England line up v Uruguay: Lallana in for Welbeck, Sterling on the right – WhoScored pick their XI
Football stats experts WhoScored.com take a look at England's ideal XI if it was based solely on performance in last season's Premier League. .
Despite succumbing to defeat to Italy, there is still every opportunity for England to progress to the second round of the World Cup. Uruguay’s surprise 3-1 defeat to Costa Rica was one of the biggest upsets of the first round of fixtures, but it presents Roy Hodgson’s side with a great chance to qualify from Group D. There is even the possibility they can do so as group winners, should results go their way.
Ahead of the meeting with Uruguay in Sao Paulo, fans have been wondering who Roy Hodgson should start for the must-win encounter with their South American counterparts. Leighton Baines came under fire for his performance in Saturday’s loss, though his rating (6.57) suggests some of the criticism aimed his way was unwarranted.
A lack of defensive work on Wayne Rooney's part allowed Matteo Darmian and Antonio Candreva to double-up on Baines on Italy’s right wing and it was little shock that the Azzurri’s eventual winner came from a cross on the right. This lack of discipline has led to suggestions that Rooney should either be moved centrally or dropped altogether in favour of .
The Arsenal midfielder may be returning from injury, but was England’s highest rated player (7.60) in their pre-World Cup 2-2 draw with Ecuador, securing the WhoScored.com man of the match award in the process. Despite featuring for just 63 minutes of a possible 270 against Peru, Ecuador and Honduras, no player made more dribbles (7) in the three matches than Oxlade-Chamberlain.
With completing the most dribbles (4) in England’s 2-1 loss to Italy, the directness of the duo in would cause Uruguay’s backline problems. Their energy can aid the defensive side of England’s game as both should provide adequate cover for Baines and Glen Johnson when the full-backs push forward.
Alongside Rooney, Sterling and Oxlade-Chamberlain, Hodgson can also call on Ross Barkley, Adam Lallana, James Milner and Danny Welbeck to support Daniel Sturridge. However, going on last season’s average ratings of each player who are able to play in the ‘three’ of a 4-2-3-1, it’s Sterling (7.39), (7.61) and Lallana (7.21) who should start.
When comparing to the English players not selected by Hodgson in the Premier League last term, no player scored higher than the trio, so, judging by WhoScored.com ratings, the experienced manager was right to call up all three. The same applies for Sturridge, who was the highest rated English striker (7.43) in the 2013/14 season.
In the midfield, Hodgson’s double-pivot in front of the defence is likely to be Steven Gerrard and Jordan Henderson once more. The pairing started the 2-1 loss to Italy and should feature from the off against Uruguay on Thursday; focusing on their WhoScored.com rating in the Premier League last campaign, he would be wise to start both again. Only Luis Suarez (8.43) secured a better rating than Gerrard (7.74) of every player in England’s top tier, while Henderson (7.20) performed better than Frank Lampard (7.06) and Jack Wilshere (6.99).
However, some believe the experienced Gareth Barry should have been included in Hodgson’s 23-man squad. Only Gerrard bettered the 33-year-old’s rating (7.31) of every English central-midfielder last season, while there is the argument (7.16) should also have received a call-up at the expense of Lampard and Wilshere. If that were the case, then Gerrard and Barry would be England’s starting midfield duo for the competition, with Henderson and Huddlestone in reserve.
Right-back was possibly the biggest talking point before the World Cup kicked off. Kyle Walker’s injury meant Glen Johnson was always going to be a starter this month, with teammate Jon Flanagan his understudy. The latter's lack of experience on the international stage would have counted against him, though when looking at the ratings of English right-backs last season, Joel Ward should have been included in the squad.
Ward’s WhoScored.com rating (7.28) was better than Johnson (7.12), with the Crystal Palace regular impressing following the Eagles’ return to England’s top tier. The Palace star is yet to be called up to the national team, but that could change should he repeat his performances for the south London side next season. Nevertheless, the ratings of those in the current squad suggest Hodgson is right to persist with Johnson at right-back.
In the heart of the defence, Hodgson was arguably wrong to overlook Curtis Davies for the World Cup. Of every centre-back, only Martin Skrtel (7.45) landed a better average rating than (7.40) in the Premier League last term, while that figure means he would have started alongside Gary Cahill (7.29) in the England backline.
Nonetheless, of the options available to him in Brazil, Phil Jagielka (7.26) is the right man to partner Cahill in defence as the Everton regular was the second highest rated English centre-back in the Premier League last season. Baines, meanwhile, was the highest rated left-back (7.26) in England’s top tier, so there is little shock to him starting under Hodgson, while Joe Hart (6.70) is the best rated goalkeeper in the England squad.
However, Hodgson perhaps should have looked to bring David Stockdale along with him to Brazil. Despite Fulham’s relegation, ’s rating (6.69) was the second highest of all English goalkeepers in the Premier League to have made at least five appearances last season. Hart will start for England, but there is an argument to say that Stockdale should have been included in the 23-man squad at the expense of Fraser Forster (6.39 in the Champions League).
Take a look at this WhoScored English XI based on last season's Premier League stats…
