Top 5 midfielders from England's Golden Generation

Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard were the mainstays in England’s midfield in the 2000sEngland’s Golden Generation were one of the most talked about teams in the whole of world football throughout the early 2000s and, despite their inability to turn that promise into trophies, they were undoubtedly one of the game’s most fascinating squads of all time. The combination of a star-studded squad and a first ever foreign manager for the sport’s inventors was always going to grab headlines, especially when Sven-Goran Eriksson's men also happened to be captained by one of the world’s most famous faces.In addition to a strong defence and a couple of world class attacking stars, the Three Lions midfield was one full of star names. With the likes of Joe Cole, Nicky Butt, Gareth Barry and Michael Carrick all failing to make our top five, the calibre of player really is incredibly high. It’s mind-blowing to think this team never progressed beyond the quarter-final stages, although penalty shootout eliminations do underline the feeling that there was a slice of bad luck involved. Nevertheless, in spite of team failure, we’ve compiled a list of the top five midfielders from that era.

#5 Paul Scholes: 66 caps - 14 goals

Paul Scholes last played for England in 2004

In many people’s eyes, Manchester United legend Paul Scholes is the greatest midfielder that English football has ever produced. Despite an impressive start to his Three Lions career, followed by a promising beginning to the Golden Generation era, the icon never really brought his club form to the international stage.

As Frank Lampard worked his way into the side, the selection headache formed by England’s three talented central midfielders resulted in Scholes being pushed out wide. In hindsight, this was Eriksson’s worst decision. England should have built the side around their most naturally gifted technician. Instead, they sacrificed him.

Consequently, the ginger magician failed to hit the heights that had seen him play such an inspirational part in Manchester United’s continued dominance at club level. Moreover, his growing apathy towards the national setup resulted in a premature international retirement after Euro 2004.

At club level, he would continue to pull the strings while also scoring over 150 goals and building a ridiculous haul of winners’ medals. In fact, his quality was so grand that he was begged to come out of retirement just six months after hanging up his boots. He duly helped the Red Devils win another Premier League title in his first full season back, announcing his retirement that summer.

If only England had utilised their greatest player better. Who knows what could have been.

#4 Owen Hargreaves: 42 caps

Owen Hargreaves single-handedly dragged England through the 2006 World Cup quarter-final against Portugal

Having broken into the England side in 2001, defensive midfielder Owen Hargreaves became the first ever Three Lions player to have never played in the English league. The Canadian-born Bayern Munich star was initially met with mixed emotions by the supporters. It didn’t take him long to win their hearts.

Hargreaves was brilliant in Germany and his quality regularly shone through when selected. Those battling talents were best highlighted by his incredible individual displays at the 2006 World Cup, particularly in the quarter-final loss to Portugal. After seeing Wayne Rooney sent off for that infamous stamp, Hargreaves stood up and pretty much single-handedly dragged England through to penalties. In the shootout, he was the only player to score for England.

Despite starring in 2004 and 2006, Hargreaves wouldn’t have long left in the international team. His transfer to Manchester United in 2007 was quickly halted by injuries and they continued to plague his time in English football. It would also impact his international career and he went on to amass just three more caps after joining the Old Trafford giants.

If you need any indication to Hargreaves’ quality then just look at England’s Euro 2008 campaign. With the gifted ball-winner, Steve McClaren’s men picked up 10 points from 12. Without him, 13 from 24.

His time at the heart of England's team was short and sweet, but there is no denying that he did influence them greatly during that period.

#3 Steven Gerrard: 114 caps - 21 goals

Steven Gerrard retired after the 2014 World Cup

Having set Anfield alight around the turn of the century, Steven Gerrard announced himself to the world with a cracking strike in England’s famous 5-1 win over Germany in Munich. He was quickly declared the future of English football. By the time he retired in 2014, the Liverpool legend had climbed up the ranks to being named the Three Lions captain for three tournaments and had become one of only eight centurions.

Gerrard was viewed by many as the potential driving force for England’s Golden Generation. But in spite of the occasional brilliance, his international record is met with a slight sense of disappointment. The main reason being his inability to link up with fellow star Frank Lampard.

Having dragged club side Liverpool to a Champions League victory, Gerrard’s star quality was never in doubt. However, it wasn’t really until he resorted to a more defensive role that he really began to influence the England team on a regular basis. Despite being the side’s best player at Euro 2012, you have to wonder whether building the side around him for the 2014 World Cup was wise.

Ultimately, you can’t make 114 international appearances for a team like England unless you’re a very gifted footballer. It’s just a shame we didn’t see that on a regular basis.

#2 Frank Lampard: 106 caps - 29 goals

Frank Lampard was voted England’s Player of the Year twice

When remembering the international career of Frank Lampard, most fans will be quick to recall the infamous goal that never was against Germany at the 2010 World Cup. That might suggest that the Chelsea icon failed to ever achieve that much in an England shirt, but the truth is that he was a very solid member of the Three Lions team for a whole 15 years.

His England career might not boast the same level of enthralling moments as his contemporaries, but the now-New York City midfielder was a key cog in the Three Lions machine. He was named in the Euro 2004 Team of the Tournament and was named England’s Player of the Year on two occasions in 2004 and 2005 – two years in the middle of the supposed Golden Generation.

Like Gerrard, Lampard suffered from the less than sparkling partnership with Gerrard. However, he is a centurion and sits ninth in the list of all-time England scorers.

But team failings should not detract from his contribution to the cause. The fact he was prefered to Paul Scholes says a lot, even if you don’t agree with that decision.

#1 David Beckham: 115 caps - 17 goals

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The ultimate zero to hero story. The petulant boy of the 1998 World Cup in France had evolved into a man by 2001, becoming the world’s most recognisable footballer in the process. On one fateful afternoon against Greece, the England captain cemented his place in football folklore by dragging England to the 2002 World Cup.

He never looked back.

England’s hero then underlined his redemption for his mistake four years earlier by scoring the match-winning penalty against Argentina in Japan. The legend continued to shine for England over the next four years and would become the only Englishman to ever score in three consecutive World Cups. He is also the joint record scorer for direct free-kicks scored in World Cup finals history.

Beckham’s undying passion to play for his country made him a huge hit with the fans and this spirit was underlined when McClaren dropped the inspirational star, almost as if to make a point. ‘Goldenballs’ worked his way back into the side, though, and would eventually win his 100th cap in 2008 to become the first star from the Golden Generation to reach that milestone.