Players: That sound you heard several weeks ago was the collective heart of half the world’s female population (and all of its gay population) breaking along with David Beckham’s Achilles tendon. Set to make a historic appearance in his fourth World Cup this summer Beckham would have been a moral leader for the team, more so than a contributing player, though there’s no doubt he would contribute in some way. While I was sad to see it happen for his sake for what he’s meant to that country, ultimately it’s probably for the best because the spot he would have taken can now go to a young player who will hopefully step up and fill his shoes. His injury though is an example of just how fragile the World Cup experience can be, and just how desperate these guys are to participate in it. Even though he won’t be at the Cup, here’s a picture to remind all the ladies (and bi-curious dudes) what they’ll be missing out on this summer:
Despite having over 160 professional and semi-professional teams in the country, England’s national team just can’t seem to get the job done, as previously explained. Another reason to possibly explain this is, a lot of these players truly hate one another. In England the club you support is the club your father supports, and his father, and his father, and generally that just so happens to be the club whose stadium is not more than a stone’s throw from your house. You’re taught at a young age to hate your rivals through and through, which you do. That doesn’t change when you become a player for one of those clubs and you have thousands of fans that support you and similarly hate your rivals, so every time you step on that pitch and look across to see the other team, you have hate and animosity coursing through your veins. It’s a bit much then to ask you to forgive and forget every tackle, every elbow, every loss, and every win that ever passed between you and your rivals in order to come together under the same jersey and win one for your country.
Still, this year’s team boasts some of the best talent they’ve ever had, all in the prime of their careers. Every player on the team plays club soccer in England so they all share the same style. While that’s a distinct advantage in some cases, in others it’s not, so as explained yesterday that’s why the FA brought Capello in to introduce some foreign flair into the side.
[Thanks to the Rio Ferdinand of the Dublin indoor rec league for evaluating the first 7 players below]
Wayne Rooney - Striker
At just 24 this guy is in the form of his life right now playing for Manchester United in the English Premier League and all of the England supporters are hoping it carries over to the World Cup. When you watch Rooney play you can tell the only thing on his mind is scoring goals and that he does. As of 3/25/2010, counting the last 45 games played in all competitions (EPL, FA and Carling Cups, Champions League and England), he has scored 39 goals. This is a phenomenal statistic. In addition to his ability to score goals he is a powerful presence on the pitch and a passionate player for his country. This passion got him sent off in the 2006 World Cup against Portugal for stomping on a player. There was some controversy around the call as Portugal player Cristiano Ronaldo (and club teammate of Wayne Rooney at the time) was thought to provoke Rooney on purpose to get him sent off.
With the incident behind him and his temper under control, Rooney will be a dangerous threat against all competition. Rooney holds the record as the youngest England player to score in international competition and with 58 caps and 25 goals he brings experience, skill and the determination to win to the England squad. Rooney was also the leading scoring during the 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign scoring 9 goals in 10 games. Unfortunately, Wayne Rooney just suffered a strained ligament in his ankle in a Champions League game but he is expected to be fit in time for the World Cup and if he can keep up his form Rooney will be a key to England's success in the 2010 World Cup and play a pivotal role as a future leader for the team.
Rio Ferdinand - Captain - Center Back
This guy is badass, just look at him. He currently plays for Manchester United and this will be Ferdinand’s 4th World Cup appearance and possibly his last; however he is only 31 and could try to pull a Beckham for the 2014 World Cup. He made the 1998 World Cup squad as a back-up defender (he never appeared in a game) and won a starting position on both the 2002 and 2006 World Cup squads. Ferdinand has had an interesting soccer history on and off the pitch. On the pitch he started his career as an attacking midfielder/striker (he has scored 3 goals for England) and now is one of the toughest central defenders on the pitch. He also has a reputation for his physical presence on the pitch and has faced a few fines and bans for violent conduct in games. Off the pitch he has run into a bit of drug and drinking trouble. In 1997 he was convicted of drunk driving and was dropped from the England squad for a World Cup qualifying game meaning he lost out on the chance to set the record for youngest England player ever. In 2003 he failed a drug test getting an 8-month ban causing him to miss the 2004 Euros. Ferdinand is also known to be injury prone with a bad back and as a result missed quite a few matches at both the club and national level. Despite the injuries and controversies Ferdinand has won almost everything there is to win at club level and established himself as key defender for the England squad earning him the captain arm band going into the World Cup. Recently, there has been a flurry of controversy surrounding the captain arm-band as Ferdinand was named captain after John Terry had some “personal” issues disgracing the honor. See John Terry for further information.
John Terry – Center Back
Where to begin? Personally, I can’t stand the guy but I’ll try to give an unbiased opinion and keep to the facts. Terry currently plays for and is the captain of Chelsea, winning multiple league titles with the club. He was first called up to the England squad for the 2004 Euros replacing Rio Ferdinand due to the drug ban. His first appearance in a World Cup was at the 2006 competition and he was hailed as a commanding player and great leader for the team. After the 2006 World Cup he was the only England team member named to the all-star squad and has been recognized in the Champions League and Premier League with multiple player awards. A career high for John was winning back to back Premier League titles with Chelsea in 2005-2006 and then being named England’s captain after David Beckham stepped down from the position in 2006 (A career low? Possibly slipping and falling while taking a penalty kick handing the Champions League title to Manchester United in 2008).
Despite his skill and presence on the pitch, recent accusations in his personal life have led to controversy within the England squad and him being stripped of the captain armband. The armband honor is held at a very high standard in England (Beckham was in tears when he gave it up) and anything to tarnish that honor is a punishable offense. Media reports came out in January 2010 that John Terry (a married man with 2 children) was having an affair with former Chelsea teammate and good friend Wayne Bridge’s ex-girlfriend and baby mama. Wayne Bridge has since removed himself from the England team selection as he refuses to play alongside the disgrace that is John Terry. This isn’t the only blemish on the skipper’s record. Early in the club season Terry was caught giving people tours of Chelsea’s training ground and pocketing the money stating later that he was going to donate it to charity and he claimed that he was in charge of the Chelsea locker room implying it doesn’t matter who the manager is. It could be his working class upbringing (his mom has been caught stealing from high end department stores and his dad has been picked up for selling cocaine) or there is no excuse for this guy and he needs to get over himself. I won’t deny that Terry brings a presence and skill to the pitch, but the drama he brings just isn’t worth the price tag in my opinion.
Ashley Cole – Left Back
The defensive positions for the England World Cup squad are still up for debate so Ashley Cole is not guaranteed to make the trip to South Africa but it would be surprising not to see him in an England shirt. Further complicating matters, Cole currently has a fractured ankle which he damaged in February so his fitness will play a big role in whether he makes the squad or not. Cole currently plays for Chelsea but got his start in the Arsenal youth program and won two Premier League titles with Arsenal. His transfer to Chelsea made him a target for the English media and disliked by the general public as he was fined $100,000 for meeting illegally with Chelsea representatives in a hotel. Arsenal fans have nicknamed him “Cashley” after the Chelsea transfer saga.
Cole played with several of the youth England squads and debuted for the senior England squad in May 2001 and made appearances in the 2002 World Cup, 2004 Euro’s and 2006 World Cup. He solidified his skills in the 2004 Euro’s while defending and shutting down Cristiano Ronaldo and is hailed as one of the best left backs in the world. Cole was one of the four England players named to the tournament all-star squad after his performance. He is known for his pace on the pitch and attacking abilities up field. He has 77 caps for England and if he can get fit and prove his match readiness before June he will most likely be in the starting 11.
Theo Walcott – Right Winger
At only 21 years old Walcott will be the youngest player to travel to South Africa for England if he is named for the squad. Despite his youth, he is hailed for his pace and has been dubbed as the fasted player in the world and the most promising English talents of his time. Walcott started his career with Southampton in 2004/2005 making a name for him on the youth team and quickly being promoted to a first team spot. Southampton ended up being relegated to the Championship so Walcott did not get an opportunity to play in the Premier League until his transfer to Arsenal in 2006 at the age of 17. Walcott has experienced success at Arsenal, however given his inexperience in big matches he often starts the game on the bench coming on as a sub late in the game. When he does make an appearance on the field he leaves a lasting impression. Just last week in a Champions League game against Barcelona he subbed into the game at the 67th minute and scored Arsenal’s first goal at the 69th minute.
Because Walcott doesn’t have much international experience he was a surprise appointment (considering he had yet to play a Premier League game) to England’s 2006 World Cup team ahead of several more experienced strikers and became the youngest England player to make an appearance in a friendly against Hungary on May 30, 2006. After the 2006 World Cup he has bounced back and forth between the senior team and the Under-21 team making an impact at both levels. Despite his lack of first team experience (he has 9 caps for England) he became the youngest English player to score a hat-trick in World Cup qualifying against Croatia solidifying England’s position in the 2010 World Cup. There is no question this kid has the ability to become a great player for England and hopefully he can add World Cup playing experience to his long list of achievements.
Peter Crouch – Striker
Crouch is one of my favorite players to watch due to the size of him. He is 6’-7” tall making him one of the tallest, most awkward players on the pitch and a great target man in the box. Despite his large size he shows incredible ball skill and has quick feet causing heartache for many defenders. Peter Crouch has had a very diverse 11-year career player for 11 teams. He started his career with Tottenham out of high school and recently returned to the club for the 2009/2010 Premier League season. Other teams on his resume include Portsmouth, Southampton, Aston Villa and Liverpool where he won an FA Cup title in 2006.
Crouch debuted for the England squad in 2005 and was included in the 2006 World Cup team. Crouch has been criticized as having an inconsistent goal scoring record at both the club and international level but he became the first England player to score more than 10 goals in a calendar year netting 11 in 2006. He also played an important role in the 2010 World Cup qualifying bid scoring 4 goals in 4 games. With 37 caps for the squad, Crouch has only started 19 games but scored 20 international goals. While Crouch might not always get the start, he is a force to be reckoned with on the pitch and has the ability to score a lot of goals for England. Another reason to watch Crouch is his signature “robot” dance after a goal. He says he will only do the dance if they win the finals but I’m hoping if he scores the moment will take over and he’ll bust a move.
Jermain Defoe – Striker
Jermain Defoe is a very accomplished striker however he has never featured for England in an international competition. He currently plays for Tottenham alongside Peter Crouch in the English Premier League where he scored 5 goals against Wigan this season and is leading the team with 17 goals overall. He has also developed his skills with West Ham and Portsmouth over the years. He can routinely be counted on to score against the big clubs in the big games and has been called a quick thinking striker with a poacher’s instinct.
Defoe began his England career on the youth squads and made his first team debut in March of 2004. He has been a great scoring asset for the England with 39 caps and 12 goals playing a crucial role in the 2006 qualifying campaigns, however he missed out going to the 2006 World Cup due to the appointment of Theo Walcott to the squad. I don’t think the same will happen in 2010 as he has played in five of England’s 2010 World Cup qualifiers scoring 3 goals coming on as a sub. Defoe has been compared to Michael Owen (England’s 4th top scored of all time) for his precision in the box and finishing ability. Per ESPN Soccernet: “Unlikely to be a starter for England, Defoe can provide a goal threat from the bench.”
Steven Gerrard - Vice-Captain; Central/Right Midfielder
Oh, Stevie G
You’re the world to me
Born and raised in Liverpool
It’s the club you’ll always rule
Your nation is where the Three Lions roam
But my heart is forever your home
That’s actually not a real song; I just made it up because that’s what Steven Gerrard means to me. Oh, you think I’m gay for Steven Gerrard. No, no, no. Gay doesn’t begin to describe it. If I was ever on some bizarre game show where I had to choose between spending the rest of my life with my wife or as Gerrard’s number one sidekick I’d at least pause for a minute before I turned back to my wife. Then I’d tell her I love her and I’ll always remember her before I run off with Stevie.
Gerrard is the captain and talisman of my club, Liverpool, and has one of the greatest stories in all of sports. Literally born and raised in Liverpool he grew up rooting for the club he now captains. He joined their academy at the age of 9, made his first team debut at 18, and became captain of the club at 23. It’s said that in his early days with the club he could often be seen at the pub with fans after the matches. He plays in the attacking midfield position where he scores some of the most amazing goals you’ll ever see, especially from free kicks, but isn’t afraid to get back and make some bruising tackles on the defensive end. There’s no question when the team needs something miraculous to happen they turn to Gerrard and he delivers time and time again.
If there’s a criticism to his game it’s that he’s often injured, likely the result of playing nonstop soccer year round. If there’s another criticism it’s that while he produces some of the same magic for the national team as he does for his club (he was their leading scorer in the ’06 Cup), it’s not nearly at the same rate. Part of that reason is the fact that he has to share the midfield with one of his most hated rivals, Frank Lampard, and another is that he, like so many of the other guys on the squad, is the star of his club but has to play second or third fiddle for the national team a lot of times. Still, next to Rooney, I expect Gerrard will have the most impact on England’s success this summer.
Frank Lampard – Central Midfield
Oh boy, do I hate this guy. I’ve never met him but he just looks like an absolute douche. Predictably he plays his club ball for Chelsea, which certainly contributes to my opinion of him, but honestly, he’s just a douche. That aside, I will give him his credit here. He is one of the best central midfielders in the world and paired up next to Gerrard in the national team you’d think they’d be unstoppable, and sometimes they are, but most of the time only one of them will be hot at a time. It’s infuriating as a fan, but not surprising as described above.
Lampard is one of the most durable players in the world, setting a Premier League record 174 straight matches. He’s Chelsea’s all-time leading scorer with 151, the Premier League’s all-time leading scorer from midfield with 124, and was named the EPL’s player of the decade based on statistics. While he has 77 caps and 20 goals to his name, similar to Gerrard his real magic seems to be reserved for his club. He went scoreless in the ’06 Cup and turned in one of the tournament’s most disappointing performances. If England is to win the Cup he and Gerrard will have to be at their absolute best. Still, the guy is a royal douche.
Gareth Barry – Midfielder
The 29-year-old made his international debut in 2000 but could never fully break into the squad and even went four years without playing for is nation at all. He seems to have finally made a place for himself under Capello and when you look across the middle of the pitch with Gerrard and Lampard next to him, England should have one of the most daunting lines in the world. He’s another guy that will really need to step up in this Cup to help England advance.
Joe Cole - Winger
Considered by some to be England’s most effective player in the 2006 Cup, Cole’s career has been defined more by injuries than great performances. In fact, he’s not a guarantee for this year’s squad thanks to long spells on the injured list this season with his club, Chelsea. Unlike the rest of his teammates, I don’t hate Cole with unbridled rage, probably because he’s hurt all the time and barely ever plays. Personally I’ll be pulling for him to be fit and selected for the squad this summer because when he is on the pitch he’s a purposeful and impactful player. He’s not likely to start any matches, but he’s an ace in the hole when he comes on as a sub.
Glen Johnson – Right Back
My boy Glen started his career at West Ham United before moving to Chelsea then eventually making the move from bottom dwelling Portsmouth to my club, Liverpool over the summer, and had an immediate impact on the team, scoring two goals and creating a penalty in his first few games as a quick, aggressive right back with a penchant for getting into the opposing team’s penalty box. The 26-year-old seems to be fully recovered from a knee injury that kept him on the sidelines for more than a month this year and should certainly be Capello’s first choice at right back despite having only a few caps to his name. If he has a weakness it is his desire to get involved in the offense. While he is effective on that part of the pitch it has a tendency to leave him exposed on the defensive side. Regardless, I think he’s the man for the job.
Keepers: Look no further than this position for England’s weakest link. All of the players in consideration for the starting job have had excellent spells in their careers, while all have played embarrassingly poor as well. As the senior keeper on the squad, 39-year-old David James definitely brings the most experience to the table. But he’s spent the last several years tending goal for the hapless Portsmouth club which is on its way to being relegated to the lower division for next year, and unfortunately for James the biggest headline he’s made in weeks occurred not too long ago when he completely whiffed on a ball rolling towards him and allowed the opponents to score. Injuries this season may ultimately derail his chances of being Capello’s number one.
At 29 Robert Green has had the misfortune of spending his international goaltending career behind David James and a few others, consequently he’s only earned a handful of caps. He plays admirably for his club West Ham even though they’re likely to get relegated after this season. He’d be better for England if he just played more and had the confidence to be the number one. With James’ shakiness of late, Green may be playing quite a bit more very soon.
At 23 Joe Hart has a huge career ahead of him. He’s struggled to make a permanent impression with his club, Manchester City, but has had a very strong season on loan to Birmingham City. With only two caps to his name he may be a long shot for the national team but if it doesn’t happen now it will at some point in the near future.
Prediction: England have been ranked higher in their history and they’ve been ranked lower; they’ve had better players and they’ve had worse; but anyone rooting for England and looking at this team is thinking that this has to be the year they do it. Do I think they will? I think they can. Absolutely, I think they can. They should win Group C easily, which is to say, it will be a tough game but England should beat the US and then handle Algeria and Slovenia. Yes, I would love for the US to win or draw against England, but a loss for the US in the first game won’t mean curtains for them provided they can beat Algeria and Slovenia themselves, which they should. After the Group stage though, no one has a cakewalk, and particularly so for England. Winning Group C means facing the likes of Ghana or Australia in the Round of 16, then the likes of France or Nigeria, then the Netherlands or Brazil, then Spain or Argentina… If England is to win it all this summer, they will have earned it.
Okay, one more Beckham:
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