linked up well with England team-mate Daniel Sturridge.
Name: Jack Wilshere
Age: 22
Club: Arsenal
Club games this season: 34 (5 goals)
England caps: 15 caps
England debut: v Hungary, 11 August 2010
Like Gunners team-mate, and fellow World Cup squad member, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Wilshere has had injury troubles this season. A hairline fracture in a foot, suffered playing for England in March, ruled him out until the final 27 minutes of the season against Norwich.
Forwards
Name: Rickie Lambert
Age: 32
Club: Southampton
Club games this season: 39 (14 goals)
England caps: 4 (2 goals)
England debut: v Scotland, 14 August 2013
The former beetroot factory worker only made his Premier League debut for Southampton at the age of 30, having spent the majority of his career in the Football League. Does not look out of place and has reached double figures in each top-flight season.
Name: Wayne Rooney
Age: 28
Club: Manchester United
Club games this season: 40 (19 goals)
England caps: 89 (38 goals)
England debut: v Australia, 13 February 2003
One of the few Manchester United players to come through this season with little criticism, appearing to enjoy his football again having fallen out with Alex Ferguson last term.
Name: Daniel Sturridge
Age: 24
Club: Liverpool
Club games this season: 33 (25 goals)
England caps: 10 (3 goals)
England debut: v Sweden, 15 November 2011
Was the second top scorer in the Premier League this season, having linked up well with Luis Suarez and England team-mate Sterling as Liverpool mounted a surprise title challenge. Is arguably now England’s key player.
Name: Danny Welbeck
Age: 23
Club: Manchester United
Club games this season: 36 (10 goals)
England caps: 21 (8 goals)
England debut: v Ghana, 29 March 2011
Has been in and out of the team at Manchester United this season, although he still managed to reach double figures for goals, as well as netting three times for England during the opening months of the campaign.
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