Roy Hodgson's selection for Euro 2012

As all qualified teams end their final round of friendlies this week, the teams have had an understanding of their strengths and weakness and are all set to make the necessary changes before the tournament kicks off. But it looks as if all that can go wrong is going wrong England: from Capello’s resignation to Hodgson’s appointment ahead of Redknapp, and now a host of senior players sidelined due to injury.

England manager Roy Hodgson speaks to the media during an England Press Conference

Initial squad as announced on May 17th

GoalkeepersRobert Green (West Ham United), Joe Hart (Manchester City), John Ruddy (Norwich City).

DefendersLeighton Baines (Everton), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Ashley Cole (Chelsea), Glen Johnson (Liverpool), Phil Jones (Manchester United), Joleon Lescott (Manchester City), John Terry (Chelsea).

MidfieldersGareth Barry (Manchester City), Stewart Downing (Liverpool), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), James Milner (Manchester City), Scott Parker (Tottenham Hotspur), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Arsenal), Theo Walcott (Arsenal), Ashley Young (Manchester United).

ForwardsAndy Carroll (Liverpool), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Daniel Welbeck (Manchester United), Jermain Defoe (Tottenham Hotspur).

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Present Squad after changes

GoalkeepersRobert Green (West Ham United), Joe Hart (Manchester City), Jack Butland (Birmingham City)

DefendersLeighton Baines (Everton), Martin Kelly(Liverpool), Ashley Cole (Chelsea), Glen Johnson (Liverpool), Phil Jones (Manchester United), Joleon Lescott (Manchester City), John Terry (Chelsea), Phil Jagielka (Everton).

MidfieldersStewart Downing (Liverpool), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), James Milner (Manchester City), Scott Parker (Tottenham Hotspur), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Arsenal), Theo Walcott (Arsenal), Ashley Young (Manchester United).

ForwardsAndy Carroll (Liverpool), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Daniel Welbeck (Manchester United), Jermain Defoe (Tottenham Hotspur).

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1. Carroll instead of Holt

Andy Carroll may have given his all in his last few games and regained his form to silence critics who were constantly talking about his 35 million tag. But I feel he should have been on the bench and Grant Holt given the opportunity to lead the line. But the man who has scored 15 goals in the Premier League this season has been completely ignored by Hodgson.

2. Why place Sturridge behind Jermain Defoe?

Jermain has low stamina, is slow and has been confined to a substitute role. Why not have the young blood of Sturridge, who has excellent pace and has the capability to play the entire 90 mins? He can dominate with the ball and take charge of the game. He would have been a better option for England. Instead, Roy has chosen to leave him on the standby list.

3. Complete ignorance of Micah Richards

He is perhaps England’s most physical and dominant attacking fullback. Given Glen Johnson’s skills on the ball and accurate passes, his omission may have been acceptable. But we should not forget that he is a traditional centre back who plays in the right back position. With Gary Cahill breaking his jaw, it makes absolutely no sense whatsoever to have picked Martin Kelly ahead of Richards.

4. Need of Michael Carrick’s inclusion into the team in need of a guiding light.

With most senior players out of action, Hodgson needs a player who can not only lay fine passes but also dictate the game’s pace. Carrick’s pass completion over the course of the season was 90.1% which was the highest in the league, barring Paul Scholes. Carrick’s pass completion in the final third over the course of the season was 81% which was also second only to Scholes. Carrick’s interceptions per game (as adjudged by the number of starts) was 2.6, with only Parker ahead of him. With such stats, there is really no need to further justify why he needs to be in the team.

5. Rio Ferdinand omitted second time round and Martin Kelly’s shock call up

After Cahill’s bizarre injury, Martin Kelly’s call up to the England squad ahead of Rio Ferdinand has raised eyebrows. In big tournaments, where experience matters more than style of play, Hodgon’s excuse of Ferdinand having played less in recent years is unjustified. If that were the case, the same can be said of Gerrard too.

In the end, all I can do is wish the best of luck for the England manager and his team. In fact, Robbie Fowler has already declared England’s progress into the knockout phase an uphill task. Bon Voyage, Englishmen!