Euro 2012 A Building Platform- Whats Your Starting XI

With the so called 'Golden Generation' of English football all but eradicated from the national team or floundering at club level, many pundits and fans alike believe that England stand on the brink of a new era. With some excellent young talent emerging from not only the top flight but the championship as well does the future look that little more brighter for the English game? With the likes of Lampard, Gerrard, Beckham, Owen, Joe Cole and Rio Ferdinand on the brink of what is likely to be their last opportunity at a major tournament, Euro 2012 could be the chance to blood a new crop of internationals. Now should be the time for Capello to put his trust not only the younger players but the form players as well. Rio Ferdinand has been ravaged by reoccurring injuries and its plain for all see that his legs have gone and that he's a shadow of his former self, where as Lescott, jagielka, cahill, jones and smalling are all bang in form. Glen Johnson has proven time again that he is not an international defender, going forward he is a decent player but his defending is not up to scratch, where as Walker and Richards are playing some excellent football. The emergence of Jack Wilshere and the form of Scott Parker gives the team a great balance in the centre of the park that lampard and Gerrard never did, Wallcott, Young, Downing, Adam Johnson offer some natural pace on the wing that Joe cole on the left never did and on right in the past swp and lennon never really cut the mustard in major tournaments. Danny Welbeck looks like a promising forward and his relationship with Rooney can only improve the more they play together at club level.

Euro 2012 should be used as a building platform for the future of the national game, with a 'lets see how far we can go' attitude rather then heaping the pressures of anything less than a title win is a failure. The Germans did that in South Africa in 2010 and they had a fantastic world cup and I fully expect them to go very close if not win 2012, Ozil, muller, kadhira etc have all gone on to build on that tournament and are now established and experienced internationals and top players. If we copied this format who's knows where Jones, Wilshere and welbeck could be, come Brazil 2014. Of course any good team needs a mixture of youthful energy and experienced old heads to control the game and find the right mix like Germany did and even Man utd did all those years ago which is a great formula for success.

This would be my starting line up for the first game of euro 2012 and the rest of the 23 man squad listed bellow:

GK: Joe Hart

RB: K. Walker
CB: P.Jones
CB: J. Terry (c)
LB: A.Cole

CM: S.Parker
CM: J. Wilshere

LW: A.Young
RW: T.Walcott
CAM: Gerrard (Rooney when he returns from ban)

CF: D. Welbeck

Rest of Squad

12.GK.B.Foster
13.GK.Stockdale
14.DEf.M.Richards
15.DEF.J.Lescott
16.DEF.L.Baines
17.DEF.C.Smalling
18.MID.S.Downing
19.MID.F.Lampard
20.MID.J.Milner
21.MID. Gerrard (Rooney)
22.STR.J.Defoe
23.STR. D.Bent

It maybe a risk taking 9 players that have never been to major tournament before but imo fortune favors the brave and the safe tactics of sven and capello have achieved nothing over the last two decades now is time to blood these new players and build for the 2014 world cup

Yours thoughts?

what would be your start XI and squads

GK - 1.Hart, 12.Stockdale, 13.Ruddy

RB - 2.Richards
LB - 3.Cole, 20.Baines
CB - 5.Ferdinand, 6.Jagielka, 16.Smalling, 15.Cahill

RB/CB/CM - 4.Jones

CM - 7.Wilshere, 14.Parker, 21.Lampard
CM/RM - 8.Gerrard
RM - 11.Walcott
LM - 17.Young
RM/LM - 22.Johnson

FWD - 10.Rooney, 23.Sturridge
STK - 9.Bent, 18.Defoe, 19.Wellback

.......................... Hart

Richards ... Ferdinand .. Smalling ... Cole

..................... Jones .... Parker

Sturridge ............ Wilshere ............ Young

............................ Bent

With Rooney

.......................... Hart

Jones ..... Ferdinand .. Smalling ... Cole

........ Gerrard .. Parker .. Wilshere

.... .Sturridge .... Bent .... Rooney

That being said, I could see Bobby Zamora possibly being selected for his battering ram style if England feel they may need to pump balls into the box

Those teams are suspect definsively but great going forward.

I completely overlooked Sturridge, he's a great shout and on fire at the moment, i'll change him for downing

Hart

Smalling
Jones
Terry
Baines

Sturridge
Parker
Wishire
Milner

Rooney
Bent



Rooney

Saying that, i would rather Richards in at RB as opposed to Smalling.

Sturridge has to be in and Johnson is a must in the first team. Just wish he could get more games with city to confirm his place

Good squad selection (Note: Ben Foster is retired from international football, so probably Ruddy as his replacement).

One player you have definatley overlooked is Gary Cahill, not only should he be in your squad, but he should be starting. In my opinion he's England best centre half and is a genuine ball playing defender.

Phil Jones certaintly is the future, but he plays out of position too much to be trusted into the side at centre back. Also, you cannot discount Sturridge, he's left sided and offers something different to what the side currently has.

I also think it should be the end of the line for Jermaine Defoe, I would take a fit Bobby Zomara, he offers something different and gives additional options. Terrible shame that Carroll hasn't progressed at all at Anfield, as he would of been in my squad based on his Newcastle form.

My team would be

GK Hart (sensational, probably the best England keeper since Peter Shilton!)

RB Richards
CB Cahill
CB Terry
LD A Cole

RAM Sturridge
CM Wilshire
DMC Parker (a must)
CM Gerrard
LAM A Young

STR Rooney

12.GK Stockdale
13.GK Ruddy
14.DF Baines
15.DF Smalling
16.DF Jones
17.DF Lescott
18.DMC Barry
19.MF Milner
20.Wng Walcott
21.STR Welbeck
22.STR Zamora
23.STR Bent

Possible Wildcard- I'd take Paul Scholes over Barry if he can prove himself this season. He really does have that creative talent England desperately miss.

Playes that miss out:

Lampard (although Capello will defiantly take him at the expense of a striker such as Zamora or Welbeck/ Sturridge)

Glenn Johnson (Not good enough defensively). Walker is better, but I feel Jones and Smalling offer great options in other areas of the park.

Ferdinand/ Dawson/ King- players in the squad above are less prone to injury.

Adam Johnson. If you can't get into your own club side, you shouldn't be selected for England.

-------------------------------Hart------------------------------

--Richards--------Cahill------------Jagielka---------------Cole


------------------------------------Barry-----------------------------------


----------------Walcott------------------------------------------Johnson------

-------------------------------------------Gerrard---------------------------------------

--------------------------------Rooney----------------Bent---

cricketfan90 wrote:-------------------------------Hart------------------------------

--Richards--------Cahill------------Jagielka---------------Cole


------------------------------------Barry-----------------------------------


----------------Walcott------------------------------------------Johnson------

-------------------------------------------Gerrard---------------------------------------

--------------------------------Rooney----------------Bent---

No Parker or Wilshere?

possibly parker for barry, but i think the world cup will be wilshere in for gerrard not just yet though.