English Knights ready for the biggest stage

England manager Roy Hodgson announced the 23-member squad on Monday which will travel to Brazil for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. There were no major surprises in the squad apart from the fact that it represented a refreshingly young looking English side, a trait not present in the English teams of the past few major tournaments.

The squad in full:-
Goalkeepers: Joe Hart (Manchester City), Fraser Forster (Celtic), Ben Foster (West Brom)
Defenders: Glen Johnson (Liverpool), Phil Jones (Manchster United), Phil Jagielka (Everton), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Chris Smalling (Manchester United), Luke Shaw (Southampton), Leighton Baines (Everton),
MIdfield - Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Ross Barkley (Everton), Jack Wilshere (Arsenal), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Arsenal), Raheem Sterling (Liverpool), Adam Lallana (Southampton), James Milner (Manchester City)
Forwards: Daniel Sturridge (Liverpool), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Danny Welbeck (Manchester United), Rickie Lambert (Southampton)

STAND BY SQUAD:
Michael Carrick (Manchester United),Andy Carroll (West Ham United),
Tom Cleverley (Manchester United),Jermain Defoe (Toronto FC),Jon Flanagan (Liverpool),John Ruddy (Norwich City),John Stones (Everton)
Hodgson has not gone by the convention of 8-8-4, implying 8 defenders, 8 midfielders and 4 forwards, instead opting for an extra man in midfield in place of a defender, suggesting that he is inclined to field a 5-man midfield in his playing eleven, with a lone striker.
One big omission from the squad was Ashley Cole, but that was hardly a surprise with the veteran left-back struggling for form and fitness, having also lost his place in the Chelsea line-up. Southampton starlet Luke Shaw was given preference over the 33-year old Cole, prompting the defender to announce his retirement from the international game after a career which saw him represent the Three Lions 107 times.
In a healthy dose of injection of youth, Hodgson also included Liverpool forward Raheem Sterling, Arsenal winger Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Everton attacking midfielder Ross Barkley in the squad. All three of them have had superb seasons and would like to leave a lasting impression on the grandest stage of them all. Ricky Lambert was included, probably with an eye on England’s woeful penalty-shootout record in the competition. The Southampton hitman has converted 48 of his 49 penalties in his career including all 32 he has taken for the Saints. The 31-year old striker hasn’t missed from the spot since 2009.

The probable starting line-up should look like this:-
Joe Hart; Glen Johnson, Gary Cahill, Phil Jones, Leighton Baines; Steven Gerrard (c), Jack Wilshere; Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Wayne Rooney, James Milner; Daniel Sturridge (Formation: 4-2-3-1)

All in all, this English squad provides a perfect balance between the exuberance of youth and the assurity of experience. They will need to call upon all their qualities when they take to the field, more so having being drawn in probably the toughest group of the competition along-side Italy, Uruguay and Costa Rica in Group D, commonly referred to as ‘D for Death’.
If they can survive the group stages, with favourable draws and a slice of luck, expect this England team to break the quarter-final jinx for the first time in 24 years.

FIRST MATCH: England vs Italy, June 14, 2014.