Monday’s reveal of the England World Cup squad came as a bit of a welcome surprise to me.
I was 95 per cent sure that Roy Hodgson would play it safe and pick the old guard for one last hurrah – but to be fair to him, he’s picked pretty much the same squad I would have.
It seems like a lifetime ago, but Germany showed us the way at the 2010 tournament in South Africa.
Back then, the likes of Mesut Özil, Thomas Müller, Manuel Neuer and Sami Khedira were thrown straight in after excelling at under-21 level. And we all know how that worked out.
There’s no reason why Luke Shaw, Ross Barkley and Raheem Sterling can’t go into the tournament and stamp their authority on games in a similar fashion.
England, it seems, are either favourites or no-hopers in the eyes of fans and media alike. But why can’t we just sent out a talented young side out and give it a good go?
Nothing is expected of Hodgson’s men – indeed, it would actually be a surprise if we got out at the group stage. But I can’t handle watching us play negative, long ball football a-la Euro 2012 against Italy.
Shaw, Barkley and Sterling have all been key to Premier League sides – Southampton, Everton and Liverpool – that play football the right way this year.
So, if Hodgson can’t get them to replicate that for the Three Lions, he may have some tough questions to answer after the tournament.
My England XI v Italy (4-2-3-1): Hart, Johnson, Jagielka, Cahill, Baines; Gerrard, Wilshere; Sterling, Rooney, Barkley; Sturridge.
