England National Team: Predicting Their Full 23-Man Roster for Brazil 2014

History will be against England in Brazil two years from now.

Arriving in the soccer-mad South American country, Roy Hodgson's team will most likely not be amongst the favourites for the Jules Rimet trophy.

Nevertheless, come 2014, they will attempt to banish 48 years of hurt and cast off the growing reputation as "choke artists."

Here are 23 players to lead them to World Cup glory, picked from a well of hundreds of possible candidates.

(I might add that, in trying to compile this list, my sympathy for past England managers has grown exponentially.)

Goalkeepers

On the Plane: Joe Hart, Jack Butland, John Ruddy

Of all the decisions needed to be made in picking 23 Englishmen to represent their country in Brazil in 2014, picking three goalkeepers to board the plane proved the easiest.

Joe Hart is the current England No. 1, and to be honest, I really can't see that changing within the next two years.

Teenager Jack Butland is a quality prospect and a young player that may one day line up between the sticks for his country in a major tournament, but such a possibility could only really be considered in four years time, or even six.

If Norwich City's John Ruddy keeps improving with age, he'll be the third choice keeper. His unfortunate injury before the 2012 European Championships will no doubt weigh heavily in Hodgson's mind, inspiring sympathy when he eventually comes to make his decision.

However make no mistake, Ruddy was deserving of the call-up this summer, and should remain in the England boss' mind come 2014.

The first name on standby is Ben Foster—a quality keeper and a good option despite the fact he seems to take national team rejection a little too personally.

The other is Celtic's Fraser Forster, a much underappreciated shot-stopper who is currently impressing for Scotland's top club team.

On Standby: Ben Foster, Fraser Forster

Central Defenders

On the Plane: Phil Jagielka, Joleon Lescott, John Terry

The most notable admission here is certainly Gary Cahill, and to be honest, I had John Terry left at home in my predictions right up until I came to write this very slide.

But when the time came, I couldn't muster enough courage to leave out the controversial Londoner.

He will, after all, only be 33 years of age come 2014—hardly over the hill for a central defender.

At the Euros, he proved that he is still one of the best players in his position in the country, and say what you will about his past personal issues, he is an equally capable leader on the pitch.

Everton's Phil Jagielka is an easy choice, even if he refrains from moving to a bigger club in the next two years.

And Joleon Lescott too has proven a good many people wrong since his early troubles at Manchester City, becoming an automatic name on Roberto Mancini's team sheet.

You may question the fact that there are only three central defenders listed—this is due to the fact that one of my choices for central midfield is more than capable of filling in at the back, should injury rule out one, or even two, of Jagielka, Terry or Lescott.

Cahill's is the first name on stand by, followed by Steven Taylor, Chris Smalling, Ryan Shawcross, Steven Caulker and James Tomkins—in that order.

Taylor has been unlucky in the past not to have played more for his country. I believe it has been his lack of concentration in key moments for his club, Newcastle, that sees him ignored by England managers.

Smalling, if he is to be picked for Brazil 2014, will need to develop his awareness and footballing intelligence and make the most of what could be limited first-team opportunities for Manchester United.

Shawcross, Caulker and Tomkins are three very talented young defenders, but perhaps not yet at the level of the players previously mentioned.

On Standby: Gary Cahill, Steven Taylor, Chris Smalling, Ryan Shawcross, Steven Caulker, James Tomkins

Fullbacks

On the Plane: Ashley Cole, Leighton Baines, Glen Johnson, Micah Richards

Although Ashley Cole has long stood head-and-shoulders above the rest of the pack, England have a surprising number of good options in both fullback positions.

On the right-hand side, Glen Johnson gets the nod, not because I believe he is his country's best, but because Roy Hodgson seems to believe so.

He is certainly a dangerous threat going forward, but compared to Micah Richards, he is no match for his Manchester City opposite number in defensive situations.

Richards has been very harshly overlooked in the past, for reasons that I'm sure only the England coaching staff are aware of.

I cannot see this being the case in 2014.

Tottenham's Kyle Walker is unlucky to miss out, which should be no reflection on his ability, but rather of the wealth of talent England have at right-back.

Southampton's Nathaniel Clyne is another backup, though far less likely to board the plane to Brazil.

At left-back, as well as Cole, Everton's Leighton Baines is a worthy No. 2.

I have long considered Baines one of the best crossers in the Premier League, and a deadly set-piece specialist to boot.

Kieran Gibbs and Ryan Bertrand miss out, but will both be options worth considering for later tournaments.

On Standby: Kyle Walker, Kieran Gibbs, Ryan Bertrand, Nathaniel Clyne

Central Midfielders

On the Plane: Jack Wilshere, Steven Gerrard, Michael Carrick, Tom Cleverley, Scott Parker, Phil Jones

England fans, as well as Arsenal fans, will be hoping that Jack Wilshere's current injury problems conclude as soon as possible.

He, along with Manchester United's Tom Cleverley, is the future of his country's central midfield and its best chance of competing with the tactical flair of the world's best.

Gerrard is an automatic choice, meanwhile, as is Scott Parker—if Wilshere and Cleverley are the new breed, they are the fine wine that seems to mature with age.

Michael Carrick has had a particularly underwhelming England career, but if his nation's recent friendly with Italy proved anything, it's that Carrick is on the road to redemption and may yet develop into a key player in the midfield.

Phil Jones is the versatile player who can provide worthy backup for the central defence, as well as for the central midfield, though if he ever hopes to be a first-choice player for either club or country, he'll need to focus all of his development to one position before he runs the risk of becoming the jack-of-all-trades who doesn't excel at one.

It pains me to leave out Frank Lampard, but in Hodgson's current system, there seems to be little place for him.

James Milner, who was arguably England's most disappointing player at the Euros, misses out too.

I would argue strenuously that Jordan Henderson is a little overrated and has been misjudged in both his ability and potential.

Livermore, Noble, Gardner and Lallana are all fine players, but possess little chance of making Brazil.

On Standby: Frank Lampard, James Milner, Jake Livermore, Jordan Henderson, Mark Noble, Gary Gardner, Adam Lallana

Wingers

On the Plane: Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Theo Walcott, Scott Sinclair

Arsenal's Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Theo Walcott will almost certainly feature in Roy Hodgson's plans—both, although still needing development, are the kind of players that England need if they're ever going to threaten the world's best defences.

Both have pace and skill in abundance, even if their end product isn't yet as it should be.

Scott Sinclair is my token surprise pick in this position. Like Walcott and Oxlade-Chamberlain, he is not yet the finished article, but has the potential to be, providing he moves to a bigger club either this summer or the next.

The most notable omission is therefore Ashley Young, and perhaps a harsh one at that, but there is something in his style of football that fails to inspire confidence.

I believe Hodgson will learn from his team's failures at the Euros, leaving Milner and Young behind in 2014.

Aaron Lennon's inconsistencies at club level rules him out too in my mind.

If there is to be a wild card in the England boss' selection, then Liverpool's Raheem Sterling may be it, providing he gets the right opportunities at Liverpool.

Stewart Downing and Adam Johnson are too unfashionable at the moment to be considered as good options, whilst Aston Villa's Mark Albrighton has fine potential, but has suffered in recent seasons due to his club's poor choice of management since Martin O'Neill's departure in 2010.

On Standby: Ashley Young, Aaron Lennon, Raheem Sterling, Adam Johnson, Stewart Downing, Mark Albrighton

Forwards

On the Plane: Wayne Rooney, Andy Carroll, Daniel Sturridge, Danny Welbeck

Say what you want about Wayne Rooney. On his day, he is one of England's best players and a barnacle in the first-team lineup.

Hodgson is a known admirer of Andy Carroll, even if it appears he is currently being marginalised at Liverpool. The big man is an immense force in attack and a useful weapon to throw at the more technical foes.

Welbeck is a no-brainer, even if his finishing still needs some work.

But for the fourth choice, I've gone with Daniel Sturridge over Tottenham's Jermaine Defoe.

Sturridge has come in for a lot of criticism recently for his performances for Chelsea—a lot of it deserved. He has shot when he should have passed and has run at defenders when better options were available.

But he has the potential to be one of the most tricky players in England, and a decent bet as a second forward.

Defoe misses out despite his cannon of a right foot. As does Holt, who is omitted purely because in Carroll, a better option exists for the type of player that he is.

On Standby: Jermaine Defoe, Grant Holt

The Team in Full

GK: Joe Hart, Jack Butland, John Ruddy

DEF: Phil Jagielka, Joleon Lescott, John Terry, Ashley Cole, Leighton Baines, Glen Johnson, Micah Richards

MID: Jack Wilshere, Steven Gerrard, Michael Carrick, Tom Cleverley, Scott Parker, Phil Jones, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Theo Walcott, Scott Sinclair

FOR: Wayne Rooney, Andy Carroll, Daniel Sturridge, Danny Welbeck