Chapter 91 World Cup preliminary list, selected! 【2-in-1】
St George's Park training base, Staffordshire.
The St. George's Park training base was officially opened in 2012 and is currently the fixed base for England's representative teams at all levels.
And this is the product of the reform and summary of English football.
As a long-established powerhouse, the sky over English football has been shrouded in the haze of failing to enter the 2008 European Cup and failing to reach the top 16 of the 2010 World Cup.
After two consecutive disastrous defeats in the competition, the Football Association learned from the painful experience and formulated the "Elite Player Performance Plan", referred to as "EPPP", with the Premier League.
This plan was passed at the end of 2011 and implemented starting in 2012, beginning a drastic reform of the entire England youth training system.
At that time, the Football Association hoped to replicate the success of the Clairefontaine football training camp in France, providing top hardware facilities for national players at all levels, as well as a set of mutually inherited tactical systems.
You must know that not only did the England team not have its own fixed national team location before, it did not even have a full-time position for the team's doctor.
Under normal circumstances, the Three Lions will use Arsenal's Colney training base for local pre-match preparations.
During the competition, the team's doctor follows the usual practice of finding a temporary loaner from the Premier League club.
This is true for the adult team, and it is not difficult to imagine the situation of youth teams like U21 before this.
With the opening of St. George's Park, the Three Lions teams at all levels not only have a fixed location, but the Football Association has also carried out a thorough reform of the youth training system of English football around this place.
This is also the fundamental reason why England’s youth training talent exploded, and young talents such as Foden, Saka, Rice, and Bellingham appeared.
But, that’s all for later.
The reform of English football has only been carried out for two years, and no obvious results have been seen yet.
The adult team is in an embarrassing period of drought.
This stumped the head coach of the Three Lions, "Huo Taigong" Hodgson
The tactical room of the training base was already filled with the entire coaching staff of the representative team.
As the U21 head coach and director of the FA Development Department, Southgate also sits on the left side of Hodgson.
They gathered together today for only one purpose:
To draw up a preliminary list of thirty people for the World Cup in Brazil!
Next month, the 2014 World Cup will be held in Brazil, the "Kingdom of Football".
They need to select the thirty strongest players among all professional players with English nationality.
Then, select twenty-three of them and go to Brazil!
The old man sitting at the top of the conference table is the head coach of the England representative team, Roy Hodgson!
Roy Hodgson can be said to be the most respected coach and football boss in English football.
He has been coaching professional teams since 1976, which has been thirty-eight years now.
He has coached Swedish giants Malmo, Swiss national team, Inter Milan and other national and club teams, and has very rich coaching experience.
Because of his rich experience and sophisticated tactics, he was given the nickname "Huo Taigong" by fans.
Since taking up the post of head coach of the England representative team in May 2012, the 66-year-old coach has led the team to play in the European Cup once.
But the results of that European Cup were not good.
Although England qualified first in the group, they still fell in a penalty shootout in the quarterfinals.
This year's World Cup in Brazil can be regarded as a major test for Hodgson to lead this team.
If the performance is not good, Hodgson is likely to be dismissed directly after the World Cup.
At this moment, a PPT was playing on the clear projection screen.
In each picture, there are detailed reports of individual players.
Hodgson’s assistant Ray Livington stood next to the big screen and introduced everyone one by one:
“As for the goalkeeper, we have four candidates.”
"Defender side."
"As for the midfielder, Ling Feng, an 18-year-old midfielder who just led Leicester City to win the championship and won the British Championship double player of the year."
"As for the forward, he just scored a goal in the British Championship. Record-breaking Leicester City forward Jamie Vardy has also entered the final candidate list."
"The above thirty players are our final candidate list."
As the assistant sat back in his seat, Hodgson, who was sitting in the upper position, slowly said:
"Do you have any opinions on this list?"
Everyone looked at me, and I looked at you. Finally, a highly qualified technical coach took the lead in speaking:
“I think Ling Feng, a player, needs to be considered.”
“Although he is originally His performance in the Championship this season has been phenomenal. However, he is only eighteen years old and has only played in more than 20 professional games since he was promoted to the first team."
"And he has not played yet. After being baptized by the Premier League, can he really adapt to the atmosphere and pressure of an important competition like the World Cup? "So, I personally prefer to bring some experienced veterans."
"However, his age is an advantage. We can recruit him into the team and accompany the regular players in training, which is also a kind of training for him."
As someone took the lead in making suggestions, another one The technical coach also expressed his opinion:
“Jamie Vardy, I personally think he needs further investigation.”
“He has scored more than 100 goals in the English Championship this season. Thirty goals. However, a considerable part of the goals came from Ling Feng's assists. This shows that he needs the support of his teammates and his personal ability is not outstanding."
"And his playing style. , There needs to be enough space in the frontcourt to allow him to sprint and break through.”
"Sturridge's foot skills are better than him, while Lambert's header is better than him, and his role as a fulcrum in the frontcourt is more outstanding"
"Flanagan, he has too many injuries. "
"Defoe is too old and has no reference value playing in a league like the MLS."
After listening to the opinions of the coaching staff one by one, Hodgson took a final look. He turned to Southgate, who was sitting aside with a frown:
"Gareth, what do you think?"
Previously, after watching the battle between Leicester City and Burnley, Southgate immediately found Hodgson and strongly recommended the young player Ling Feng to him.
After watching Ling Feng’s game videos and highlights, Hodgson was also surprised by the mature style of this young midfielder who was killing everyone in the British Championship.
Especially his varied passing is impressive.
With his order, Ling Feng quickly became the focus of the England team's scouting department. Soon, a detailed scouting report on Ling Feng appeared on the desk of the England team's coaching staff.
No one doubted his talent.
However, his youth, lack of experience in top leagues, and mental level such as ability to withstand pressure have given the England coaching staff some hesitation.
Facing the gazes of everyone, Southgate just said firmly:
"I still stick to my opinion. In this World Cup, we must bring Ling Feng!" ”
“In my opinion, his creativity is what is lacking in our midfield.”
"Our team has many fast attackers who can hit the opponent's rib space. Lingfeng's vision and passing skills are extremely good, and he can pass threatening balls for them."
"Especially his curved pass from the right wing, the landing point is very tricky, just in the area between the goalkeeper and the defender, which is a great threat."
"And his set kicks are accurately placed. , can provide certain changes to our tactics when we can't open up the situation."
"Of course, I know that the intensity and rhythm of the English Championship he is in are not as good as the Premier League. However, His ability in the league has proven that his skills are enough to be in the Premier League."
"Even if he is not allowed to play in this tournament, letting him experience the atmosphere of the competition will be very beneficial to his growth. Important help.”
As the Director of Development of the Football Association, Southgate's status is equivalent to that of the Football Association's spokesperson.
It is worth mentioning that he was also one of the main writers of the youth training outline "England DNA" released by the Football Association in the future.
It can be said that in this room, his voice is very important.
Hearing that Southgate praised Ling Feng so much, Hodgson couldn't help but pay attention to this eighteen-year-old young man.
As a relatively conservative British coach, he actually prefers traditional British midfielders like Gerrard and Lampard.
He can take long shots from behind, retreat to defend, and cover the midfield through active running.
Although Ling Feng is young, he has never played a single Premier League game.
However, judging from his game videos and scouting reports, in addition to his eye-catching passing organization ability, he also has the advantages of a traditional British midfielder.
The average running distance of the top three in the team and the enthusiasm shown in defense gave Hodgson a good impression.
Even if his shooting ability is average, as Southgate said, the team's attackers and long-range shooters do not need him to do these things at all.
As a head coach, you should not only look at the individual abilities of the players, but also consider the structure of the entire team.
It doesn’t matter if a team is stronger offensively or defensively.
A balance of offense and defense is the way to go!
From the perspective of the balance of the lineup, Ling Feng, a young midfielder who connects the team with passes, is indeed a good addition.
Thinking of this, Hodgson has already made a decision in his heart.
However, he did not immediately agree with Southgate's view, but said:
"Let's leave the list as it is. As for whether Ling Feng can make the final list, after the FA Cup final is over, Make a decision again!”
He plans to go to Wembley to personally examine how this young man can perform when facing a Premier League giant like Arsenal.
. .
At 8pm on May 5th, the Football Association announced the preliminary list of 30 players for the 2014 Brazil World Cup.
The four goalkeepers are led by Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart, with Ben Foster (West Brom), Fraser Forster (Celtic) and John Rudy (Norwich) on standby; < br>
Nine defenders, consisting of Baines (Everton), Cahill (Chelsea), Jagielka (Everton), Glen Johnson (Liverpool), Phil Jones (Manchester United) , Luke Shaw (Southampton), Smalling (Manchester United), Flanagan (Liverpool), Stones (Everton);
The midfield eleven is composed of " "Double Germany" is led by Barkley (Everton), Henderson (Liverpool), Lallana (Southampton), Milner (Manchester City), Ling Feng (Leicester City), Sterling (Liverpool) ), Wilshere (Arsenal), Carrick (Manchester United), Cleverley (Manchester United) and others.
The six forwards are led by Red Devils No. 10 "Lu Xiaopang", Lambert (Liverpool), Sturridge (Liverpool), Welbeck (Manchester United), Andy Carroll (Western Han Dynasty) Tom), Vardy (Leicester City)
This 30-person preliminary list almost includes the best players of the old, middle and young generation in England.
Except for Walcott who was reimbursed for the season, Chamberlain who was injured and others who did not make the list, these are the only ones who can basically fight.
That night, Ling Feng, who learned that he had also been selected for the 30-man preliminary list for the Brazil World Cup, was not as excited as his mother
On the one hand, his situation was like being in a Cao Ying's heart is as good as Guan Yunchang in Han Dynasty;
On the other hand, in his heart, he also hopes to step on the stage of the World Cup and compete with strong teams from all over the world.
Moreover, after looking at the list, he concluded in his heart that this was definitely a trip into troubled waters!
Because this England lineup is definitely the best in England's previous World Cups.
No one!
The subsequent results also proved that this England team was really weak.
The Three Lions, led by Shuangde and Rooney, failed to even qualify in the group stage and went home directly.
This is England's worst record in the World Cup since 1958!
The inability to coexist between Germany and Germany is a problem that has always existed in English football.
Both of them are functional players with good physical fitness, covering a large area, able to defend, and can shoot.
But, to be honest, the two men's skills and organization are really not very good.
If they need to organize the ball in the midfield, they will not be able to play.
Especially in the past ten years or so, England's tactics have always been the traditional 442.
When Beckham is there, the two only need to step in and play in the midfield, and the organization and scheduling tasks can be left to Beckham to a certain extent.
However, after Beckham retired and Rooney, who retreated in the midfield, was used as the core of the team, England's midfield became even more chaotic.
Because Rooney is not the kind of full-time midfielder who can organize with the ball!
So, when Wilshere, a "small threat" with outstanding skills at his feet and the ability to pass threatening balls, emerged, the English people saw hope, and they concluded that he would assume the role of England in the next ten years. Midfield duties.
Unfortunately, the small threat is a big piece of glass.
Frequent injuries ruined this talented young man who once had a one-on-one challenge with Meng Sanba Saha Baibu
However, even if the lineup looks bleak, but has been blown around by the British media all the year round, the English are still right His own team is blindly confident.
In their view, although there are no Beckham, Rio Ferdinand, Gary Neville, Terry, Owen and others.
However, under the leadership of Shuang De and Rooney, a healthy Wilshere and others, this "talented" England will give them some surprises!
This is yesterday’s update.
(End of this chapter)