England - the future....

[Hoop Blah]

Milner retains his place, but no Baines (who may be injured and another one who's place is really under threat).

[6ft Kerplunk]

Thought Mark Noble might have been in there for these friendlies. He's been excellent all season.

[Ouroboros]

Baines isn't injured, he's just not being played very much for Everton.

[Hoop Blah]

Baines isn't injured, he's just not being played very much for Everton.

True.

Perhaps Hodgson is using these two to look at the more unknown qualities of Rose and Bertrand as he knows more than enough about Baines and what he can do. I'm guessing Baines is now 50/50 at best to make the squad though.

There's much of a muchness about our left back options, despite there being quite a few vying for contention. I think that's more because of the lack of an outstanding option than the sudden emergence of lots of quality (subject to Shaw being fit).

If everyone is fit there's Shaw, Bertrand, Baines, Gibbs, Rose and Cresswell who's had another good season for West Ham. All of them have performed well enough in the Premier League.

[No Fixed Abode]

Thought Mark Noble might have been in there for these friendlies. He's been excellent all season.

Agreed. I'd take out Jordan Henderson and put Noble in.

[Hoop Blah]

Thought Mark Noble might have been in there for these friendlies. He's been excellent all season.

Agreed. I'd take out Jordan Henderson and put Noble in.

i think it's too late for that.

You can't really go into a tournament with your central midfield options being Noble, Alli, Drinkwater and Dier. Between them they'd have next to no experience of international football (6 caps shared between them so far) and I don't think there's any point in looking at all of them during the build up.

For me Alli is a cert for the squad, he just offers so much, and Dier is looking more and more like our best [natural] defensive midfielder. Both of them make it ahead of Noble and Drinkwater and so it then boils down to a choice between the two.

Henderson has never really let Hodgson down either. I don't think he's back to his best yet but I can't see him not making the squad.

[Sanguine]

Thoughts on Wilshere likely to be in the squad, even if he doesn't play this season?
From an experience perspective (as above) I guess he has to be there - unless we want to take Carrick. We do look a bit bare in the middle though, the talent of the likes of Alli not withstanding.

Haven't really noticed Dier much this season. He is one of those quietly effective players? Centre-back originally wasn't he?

[Hoop Blah]

Dier was originally a centre back yes, then played right back quite a bit too. This season he's been quite a key figure as the holding midfielder and he's probably our most (if not only) naturally defensive minded midfielder.

I can only see Wilshire being involved if he's played a few games for Arsenal. He, like Rooney, always seem to take quite a while to get back into the swing of things so I'd say he needs to play a few games for Arsenal to make the squad.

On the other hand, he was man of the match for England's last 3 or 4 games so I can see Hodgson taking a punt on him getting fit and into form whilst they're away. It might depend on what happens with Rooney though. We can't take too many potential crocks but at least Dier making the squad might free up a space as he could be the 4th centre back and 2nd right back as well as an alternative to the midfielders.

On the seasons form I think England have some good options in the middle, it's just they've not got enough caps behind them so all represent a bit of a gamble. It also depends if Hodgson see's us playing 4-2-3-1 or the 4-3-3 he used a lot during qualification.

[From Despair To Where?]

I think Willshire would be better served by not being rushed back and getting a full pre season under his belt. It's like Rooney, constantly rushed back for International tournaments, he should be in his prime at 30 but he's an injury waiting to happen.

[Ouroboros]

Jesus no, let's not take Wilshire.

We've got two teams at the top of the league who are stocked full of young, confident, hungry and on-form english players. I'd rather we filled the squad with those that take a big name who hasn't played for a few months (and hasn't played well for considerably longer than that).

[Hoop Blah]

Jesus no, let's not take Wilshire.

We've got two teams at the top of the league who are stocked full of young, confident, hungry and on-form english players. I'd rather we filled the squad with those that take a big name who hasn't played for a few months (and hasn't played well for considerably longer than that).

I partly agree that Wilshire shouldn't be going as he's not played enough but he's been England's best player in the last 3 or 4 games he played so you can't say he hasn't played well. The issue for me is whether he can recapture that form without a couple of months of playing. My fear is no.

The other options we have for either the two or three midfield spots (depending on formation) are, IMO, Alli, Carrick, Dier, Drinkwater, Henderson, Milner and Noble (plus another injured option in Delph). Hodgson might also include Barkley or Lallana in that group if he's playing 3 as that's where they both played in recent friendlies.

They're probably good enough to step in if Wilshire isn't fit so I wouldn't worry about it too much but, IF fit and in form Wilshire >>> all of those.

[Hoop Blah]

This is an interesting take on the midfield question: http://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/michael-cox-who-should-play-defensive-midfield-england#:NyXq5tz9YBJU5Q

I think it overlooks the option of Hodgson playing Henderson and Alli as a dynamic two behind the 3 attacking options supporting Kane upfront on his own.

It's ironic though, after thinking we've left behind the days of England shoe-horning Gerrard and Lampard into the same midfield we could soon be asking how Alli and Barkley can both be accommodated in just the same way.

[Hoop Blah]

Hodgson is going for his take on 4-3-3 against Germany with this starting 11

Butland
Clyne
Rose
Cahil
Smalling
Henderson
Dier
Alli
Lallana
Kane
Wellbeck

I'm not sure I like the formation as I'd rather have the extra attacker in a 4-2-3-1 but it's the shape Hodgson used through qualifying so I guess he's comfortable with it.

[Ian Royal]

I thought we looked excellent in the middle third for 30 minutes. Pressed extremely well high up the pitch and gave Germany very little. We looked progressively more vulnerable from about 20 - 25 minutes, to start with at full back with midfield and attack being narrow and pressing high. Then midfield and the wide forwards started dropping deeper and deeper inviting Germany on and giving them too much time to pick their passes.

At the back our concentration looks poor. There were several points where we seemed to switch off, lose our shape and play a couple of gears lower, gifting Germany the chance to play straight through us. 1-0 seems about fair.

We also bunched too much in attack, playing too narrow and overly intricate. An example being just before Germany's goal, we end up all the way back to the keeper, who picks up an injury, clears badly and then isn't fit enough to stop a routine shot.

Hummels should definitely have got a yellow.

There's a genuine lot of promise there if we can tighten at the back and be a bit more crisp, incisive and clinical upfront.

[6ft Kerplunk]

We need to give tbe Czech Republic their kit back.

[AthleticoSpizz]

^ this....what a sh1t kit.......no identity with any England team

[6ft Kerplunk]

Two lovely finishes and we've looked pretty good if a little open when Germany counter attack.

[AthleticoSpizz]

Vardy's stocks and shares are rising again, as we watch.

What a player

[Royal Ginger]

Dele Alli!

[AthleticoSpizz]

Two world wars
One World Cup
5-1
Etc etc

happy happy happy