England's World Cup Defenders for 2010
Can the Defence help Secure Victory for Capello?
Oct 28, 2009
Well drilled and competitive, England will be watched closely in South Africa next year as probable third favourites. What the upcoming tournament will determine is whether England, drawing their players as they do from a league widely lauded as the best in Europe, are genuine World Cup contenders or merely a team of flat track bullies; their superficial strength in depth one fatal slip away from being exposed by forwards of genuinely international class. With the pressure on can England’s World Cup Defenders in 2010 really end forty-four increasingly torturous years of hurt?
James Leads the way in Goal
In goal England are presented with something of a conundrum. At present the team have an aging incumbent in David James, who in turn is supported by a number of unconvincing deputies. James has the experience, yet is still seen as vulnerable. Neither Foster nor Green have convinced, due in part to a mixture of errors and bad luck. Foster, when thrust into the limelight this season has looked nervous and prone to errors. As far as claiming the jersey for South Africa is concerned James looks likely to get the nod. He has tournament experience and a vast array of Premiership history to call upon. Sadly the once highly touted next generation of keepers (Kirkland, Hart and Carson) have all flattered to deceive, presenting England with one more false dawn to bemoan.
Full Backs Like to Go Forward
Ashley Cole and Glen Johnson are both excellent attacking full backs. Cole, regularly excoriated in the British tabloids for his personal life, remains what he has always been: A classy operator, solid in the tackle and positionally sound. While he may not be quite as effective going forward as he was in his Arsenal days he is still an effective operator who gives England balance on the left flank.
Glen Johnson, on the other hand is superb going forward yet quite often risible at the back. Recent England games have displayed his attacking endeavour to great effect, while highlighting his often wayward sense of positioning. Johnson has been caught out too often by mid level opposition and at present he is lucky to have little or nothing in the way of competition for the right back berth.
Problems at Centre Back
Once England’s greatest strength, centre back is now a position generating indecision and worry. Ferdinand is quite clearly not performing at the highest level. Always error prone, he seems bereft of confidence and a previously fawning media have finally started to criticise his erratic displays and lapses in concentration. The Manchester United man has the pedigree and experience yet he must improve his positioning and decision making if he is not to lose his manager’s confidence.
John Terry, England’s captain and defensive lynchpin continues to be troubled by pace at the very highest level. Spain and Holland have shown speedy forwards can unsettle him and his occasional bouts of recklessness in the tackle might be punished by overzealous referees in South Africa. Centre back is rapidly becoming a problem area. Capello, a manager who is loyal almost to a fault, will have several hard decisions to make in the coming months.
Injury Prone Stars Limit Capello’s Options
Injuries have cost England the services of two outstanding defenders in Jonathan Woodgate and Ledley King. Woodgate is quick, brave and tackles with weight and precision. Though he does appear to be cursed at present. Blighted by ankle and achilles trouble in recent months he managed only thirteen minutes before being withdrawn on his latest Spurs comeback against Stoke on Saturday. Though even in such a brief cameo he exhibited his defensive prowess, bravely preventing a certain goal with a typically adept headed clearance.
King, despite making himself available to England, is deemed incapable of withstanding the rigours of tournament football. A long term, degenerative knee injury restricts him to only fleeting appearances, even if he does (like the similarly compromised Paul McGrath before him) perform with poise and aplomb when selected. In West Ham’s Matthew Upson and Bolton’s untested Gary Cahill England possess a solid supporting cast, players capable of performing solidly at premiership level without ever really setting the pulse rating.
Ferdinand, increasingly injury prone himself, could find himself contemplating matches from the bench in 2010 should his form continue to atrophy. Capello may be forced into a bold move, selecting one of the Spurs stalwarts as quality defensive cover. If England considered it a risk worth taking in selecting the clearly injured Rooney and Owen for the last World Cup then picking either Woodgate or King (who has played for England in midfield in the past) should not be considered a bridge to far in 2010.
Strength in Depth or A Limited Squad out of their Depth at the Highest Level?
The England squad clearly possesses strength in depth defensively. Many of their players ply their trade at the very highest level, having garnered years of invaluable Champions League experience. However, there are flaws within this England side. Form appears to be deserting key players (though those of a positive nature will repeat the mantra that class is permanent), while age or injury is catching up with others. The perception among many is that the supporting cast available to Capello lacks the depth of those flaunted by England’s top World Cup rivals. It remains to be seen if England have the players capable of subduing the quicksilver forwards they are sure to encounter in the later stages of the World Cup. Having stepped up to the plate three times under Capello, against France, Spain and Holland the evidence suggests that the current crop of defenders will have their work cut out for them.
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