England might be without Wayne Rooney at the World Cup finals in 2014 – but they should have Jack Wilshere at the heart of a young side, according to Guardian writers
Dominic Fifield
(4-2-3-1): Hart; Walker, Jones, Lescott, Baines; Wilshere, Rodwell; Walcott, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Zaha; Welbeck
This team casts aside all the older heads from previous tournaments, and is selected on the assumption that Wayne Rooney is either suspended, injured or retired from international football by the time the tournament begins in Brazil. Which, in his case, does not feel a wild prediction. Instead, creativity would stem from Jack Wilshere at the base of midfield, shielded by Jack Rodwell's energy, and the trickery of Wilfried Zaha – a raw talent who has attracted the Olympic team selectors – and Theo Walcott on the flanks. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will have benefited from his game-time in Ukraine and should become a regular at this level, albeit only if he holds down a place with Arsenal, while Danny Welbeck's game should continue to develop at Manchester United in the years ahead. Joleon Lescott's inclusion is made on the basis of a fine Euro 2012, and Gary Cahill or Chris Smalling might push him close.
Richard Williams
(4-2-3-1): Hart; Richards, Smalling, Jones, Baines; Wilshere, Rodwell; Walcott, McEachran, Oxlade-Chamberlain; Welbeck
As Fabio Capello found, a 4-2-3-1 formation is the best way to disguise England's eternal weakness on the ball. The youngest players – Wilshere, McEachran, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Welbeck – are gifted enough to banish that flaw to the history books, but they will need the right setting, which is not a 4-4-2 with Andy Carroll fighting for long balls. The captain? Joe Hart. It works for Spain with Iker Casillas and Italy with Gianluigi Buffon, although he would be well advised to stop pulling faces at penalty-takers.
Barney Ronay
(4-2-3-1): Hart; Walker, Jones, Lescott, Gibbs; Wilshere, Cleverley; Oxlade-Chamberlain, Rooney, Young; Welbeck
This team will not happen. England under Roy Hodgson will most likely continue to play with a four-man midfield. Plus there is no midfield "anchor" here: that player whose job it is to get in the way, eliminate space and set the tone towards frantic deep defence. But how refreshing it would be to see England attempt to defend by keeping the ball from the opposition instead. This may not work either: but it would at least be something different and Wilshere and Cleverley are both neat and measured passers. Read More
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