This team isn't based on sole international performance, but the best players from this nation in a suitable formation.
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STARTING XI
REMAINING SQUAD MEMBERS
3 best players not in the squad:
5 players from the 1966 World Cup winning squad make this team, while 5 from the 2000's 'Golden Generation' make it too (6 if including Rooney). John Terry and Phil Neal were very close to starting ahead of Billy Wright and Jimmy Armfield, but the rest of the starting defence was set. Ultimately Neal didn't make the squad in the end, as I chose Bob Crompton for the bench to cover as a right-back and centre-back. The squad was stronger choosing Crompton and Hapgood, rather than Armfield and Emlyn Hughes (with Hughes covering as the full-back and 4th centre-back instead). Either way, there was now room for more attacking talent. Duncan Edwards would likely be the equivalent of a holding midfielder in the modern game - he is back-up to Bryan Robson. I considered starting Rooney and Charlton in a midfield 3 ahead of Robson, but it would have been quite unbalanced. So Gerrard starts deeper in midfield, giving Charlton more license in the attacking-midfield role. Scholes and Rooney cover Gerrard and Charlton, with Paul Gascoigne and Frank Lampard just missing out. Beckham and Barnes are the back-up wide options. England have more 'World-Class' rated strikers than any other European nation. There was a wealth of options to choose from. Greaves starts upfront here, with Dean and Keegan chosen as the second and third striker options. There was not much between these three. Alan Shearer and Harry Kane just missed out. Kane has to surpass Rooney to make the squad. Players By Decade: 1960's (5), 2000's (4), 1970's (3), 1950's (3), 1980's (2), 2010's (1), 1990's (1), 1940's (1), 1930's (1), 1920's (1), 1900's (1) |
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English Positional Ranking (World Class Players - 58)
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I decided not to assess anyone who comfortably peaked in the 19th Century. This includes the likes of Walter Arnott, Jimmy Crabtree, Billy Bassett, Charlie Athersmith, Fred Spiksley, John Goodall, Gilbert Oswald Smith and Nevill Cobbold. If a player has already displayed their ability with several years at the top in the 1890's, they only need a minimum of 3 years at the top in the 20th Century to qualify for a rating, as long as they were still around their peak eg. Ernest Needham
Top 20 English Players of All-Time
(& their all-time positional rank)
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