England World Cup 2010 Team Profile

April 22nd, 2010 | by: Daryl |

England_crest_2009 England have been drawn into World Cup 2010 Group C, along with Algeria, Slovenia and USA. With Italian coach Fabio Capello at the helm, the blind and misguided arrogance of tournaments past seems to have morphed into a more appropriate and more likeable level of quiet confidence. Unless Wayne Rooney gets injured. Then it’s back to panic and patriotism.

You already know about the coach and the key players, but read on to see who has the best name, nickname and YouTube video.

Nickname: Three Lions. See above.

FIFA World Ranking as of March 31st 2010: #7

fabio-capello Coach: The very English sounding Fabio Capello. After entrusting the Euro 2008 campaign to Steve McClaren, and that not going so well, the English FA wanted a serious big name coach with a track record of trophies. Capello has won the Champions League with Milan, as well as league titles in his native Italy with Milan, Roma and (sort of) Juventus,plus two La Liga wins in two different stints at Real Madrid. Not too shabby, and Capello’s reputation and serious demeanor seem to have persuaded the big name England players to treat wearing the white shirt as a privilege instead of a right.

rooney150 Key Players: It’s almost impossible to overstate the importance of Wayne Rooney, but that won’t stop me giving it a damn good go. Playing “in the hole” behind the much derided but very functional Emile Heskey, Rooney is somehow England’s chief creator and main source of goals. If Rooney is fit and in form, then England could go far. Without him they lack invention. Simple as that.

In midfield Steven Gerrard isn’t having his best season for Liverpool, but is still capable of greatness. Chelsea’s Frank Lampard is much more in form. He provides a genuine goal threat from midfield, but is also more important than he gets credit for in terms of his passing and the way he keeps the ball moving through the middle.

The fitness and form of central defender and captain Rio Ferdinand is crucial, while the mental well-being of scandal-tastic former captain John Terry will also be a big factor.

Player with best YouTube video: Obviously Rooney and Gerrard have a multitide of highlight reels, but I’m going to go with Arsenal right winger Theo Walcott here. Because the kid looks quick, even in slo-motion.

Player with best name: Has to be Emile William Ivanhoe Heskey. Just for the Ivanhoe part. I’m also partial to Peter Crouch, just because it’s so oddly appropriate.

Player with best nickname: Ashley Cole is still known as Cashley after his big money move from Arsenal to Chelsea. And that’s the polite way of explaining it.

Qualification: After the Euro 2008 qualification disaster, England were handed a chance at revenge when they were paired with Croatia again. They didn’t waste it, beating Slaven Bilic’s men 4-1 away and 5-1 at home. England qualified top of UEFA Group 6, six points clear of Ukraine, and didn’t drop a single point until after qualification was secured. Wayne Rooney was joint second top scorer in European qualifying with nine goals.

Interesting: You probably already know this, but John Terry was stripped of the captaincy back in February, when an alleged (is it still alleged?) affair with the then girlfriend of England (and former Chelsea) teammate Wayne Bridge was revealed in the press.

Bridge is refusing to play for England while John Terry is involved, even with first choice left back Ashley Cole possibly injured, but Capello is sticking with Terry. So Bridge will stay home this summer, while Terry goes to South Africa. Time will tell if that was the right choice.

Also interesting (or at least worth noting) - Big names David Beckham and Michael Owen will miss the tournament through injury, but won’t be particularly missed.

National Anthem: Not actually the English national anthem, but “God Save the Queen” is always played before England games:

More on this national anthem here.

Kit: White shirt, white short, white socks. Very white.

Buy your England World Cup jersey here.

World Cup History:
1950 – First Round
1954 – Quarter-finals
1958 – First Round
1962 – Quarter-finals
1966 – Winners
1970 – Quarter-finals
1982 – Second Round
1986 – Quarter-finals
1990 – Semi-finals
1998 – Second Round
2002 – Quarter-finals
2006 – Quarter-finals

Expectations: Even before qualification, the FA set the target of Engalnd reaching the semi-finals of World Cup 2010, and Capello echoed that target in March 2010. Semis would be England’s best performance since 1990, so I’m thinking a spirited quarter-final appearance would be acceptable. Going out on penalties would be a bit too familiar.

Squad: TBA.

Blog: Matilda, Rob, SoccerLimey and my self run the England blog.

- More World Cup 2010 Team Profiles.

England World Cup Guide

International Football News – World Cup Blog RSS Feed

pencho15

As it seems fro me from Mexico, England had a very convincing qualification and that made me look at them as candidates for the championship, lately the number of injured players in their ranks has been high and thta could be a problem, but they still look like a very strong team to me, I do see them on semifinals.