2010 FIFA World Cup: England's Formation

When the English FA appointed this very accomplished and methodical Italian to coach the team, they were going through one of their lesser happier periods. From not qualifying for the Euro 2008 to having established themselves as one of the front runners to pick up the World Cup this year, Fabio Capello has brought this team a long way.

It was pretty clear at the time of his appointment that the English squad needed someone who would somehow straighten the awry English team. Capello has done just that. He's dealt with the iron fist so to speak and has delivered the results when they were needed. 

The announcement for the final World Cup squad came a couple of days ago and the one thing that came to my mind (especially with the curious case of Theo Walcott and Leighton Baines) was that Fabio Capello used the friendlies against Mexico and Japan as an elimination, rather than as an audition for the England role.

Rather than testing if Baines or Walcott can really cut it at the international level, I felt that Capello seemingly simply reaffirmed his own belief that those two in particularly, even Huddlestone, should not be on the plane to South Africa.

So now that it is common knowledge who WILL be on the plane to South Africa, one wonders what Fabio Capello has in mind for the players.

Now if I was the coach, these are a couple of options going through my mind:

-----------------James-----------------

Johnson------Rio------Terry------A. Cole

-----------------Barry------------------

---Lennon------Lampard----------J. Cole

----------------Gerrard-----------------

----------------Rooney-----------------

I like this one because this way, every one plays in their own natural position.

Rio and Terry have looked wobbly at times and Fabio Capello too seems to feel that a screening defensive midfielder in the mould of Manchester City's Gareth Barry seems to fill the bill. Barry of course lets Johnson and Cole do what they do best—attack.

While the full backs overlap, Joe Cole and Lennon on the wings can turn inside to support the two forward players. Gerrard will play the role the same role he played last year for Liverpool to good effect.

However, seeing what Fabio Capello has done over the past few games, I can't help but feel that the players are going to line up somewhat this way:

-----------------James-----------------

Johnson------Rio------Terry------A. Cole

-----------------Barry------------------

---Lennon--------Lampard--------Gerrard

---------Rooney---------Heskey----------

Simply, because Heskey and Rooney sort of compliment each other. When one runs and the other holds the ball. Heskey may not be the fittest, the most creative or even the most effective of the lot, but he knows when to pass the ball to Rooney. And towards the end of the game, there is always a chance that Capello would like the team to shift into the previously mentioned formation.

Another option of course, is:

-----------------James-----------------

Johnson------Rio------Terry------A. Cole

-----------------Barry------------------

Lennon----Lampard----Gerrard----J. Cole

----------------Rooney-----------------

This formation, of course, brings Lampard and Gerrard back together again. Not too many coaches have tried this one with much success. But clearly there is no doubt that these two are the best attacking midfielders England have at their disposal.

Let me end this article with this one:

-----------------James-----------------

Johnson------Rio------Terry------A. Cole

-----------------Barry------------------

Lennon--------Lampard--------Gerrard---

-------Rooney-----------Crouch---------

This one looks more balanced.

With their different skill sets, Rooney and Crouch compliment each other perfectly. Personally, I feel Rooney and Crouch would make a better combination than say, Rooney and Defoe. Defoe is a good poacher, however, Defoe doesn't really hold the ball particularly well as Crouch does. Besides, Defoe's speed can be the x-factor towards the end of the game, as can Joe Cole's dribbling.

This one's sort of revolutionary, but any takers?

-----------------James-----------------

------Rio--------Terry--------A. Cole---

-----------------Barry------------------

Lennon----Lampard----Gerrard-----Milner

-------Rooney-----------Crouch---------