Having ran the rule over Costa Rica, we turn our World Cup attentions on England next, as our Group D analysis continues. Roy Hodgson’s side get their campaign underway with a showdown against Italy on Saturday June 14 at 11pm, before going head-to-head with Uruguay five days later at 9pm prior to a final encounter with underdogs, Costa Rica, on Tuesday June 24 at 5pm:
Road to Qualification
England arrive in Brazil on the back of an unbeaten qualifying campaign. Drawn in a six-team group along with Ukraine, Montenegro, Poland, Moldova and San Marino, they won six and drew four of their 10 fixtures, scoring 31 times, conceding four, and registering six clean sheets.
Most Starts Joe Hart (10), Steven Gerrard (8), Phil Jagielka (7), Wayne Rooney, Tom Cleverley, Frank Lampard, Leighton Baines (6), Joleon Lescott, James Milner, Danny Welbeck, Kyle Walker, Gary Cahill (5)
Most Goals Wayne Rooney (7), Frank Lampard, Danny Welbeck (4)
Most Assists Leighton Baines, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Aaron Lennon, Rickie Lambert (2)
The Key Targets
Hodgson’s side have suffered back-to-back friendly defeats to Chile and Germany since the qualifiers, with only a 1-0 home win over Denmark providing comfort. Already deprived of Theo Walcott’s services due to injury, the England manager will be desperate for Wayne Rooney to fully recover from the groin problem that forced him out of United’s final few league games, with the Three Lions scoring just once in that trio of fixtures.
At the back, Hodgson’s decision to omit Ashley Cole from the squad allows Leighton Baines the chance to nail down the left-back berth. The Everton defender’s delivery is likely to ensure he receives more Fantasy interest than Glen Johnson on the opposite flank, though Gary Cahill and Phil Jagielka should benefit from games that reward defensive actions such as recoveries, with the former also bringing a goal threat from set-pieces and corners. Looking at the FantasyiTeam prices, there’s very little between the quartet – Baines and Cahill are 5.9 and 5.8 respectively, whilst both Jagielka and Johnson are available for 5.7.
In midfield, Steven Gerrard – who sets you back 6.4 in FantasyiTeam – looks nailed-on, though the fitness of Arsenal pair Jack Wilshere and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain may have some bearing on the rest of Hodgson’s first-choice quartet. If fully-fit, Wilshere looks a candidate to start alongside the Liverpool skipper, though Jordan Henderson offers a similar level of industry and, at 5.5 in FantasyiTeam, may get the nod – certainly, given the energy-sapping conditions, it’s debatable whether Hodgson would start Frank Lampard along with Gerrard in the centre.
Up top, Wayne Rooney and Daniel Sturridge will surely lead the line, with the former dropping a little deeper than the Liverpool frontman. Available for 9.7 and 9.6 respectively in FantasyiTeam, both may struggle to earn initial investment due to the difficult nature of the opening two group games, though, with a punt on the final Costa Rica match perhaps a safer move.
The Long Shots
On the flanks, the safe option would be James Milner on the right, with Danny Welbeck taking up the opposite wing. Milner’s versatility and work-rate are looked upon favourably by Hodgson, whilst Welbeck – who netted four times in five starts over the qualifiers – started four of the final five group games to suggest that, in spite of a lack of domestic game time, he remains firmly in the manager’s plans. Those two will set you back 5.5 and 7.6 in FantasyiTeam.
Liverpool’s in-form Raheem Sterling (5.6 in FantasyiTeam) offers a viable alternative on either side of the pitch and, as we saw in the Premier League last term, can potentially be just as explosive an option when introduced late on in games. Perhaps a risky option but his trickery and eye for goal could be worth a punt.
Further Analysis
Group A – Brazil,Cameroon, Croatia, Mexico
Group B – Australia, Chile, Holland, Spain
Group C – Colombia, Greece, Ivory Coast, Japan
Group D – Costa Rica
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