If England are to have a succe sful campaign in South Africa this summer then it is vital thatour big nameplayers all step up to the mark.Of course thatpretty muchmeans Wayne Rooney, and the hopes of the entire Nation seem Jake Long Jersey to rest on the broad shoulders of theManchester United striker. If he can reproduce the form he has shown for his club over the last nine months then we will certainly have a chance of lifting the trophy, butthe 24 year old hasended the season with a series of niggling injuries and doubts remain over his fitne s as we head into the World Cup. But are England really a one man team?Wayne Rooney; Theone man England need fit for the World Cup!Well, on paper at least that does not seem to be the case. We do have other World cla s performers, particularly in defence where the centre back partnership of new captain Rio Ferdinand and former captain John Terry is one of the best in the World. However neither have enjoyed the best of seasons with their clubs and they looked especially shaky in the latest warm up game against Japan last weekend.Will Terry and Ferdinand put their problems behind them in South Africa?Ferdinand only played only 16 times for Manchester United in an injury hit campaign so while he is unlikely to suffer from burn out he is also likely to lack the nece sary sharpne s needed against some of the bestforwardsin the World, which was demonstrated in the match against Japan.Meanwhile Terry has endured a torrid time in his personal life which affected his clubform atthe turn of the year and led to him losing the England captaincy.However he recoveredwell to lead his Chelsea side to the league and cup double and if he can carrythat into South Africa then wewill have one the best defenders at the tournament.Another will be Terrys Chelsea team mate Ashley Cole, whohas once againproved to be one of the best attacking left backs in the World. Although he too has suffered with injuries this season, he finished the campaignin superb form and if he can put his much publicised marriage problemsbehind himhe will be a vital player for England down the left flank over the next few weeks.Ashley Cole; po siblythe best left back in the World.In midfieldthe debate remainsas to whetherFrank Lampard and Steven Gerrard can play together, but the fact isthat on their day they are both World cla s performers. Lampard has enjoyed his greatest season to date, scoring 27 goalsin helping Chelsea to the double,and if he can replicate that sort of form this summer then he could be one of the stars of the tournament.By contrast Gerrard has had a toughtime at Liverpool this season where he has looked unsettled and suffered with speculation about his private life. Despite rarely reaching the form he reguarly displays for his club in an England shirt there is no doubt that Gerrard is a key player and what better way for him toput adisappointing season behind him then to helpus lift the World Cup?Lampard and Gerrard could hold the key in the England midfield.Up front the big question iswho will partnerRooney? Emile Heskey has been Fabio Capellos first choice but his goalscoring record is not going to frighten the best defences in the World, although he does seem to bring the best out ofhis strike partners in much the same way as Peter Beardsley used todo.Emile Heskey; under-rated but he remains favourite to partner Rooney.Peter Crouch appears to be the other alternative, although doubts remain over his ability to score against the really top Nations while his Tottenham team mate Jermaine Defoe only seems tomake an impact from the bench.Socan England finally Jimmy Kerr Jersey bring to an end 44 years of hurt and lift the World Cup on July 11th?Well, ifTerry, Ferdinand, Cole, Lampard, Gerrard and of course Rooney all hit top formover the next few weeks then maybe we could surprise a few people and go all the waybut then again havent weheardthe samething before every previous tournament since 1966?? The time for talking is over, now is the time to deliver
If England are to have a succe sful campaign in South Africa this summer then it is vital thatour big nameplayers all step up to the mark.Of course thatpretty muchmeans Wayne Rooney, and the hopes of the entire Nation seem Jake Long Jersey to rest on the broad shoulders of theManchester United striker. If he can reproduce the form he has shown for his club over the last nine months then we will certainly have a chance of lifting the trophy, butthe 24 year old hasended the season with a series of niggling injuries and doubts remain over his fitne s as we head into the World Cup. But are England really a one man team?Wayne Rooney; Theone man England need fit for the World Cup!Well, on paper at least that does not seem to be the case. We do have other World cla s performers, particularly in defence where the centre back partnership of new captain Rio Ferdinand and former captain John Terry is one of the best in the World. However neither have enjoyed the best of seasons with their clubs and they looked especially shaky in the latest warm up game against Japan last weekend.Will Terry and Ferdinand put their problems behind them in South Africa?Ferdinand only played only 16 times for Manchester United in an injury hit campaign so while he is unlikely to suffer from burn out he is also likely to lack the nece sary sharpne s needed against some of the bestforwardsin the World, which was demonstrated in the match against Japan.Meanwhile Terry has endured a torrid time in his personal life which affected his clubform atthe turn of the year and led to him losing the England captaincy.However he recoveredwell to lead his Chelsea side to the league and cup double and if he can carrythat into South Africa then wewill have one the best defenders at the tournament.Another will be Terrys Chelsea team mate Ashley Cole, whohas once againproved to be one of the best attacking left backs in the World. Although he too has suffered with injuries this season, he finished the campaignin superb form and if he can put his much publicised marriage problemsbehind himhe will be a vital player for England down the left flank over the next few weeks.Ashley Cole; po siblythe best left back in the World.In midfieldthe debate remainsas to whetherFrank Lampard and Steven Gerrard can play together, but the fact isthat on their day they are both World cla s performers. Lampard has enjoyed his greatest season to date, scoring 27 goalsin helping Chelsea to the double,and if he can replicate that sort of form this summer then he could be one of the stars of the tournament.By contrast Gerrard has had a toughtime at Liverpool this season where he has looked unsettled and suffered with speculation about his private life. Despite rarely reaching the form he reguarly displays for his club in an England shirt there is no doubt that Gerrard is a key player and what better way for him toput adisappointing season behind him then to helpus lift the World Cup?Lampard and Gerrard could hold the key in the England midfield.Up front the big question iswho will partnerRooney? Emile Heskey has been Fabio Capellos first choice but his goalscoring record is not going to frighten the best defences in the World, although he does seem to bring the best out ofhis strike partners in much the same way as Peter Beardsley used todo.Emile Heskey; under-rated but he remains favourite to partner Rooney.Peter Crouch appears to be the other alternative, although doubts remain over his ability to score against the really top Nations while his Tottenham team mate Jermaine Defoe only seems tomake an impact from the bench.Socan England finally Jimmy Kerr Jersey bring to an end 44 years of hurt and lift the World Cup on July 11th?Well, ifTerry, Ferdinand, Cole, Lampard, Gerrard and of course Rooney all hit top formover the next few weeks then maybe we could surprise a few people and go all the waybut then again havent weheardthe samething before every previous tournament since 1966?? The time for talking is over, now is the time to deliver