Form through formation- An English puzzle

In today’s world were where football is a religion, we find three sections of this religion. The smallest is the one which still believes in the chastity and quality of international football. The one larger than that believes solely in club football and pays no attention to the international game. The largest though are the ones who are fans of both forms of the game. International and club football differ in everything. Be it, the speed of play, the tactics employed or the underlying motivation to play for pride rather than money. In fact, other than personnel nothing is common between the two.

England has always been an enigma unto itself on the international scene. They have, at various points, promised tons and delivered little. The only noteworthy honor they have is of winning the World Cup way back in 1966. So what then is the reason for this constant underachievement. I believe it all comes down to expectations. With a regular dose of their players in the Premier League, fans in England and English fans like me start expecting too much, and the in face of such expectations, failing seems easier, especially since the last two generations did the same. The squad for England seems to be sealed before the tournament. Here is what I think the 23 man squad will be.

Goalkeepers- Hart, Butland, FosterDefenders- Johnson, Cole, Baines, Walker, Jagielka, Cahill, Jones, LescottMidfielders- Wilshere, Gerrard, Lampard, Cleverly, Barry, Carrick, Walcott, Milner, Oxlade-ChamberlainForwards- Rooney, Lambert, Welbeck

Brazil hosts the World Cup in 2014, but this time around there is a difference for the Three Lions. No one takes England seriously any longer. Not their opponents, not the pundits and not even their own fans. This could seriously work in England’s favor. When Roy Hodgson took over, he asked for time and slowly the results have started to improve. Although England is by no means a guaranteed a place at the World Cup Finals, I believe they will overcome their propensity to draw winnable matches and finish on top of their group. This propensity to draw is a recent quality of the Englishmen. They are difficult to lose against and difficult to win against. The defense appears slightly disturbed, but with Hart taking his game to a different level every time he plays for England, the foundations of the team appear secure.

The problem comes as we move further up the field. And with problems come criticisms. England is widely criticized for not having enough pace. Although Walcott and Wilshere are quick, they are the only men who can boast of real pace in the probable starters. In the 2010 and 2006 World Cup tournaments, we found that more often than not the English compromised themselves in order to control their opponents. The trick for me is that the English play to their strengths.

Which brings us to the question, what are their strengths. For me the biggest strength for the English team right now is their midfield. With Wilshere and Gerrard forming an impressive partnership, it is probable that Hodgson will look to build the team around them. The defense after Ferdinand’s retirement suddenly looks unsettled. On current form, the best center-back pairing is that of Cahill and Jagielka. While Cole and Johnson complete the backline. As England showed against Brazil, a three man center midfield suits them best. For me the third spot in midfield can either be filled by Cleverly or by Barry depending on the type of opposition they face. Up front Rooney, Walcott and Welbeck or Milner would be perfect.

So when one goes through that, it leaves us with a hybrid 4-3-3 formation. In simpler terms the formation would be a 4-3-2-1. This would suit England best. The main reason for this is that England generally find it difficult to retain possession. Also with their lack of quality forwards sticking two men up does not make sense. Pace, as I discussed earlier is not a quality that England have in abundance. And therefore the three man midfield is perfect for buildup play.

On paper, England have more problems than strengths. But then games are never won on paper. They are won on the field. They are won with heart, sweat and passion. In the end if England are to leave a mark in Brazil, it is their flair and heart that can help. The formation they use is just the means to the end.