A Downing: The effect that Roy Hodgson’s 23-man selection has had on any national sense of expectation. All bets are off, quite frankly. Perhaps it’s better to be underwhelmed rather than hopeful. However, it would feel more comfortable if the headline selection were not John Terry. He is English football’s teflon don. No matter what is thrown at him, he glides on by, seemingly without care for actions nor their consequences. In selecting him, Hodgson has possibly opened the door on a whole world – or at least continent – of pain. Rio Ferdinand is the latest collateral damage resulting from the Terry phenomena. Can there be a player as vilified as the Chelsea skipper? Yet he still commands loyalty and respect among those in the game. Tabloid tales, court cases and putsches against managers litter his career but still he remains the go-to guy for national managers.
England squad:
Goalkeepers – Joe Hart, Robert Green, John Ruddy.
Defenders – Leighton Baines, Gary Cahill, Ashley Cole, Glen Johnson, Phil Jones, Joleon Lescott, John Terry.
Midfielders – Gareth Barry, Stewart Downing, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, James Milner, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Scott Parker, Theo Walcott, Ashley Young.
Strikers – Andy Carroll, Jermain Defoe, Wayne Rooney, Danny Welbeck.
Standby – Jack Butland, Phil Jagielka, Jordan Henderson, Adam Johnson, Daniel Sturridge.
