The Hodge Podge England Squad

The announcement of the England squad for a major tournament is always a big talking point. But this time round, it doesn't feel like it matters all that much.

England's opening game of the tournament will be manager Roy Hodgson's third as national team coach. Even by this country's standards, he is likely to still be in a period of grace. This is helped by the fact that the 2010 World Cup was so dreadful from and England perspective, and nobody expects this team to pull up any trees in Poland and Ukraine.

The pressure, therefore, is very much off, and in my view, this should be reflected in the squad choice that is made tomorrow.

Every two years (luck permitting) we are beset with articles about the 'difficult choices' that a manager must face when picking his squad. This year, it is no different. Can you really leave out a suspended Wayne Rooney? A probably racist John Terry? An unfit Rio Ferdinand? The answer this time is simple. Yes, you can.

In the build up to this squad announcement, Hodgson has emerged as the supreme pragmatist, likely to pick a solid, slightly conservative squad based on who is fit and most readily available. Not form. Why take a risk on the big names when you have a chance at looking at an emerging talent? He isn't looking to rock the boat, but have a good steady tournament and, I dare say, play some nice football.

For those reasons, I've picked what I feel to be Hodgson's ideal 23 man squad. It's a team able to adapt to a number of different styles (4-2-3-1 being the optimum), attack with pace when necessary, but also sit back and keep the ball against the more technically gifted sides.

Here goes:

Goalkeepers: Joe Hart; Robert Green; John Ruddy

Norwich keeper given the edge by virtue of there being nobody else available whatsoever.

Defenders: Micah Richards; Kyle Walker; Phil Jones; Gary Cahill; Joleon Lescott; Phil Jagielka; Ashley Cole; Leighton Baines

No racial conflicts, plenty of pace, bit of dead ball ability in there too. Lovely.

Midfielders: Scott Parker; Gareth Barry; Frank Lampard; Steven Gerrard; Theo Walcott; Ashley Young; Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain; Joe Cole

Many pundits have forgotten about Joe Cole, but he's been a key part of a Lille side that played in the Champions League and made a late charge for the French title. Not a quick winger any more, but in Rooney's absence, he is a great option to play just in behind a central striker. Oxlade-Chamberlain brings something special to the squad, the fear factor. It's him or Lennon, but I just feel the Tottenham man's delivery is going to be a permanent barrier between himself and true international quality.


If Scott Parker were to be injured, the most sensible replacement, were he to accept it, is Paul Scholes.

Forwards: Danny Welbeck; Jermain Defoe; Andy Carroll; Grant Holt

Like I say, no Rooney. Deal with it. Grant Holt gets in ahead of the likes of Sturridge, Zamora and Crouch due to his ability to win, keep, and use the ball well. Andy Carroll, for all his criticism, has the attributes to be a success for England if we do revert to a more direct approach. And let's face it, with our players, we may need to take that option if we're to get very far.