England in Euro 2016 – How we’ll line-up

After two very different performances against Spain and France, many supporters have begun to discuss whether youth is the way forward for England at the European Championships in the summer.

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Article by Tom Burford

I personally was very impressed with the in-experienced Deli Alli and the composure of Eric Dier, but will these guys still be in and around the starting squad by the time Euro 2016 comes around? I’ve compiled a couple of squads depicting how I’d like to see us line-up and discuss who should be on the plane (or the ferry) to France.

Squad 1 (How we should line-up) – 4-1-3-2

Hart, Shaw, Clyne, Stones, Smalling, Carrick, Walcott, Sterling, Barkley, Kane, Sturridge

I’m still a huge fan of the old fashioned tactic of two up front, and for the first time in a couple of tournaments, Wayne Rooney is not one of the best two.

I’m very happy with that back four and I thinks it’s a fairly sound prediction if all four stay fit.

I was very pleased with Eric Dier in the CDM role against the French, but I do think he earned his place thanks to the deminishing numbers of fit players at that time. I’m still such a big fan of Michael Carrick. I think he’s been one of England’s most underrated players for years. He breaks up play and can start attacks with his wonderful array of passing.

This isn’t a personal attack on Wayne Rooney, but I really don’t think he is one of our best players in the attacking half of the field, so he shouldn’t get a place just because he’s the current captain. Barkley to me is a far bigger threat in the CAM role as are Sterling and Walcott. There’s a lot of pace in that midfield with great potential to score goals on the break.

Although Jamie Vardy has been the best striker this season (based on league form), Kane and Sturridge are our best strike pairing when fully fit.

Squad 2 (How we’ll probably line-up) - 4-4-2

Hart, Shaw, Clyne, Smalling, Stones, Henderson, Wilshere, Sterling, Walcott, Rooney, Sturridge

I can’t see any way that Roy wouldn’t pick Wayne Rooney is he is fit (and not suspended) so he’ll definitely start up front, hopefully with Daniel Sturriidge who I think is our best striker.

Wilshere and Henderson will definitely both play in the midfield and as both of those play better defensively, that means either Walcott and Sterling playing right and left, or Sterling could play in CAM where w might see somone like James Milner come into a 3 man central midfield.

I’m very confident with that back four, I can only see Phil Jones replacing either Stones or Smalling, because Roy loves him.

The 23 man squad

This is alot trickier. I wan’t to show you what I’d like the 23 man squad to look like whilst also trying to pick who Roy will select.

My Squad

Goalkeepers

Joe Hart (Manchester City), Jack Butland (Stoke), Fraser Forster (Southampton)

Defenders

John Stones (Everton), Chris Smalling (Manchester United), Nathaniel Clyne (Liverpool), Luke Shaw (Manchester United), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Phil Jones (Manchester United), Aaron Cresswell (West Ham United)

Midfielders

Jack Wilshere (Arsenal), Michael Carrick (Manchester United), Eric Dier (Tottenham Hotspur), Deli Alli (Tottenham Hotspur), Theo Walcott (Arsenal), Raheem Sterling (Manchester City), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Arsenal), Ross Barkley (Everton)

Strikers

Daniel Sturridge (Liverpool), Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur), Andy Carroll (West Ham United), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Jamie Vardy (Leicester City)

There are a few here that Roy won’t even look at it, and yes maybe there is a bit of West Ham bias in there, but the Hammers players I’ve chosen would fit straight into this squad and would have no problems atall if they were called upon.

As you can see from my squad above, I don’t think Cresswell or Carroll should start. Cresswell will be a very credible back-up for Luke Shaw and I think you have to take Carroll because of his aerial threat, theres nobody better at holding the ball up for England than Carroll and would be a fantastic impact sub.

Although we’ve not see much of Alli or Dier, they are permanent fixtures in an excellent Tottenham team and will only improve from here. Dier is very composed but Alli’s flair really excites me. Plus he can tackle and is no pushover in the midfield.

I think Roy will only take four strikers. Although I wouldn’t start him, Rooney still has a big part to play for England. Jamie Vardy has more than earned his oppourtunity at international level and has slowly but surely turned into a prolific goalscorer.

Sturridge and Kane pick themselves, they’ve been England’s best strikers for a while now.

Roy’s Squad

Goalkeepers

Joe Hart (Manchester City), Jack Butland (Stoke), Fraser Forster (Southampton)

Defenders

John Stones (Everton), Chris Smalling (Manchester United), Nathaniel Clyne (Liverpool), Luke Shaw (Manchester United), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Phil Jones (Manchester United), Kieren Gibbs (Arsenal)

Midfielders

Jack Wilshere (Arsenal), Fabian Delph (Aston Villa), James Milner (Liverpool), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Theo Walcott (Arsenal), Raheem Sterling (Manchester City), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Arsenal), Ross Barkley (Everton), Adam Lallana (Liverpool)

Strikers

Daniel Sturridge (Liverpool), Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Danny Welbeck (Arsenal)

Whatever squad is picked, I think this is likely to be Roy Hodgson’s last major tournament as England manager.

With this in mind, I really think he should move out of his well publisised comfort zone in terms of his ‘old reliables’ and really give exciting youth that is developing infront of his eyes. He’s always been slow of the mark to pick players in form, so hopefully he’ll learn his lesson from the World Cup and give places to placers that have consistenly performed between then and 2016.

There’s a lot of negativity around the national side at the moment which never helps in the lead up to a tournament, so I think picking fresh young talent will wet the appetite of all supporters and hopefully aid a positive perfomance in the Euros.

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