They finally have a settled goalkeeper in Joe Hart, who is good enough to help them get as far as they can go, but the rest of the team is still in a state of flux.
Kyle Walker could make the right back spot his own by next summer if his good form for Tottenham and England continues, whilst Phil Jones, Phil Jagielka and Gary Cahill will all hope to win a starting spot alongside the ailing John Terry. Terry’s likely selection will put England at a significant disadvantage though, with the Chelsea man’s form poor this season. A liability both at club and international level, particularly if flanked by Ashley Cole on the left – this will be a weakness for England next summer.
In midfield there are positive signs with Scott Parker and Jack Wilshere looking likely starters. The pair combine the traditional English fighting spirit and work ethic will intelligence, technique and passing ability, a combination rarely seen since the likes of Paul Gascoigne and Glenn Hoddle.
Going forward, England will be relying on Theo Walcott and Ashley Young to provide width, though Adam Johnson would be a better choice than Young, he does not feature regularly for his club and so his chances may be limited. They will hope to link up with Daniel Sturridge and Wayne Rooney, though the latter is suspended for the group stage of the competition, with the next strongest contender for a starting spot being Tottenham’s Jermain Defoe.
England’s team can compete, but its youthful verve may render it a little too inexperienced. More of a concern though could be the fact that England have yet to truly advance to the modern style of football; passing on the floor, technique and eradicating those long balls. Fabio Capello has expended much energy trying to get English players to realise that intelligence, passing and technique are more important than long balls and running around like headless chickens. Surely things will change when the Terry-led era leave. But for now, Capello is stuck with them. Things are slowly changing, with Parker and Wilshere the epitomy of the new England and its new style. But Euro 2012 may just be too soon, against a Spain team still far too good for them, and Germany and France sides ahead of them in the development cycle.
Probable squad:
Joe Hart, Rob Green, Scott Carson
Kyle Walker, Glen Johnson, John Terry, Phil Jones, Chris Smalling, Phil Jagielka, Kieran Gibbs, Ashley Cole
Frank Lampard, Scott Parker, Jack Wilshere, Stewart Downing, Adam Johnson, Ashley Young, Theo Walcott, Steven Gerrard
Jermain Defoe, Wayne Rooney, Daniel Sturridge, Danny Welbeck
