England's World Cup Squad Preview: Who's Hot, Who's Not?

Now that England have secured their ticket to next year’s World Cup speculation is already starting about which players might or might not make the plane to South Africa.

Fabio Capello will use the next nine months to fine-tune his selection before he eventually reveals the 23 players he will choose to represent England at the World Cup.

Below I begin to examine the players who have impressed over the past week of International Football, and those who either need to up their game or start looking outside of South Africa for next year’s summer holidays.

Who’s HOT?

Jermain Defoe

The in-form Spurs striker was surprisingly quiet in this half an hour cameo against Croatia having staked his claim for a starting place with another goal against Slovenia four days before.

Defoe has struck eight goals in 11 games under Capello and should get his chance to start with Rooney if he continues his current hot streak if Capello decides to experiment in the remaining World Cup Qualifiers and upcoming friendlies.

Robert Green

The West Ham ‘keeper has well and truly taken advantage of David James’ absence through injury, starting the last five matches. Missed out on the last World Cup when he injured his groin in a "B" International just weeks before the tournament after being named in the initial squad, Green now looks set to go to South Africa as at least second-choice in goal.

Emile Heskey

Much of the build-up to the Croatia game centred on whether it should be Defoe or Heskey to partner Rooney up front but the Aston Villa man got the nod.

Despite not putting away either of his one-on-one chances his overall performance and contribution to the team was magnificent and he played every part in putting his team 3-0 up before he was withdrawn just before the hour mark.

England’s results when Heskey is in the first XI justify Capello’s faith in the big forward but Heskey must now win his place back in the Villa first team having played only eleven minutes in the past two league games.

Aaron Lennon

He may not have scored a hat-trick as Walcott did in Zagreb but he set up the first two goals in a man-of-the-match performance against Croatia to ensure that the Arsenal man was not missed.

If and when Walcott regains fitness it’ll be interesting to see where they both stand in Capello’s eyes now but Lennon did his chances of making his second World Cup the world of good on Wednesday night.

James Milner

Seeming destined to stay with the under-21 side forever, Milner has now featured off the bench in the last three England games. The Villa man made his first competitive appearance against Croatia on Wednesday after he was picked on the bench ahead of club teammate Ashley Young who he has now surpassed in the England pecking order.

His chances of making the squad next summer will rely as much on his form this season as on how well Stewart Downing and Joe Cole fare in their return from injuries later this season.

Who’s NOT?

Michael Owen/Gabriel Agbonlahor/Darren Bent

If you’re a quick English striker at the moment and you’re name’s not Jermain Defoe then your chances of making it in Capello’s World Cup squad don’t look bright right now. Barring an extraordinary run of form from any of the above, and even then it looks likely that only an injury to Defoe would give anyone else an opportunity to make it.

Shaun Wright-Phillips

Largely unimpressive in his 45mins in the friendly win over Slovenia, the Manchester City winger didn’t make the bench against Croatia and saw Lennon steal the limelight on the right wing.

With Walcott to come back and Capello seemingly keen on the continued value of involving David Beckham, Shaun Wright-Phillips’ hopes of making it to South Africa appear slim for the time being as the wide positions have arguably the highest amount of competition for places.

Ashley Young

Things were looking up when Young was handed his first international start last month against Holland but he was unable to make much of an impact before he was subbed midway through the second-half.

Villa teammate James Milner came on in his place and impressed by setting up Defoe’s equaliser and featured twice off the bench again this week whilst Young didn’t see any playing time. Must regain his impressive club form of last season if he is to compete for the wide roles in the squad.