da lvbet： With all of the World Cup play-offs decided and the 32 teams revealed for next summer, attention really can start to shift towards England’s chances in Brazil. Although expectation surrounding Roy Hodgson’s men is expected to be slightly reduced when compared to the hysteria that met the ‘Golden Generation’s’ campaigns in 2002, 2006 and, to an extent, 2010, there is still a real sense that England have to show at least a glimpse of being one of the planet’s elite footballing sides.
da bwin： Defeats to Chile and Germany have revealed the extent to which fans and the media can jump on the team in the face of disappointment, so Hodgson will be aware of just what is needed when he flies his side to Rio De Janeiro to take on the very best sides the sport has to offer.
It may be slightly cliché, but games are often won and lost in midfield, with the players in the engine room often dictating possession and they general flow of the tie. Despite having had some illustrious names occupying the centre of the field in recent years, England have rarely had a man that can calm the play and build a game in which the ball is kept. But, Jack Wilshere’s emergence on the international scene really looked to have ended that quest, with the Arsenal ace a genuine top class talent who is comfortable in possession and able dictate games.
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However, with the prospect of the biggest tournament there is looming, the 21-year-old hasn’t been quite at his best. At club level he is currently struggling to force his way into Arsene Wenger’s midfield-heavy starting XI, while on the international stage he was fairly ineffective against Chile and Germany – although he, arguably, wasn’t England’s worst performing player in either tie.
It would be foolish to suggest that one player has the whole nation’s hopes pinned on him ahead of the World Cup, but Wilshere is already just as important to Hodgson’s side as skipper Steven Gerrard and the talismanic Wayne Rooney. The Mersey duo may grab the headlines if England perform well, but the Arsenal number 10 well be crucial in seven months’ time.
For the first time in his career, Wilshere looks to be getting clear of injury. Despite being nearly 22, he has often struggled to get a run of performances together, with a series of fitness problems often curtailing any momentum gathered. Now, he has the ability to play regularly, which could be just what is needed to get his rocky form back on track.
Although Wilshere has been far from disappointing for Arsenal, he has often been rotated around Wenger’s midfield, with the ever-impressive Mesut Ozil holding down the spot at the point of the midfield, while Aaron Ramsey, Mathieu Flamini and Mikel Arteta have all been fighting for the two deeper roles. Perhaps a victim of his versatility and ability, Wilshere has often been deployed in a wider position to cut in and link with Olivier Giroud. This worked excellently to produce, according to some, the goal of the season so far, as the Londoners’ attack played their way through Norwich’s defence at the Emirates Stadium with a dizzyingly accurate string of short passes before the midfield man fired past a bewildered John Ruddy. Even in a period where he is being described as ‘below par’, Wilshere has the ability to link the play and finish off moves, demonstrating the level of his ability.
With the media circus surrounding ‘cigarette-gate’ now depleting and Arsenal playing the best football they have for a while, it’s only a matter of time before Wilshere returns to the form the fans have grown to expect of him. Fitness issues aside, he is virtually guaranteed to play a key role in most of the Gunners’ fixtures between now and the end of the season, including their Champions League campaign.
Although his performances may be causing a slight amount of concern as it stands, there is a lot of time between now and the big kick off in Brazil next year. WIlshere is undoubtedly a key man for England, and will almost certainly make the squad and feature alongside Gerrard in midfield. As the old adage goes, class in permanent and form is temporary. As it stands, England don’t have many classier footballers at their disposal than Wilshere, who is sure to return to his best in the build-up to the tournament.
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