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Roy Hodgson has called for England’s World Cup hopes not to be pinned on Wayne Rooney alone after the striker was named in his squad for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
Rooney has failed to fire on all cylinders at major tournaments since breaking onto the international scene at the 2004 European Championships, having been sent-off after colliding with Cristiano Ronaldo during the 2006 World Cup exit to Portugal, swearing at the camera in 2010 when fans booed England’s performance and picking up a suspension in 2012 that saw him miss the majority of the Three Lions’ fixtures.
But the Manchester United forward has shown signs this season that he is enjoying his football once again, and will head to Brazil with 19 goals under his belt for his club this season. If England are to have any hope of featuring in the latter stages of the competition, they will need Rooney to be at his best, but Hodgson has claimed it would be “wrong” to put such a burden on one player alone.
Speaking at his World Cup squad announcement at Vauxhall in Luton, Hodgson said: “I think it's very wrong to put the footballing hopes of a nation on the shoulders of one man.
“The four forwards we've selected are very interesting and don't forget that we've got players in that midfield who can score goals.
“Time will tell and my words won't win us any games.”
Show all 23 1 /23England World Cup squad - in full England World Cup squad - in full Joe Hart - Goalkeeper Age – 27 Caps – 39 Goals – 0 The Manchester City Number One suffered a dip in form mid-season that saw Manuel Pellegrini drop him for understudy Costel Pantilimon. But Hart has recovered superbly to dismiss any talk that he won’t be Roy Hodgson’s first choice in Brazil.
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England World Cup squad - in full Ben Foster – Goalkeeper Age – 31 Caps – 6 Goals – 0 Having retired from international football, Foster was persuaded to make himself available for his country once again. The West Brom stopper made his last appearance for the Three Lions in the draw with the Republic of Ireland last May.
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England World Cup squad - in full Fraser Forster - Goalkeeper Age – 26 Caps – 1 Goals – 0 Forster made his debut in the Wembley defeat to Chile in November last year, but his form with a strong Celtic side north of the border has seen him force his way into consideration for some time. Saw of the challenge of Norwich’s John Ruddy to make the squad.
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England World Cup squad - in full Glen Johnson – Right-back Age – 29 Caps – 50 Goals – 1 Johnson has cemented the right-back berth as his own this season, with his main rival Kyle Walker suffering an inconsistent season that has been disrupted by injury. Has a tendency to forget his defensive duties when he marauds up the pitch, which will be a worrying sight in Brazil against the world’s best.
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England World Cup squad - in full Chris Smalling – Centre-back/Right-back Age – 24 Caps – 10 Goals – 0 Smalling’s versatility in defence stands him with a good chance of playing in Brazil, although he has not pushed on as much as was hoped when Manchester United signed him in 2010. Unlikely to start if Hodgson’s preferred back-four are fully fit.
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England World Cup squad - in full Phil Jones – Centre-back Age – 22 Caps – 9 Goals – 0 Jones’ inclusion had been put into question after he suffered a shoulder injury that required him to go to hospital during the victory over Hull last week. But after getting the ok for Brazil, Hodgson has decided to include the young defender, who offers a similar versatility as his club colleague Chris Smalling as well as fulfilling a role as a holding midfielder.
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England World Cup squad - in full Gary Cahill – Centre-back Age – 28 Caps – 22 Goals – 2 Cahill was a part of the standout defence this season as Chelsea’s back-four conceded the least amount of goals by a considerable margin. He has solidified his selecting in the starting XI in recent years and has pace to get the side out of trouble if needed.
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England World Cup squad - in full Phil Jagielka – Centre-back Age – 31 Caps – 24 Goals - 1 Worringly for England, Jagielka missed a considerable number of games in the run-in to the end of the season, but the Everton captain made a timely return after two months out for the narrow defeat to Manchester City at the beginning of May. Likely to partner Cahill at the back as he offers experience and calmness to a young-looking defence.
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England World Cup squad - in full Leighton Baines – Left-back Age – 29 Caps – 22 Goals – 1 The set-piece master has battled past the long-serving Ashley Cole to assume the left-back role under Hodgson, and he is expected to continue in Brazil after a solid season with the Toffees which saw them challenge for the top-four.
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England World Cup squad - in full Luke Shaw – Left-back Age – 18 Caps – 1 Goals – 0 The Southampton teenager has enjoyed a tremendous year that has led to calls nationwide for his inclusion in the World Cup squad, despite his inexperience. Made his debut in the March victory over Denmark, and looks to be the ideal replacement to Ashley Cole, with the 107-cap veteran missing out on a fourth consecutive World Cup and announcing his international retirement as a result.
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England World Cup squad - in full Steven Gerrard - Central midfielder (Captain) Age: 33 Caps: 109 Goals: 21 The captain of the side has enjoyed a brilliant but ultimately disappointing season with Liverpool. The Reds managed to remain in contention for the Premier League title until the last day of the season but ultimately missed out. Gerrard's costly slip in the 2-0 defeat to Chelsea is quickly becoming the defining moment of their season. Deployed in a deeper role this season.
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England World Cup squad - in full Frank Lampard - midfielder Age - 35 Caps - 103 Goals - 29 The Chelsea midfielder will be one of the older heads in the England squad. While unlikely to be a starter in Brazil, should he get opportunity he will want to atone for the injustice of his 'ghost goal' at the last tournament in 2010 when he scored against Germany but it wasn't given.
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England World Cup squad - in full Jack Wilshere - Central midfielder Age: 22 Caps: 15 Goals: 0 Arsenal midfielder suffered a foot injury playing for England on 5 March, but returned for the Gunners on their final game of the season. Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger claimed he would be ready to go for the start of the World Cup.
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England World Cup squad - in full Adam Lallana - Central midfielder Age – 26 Caps – 3 Goals – 0 He may be relatively inexperienced at international level, but the Southampton captain has had an extraordinary year that saw him named in the PFA Team of the Year as well as breaking into Hodgson’s side. His ability to utilise both feet could prove a real threat in Brazil.
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England World Cup squad - in full Jordan Henderson - Midfielder Age: 23 Caps: 8 Goals: 0 His loss to the team was notable for all to see in Liverpool’s woeful end to season. In the three matches he was suspended for, the Reds dropped from the top of the league, taking four points from a possible nine.
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England World Cup squad - in full Ross Barkley - Central midfielder Age: 20 Caps: Goals: 0 The Everton midfielder has burst out of the traps at Goodison Park this season, resembling Wayne Rooney in his pomp. Barkley has made 34 league appearances for Roberto Martinez this season, scoring six goals.
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England World Cup squad - in full James Milner - Midfielder Age: 28 Caps: 45 Goals: 1 Mr Dependable for both club and country. Could win his 50th cap in Brazil if England reach the quarter-finals. Has only made 12 starts for the league winners Manchester City this season mind.
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England World Cup squad - in full Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain - Midfielder Age: 20 Caps: 14 Goals: 3 Has endured a campaign blighted by injury, but manager Arsene Wenger claims that he will be ready for the World Cup. “The news is good for Alex, he should reintegrate into our squad for normal training on Wednesday. He is available to Roy,” Wenger said after Arsenal’s final game of the season at Norwich on Sunday.
England World Cup squad - in full Raheem Sterling - Midfielder Age: 19 Caps: 2 Goals: 0 Despite Liverpool’s faltering end to the season, Sterling has excelled this term for Brendan Rodgers, impressing down the wing and also through the middle. With Theo Walcott missed the finals because of injury, Sterling will offer some badly-needed pace.
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England World Cup squad - in full Danny Welbeck – Striker Age – 23 Caps – 21 Goals – 8 While Welbeck’s form for Manchester United this season hasn’t been the best, he remains a favourite of Hodgson’s and tends to shine on the international stage, having scored in the 3-2 victory over Sweden in the 2012 European Championships with a deft back-heel flick. Has a tendency to be deployed on the left, and could be overlooked in the starting line-up for the in-form Sterling.
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England World Cup squad - in full Daniel Sturridge – Striker Age – 24 Caps – 10 Goals – 3 Sturridge has flourished this season in his partnership with Premier League top scorer Luis Suarez, netting an impressive 21 league goals in helping Liverpool to finish second. Hodgson has shown a preference to start Sturridge in the striker role with Wayne Rooney playing off the Reds frontman, and is likely to be one of the first names on the team-sheet come 14 June.
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England World Cup squad - in full Wayne Rooney – Striker Age – 28 Caps – 89 Goals – 38 Rooney will head to Brazil as one of England’s most experienced squad members, and the United striker will once again have the weight of a nation’s expectations on his broad shoulders. The forward has been given licence to roam in the Three Lions shirt, although he is yet to produce his brilliant best at a World Cup, having been to the 2006 and 2010 tournaments.
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England World Cup squad - in full Rickie Lambert – Striker Age – 32 Caps – 4 Goals – 2 Southampton favourite Lambert saw of the late challenge of West Ham’s Andy Carroll to secure his place in the squad, with his inclusion capping an extraordinary rise through the ranks of English league football to the world’s greatest tournament. His goals against Newcastle, Manchester City, Swansea and Manchester United late in the season only strengthened his chances, and he’ll hope to continue his international strike rate of a goal every other game.
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One of the three striker that will accompany Rooney to Brazil is Southampton’s Rickie Lambert, after the 32-year-old edged out West Ham’s Andy Carroll to secure his first ticket to the World Cup.
Hodgson admitted that it was a nice dilemma to have two strikers in consideration for the right reason, and that while he was “delighted” to see Carroll back and in-form, he had to stick with Lambert.
“Rickie Lambert has been with us all throughout the qualifying campaign and I'm delighted to see Andy back in form,” added Hodgson. “It wasn't an easy decision to make but in the end I plumped for Rickie Lambert.”
Hodgson will look to Rooney and Lambert, who could provide an alternative strike-partnership to the expected combination of the United striker and Daniel Sturridge, and also Danny Welbeck to provide the goals for his side that have proven hard to come by in recent tournaments.
28-year-old Rooney has never scored in the World Cup having failed to find the back of the net in Germany in 2006, and four years ago in South Africa where England crashed out to rivals Germany in the last-16.
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