With Euro 2012 approaching these five England players have the most to prove in the second half of the EPL season
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The group draw will take place early next month and then everything will be set for the 16 teams who will make the trip to the continent's ultimate decider of who is the one country to rule them all. Everything except who will make up the teams.
For the English national team, much of its squad is yet to be decided. One could argue that the only guaranteed places belong to goalkeeper Joe Hart, defender Ashley Cole and midfield standout Scott Parker. The other spots on the plane remain completely up for grabs and will be determined over the next few months by manager Fabio Capello and his staff.
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"At the end of the season I will decide," said Capello of whether players like Everton's Jack Rodwell and others will make his tournament team. "I hope all the midfielders will be fit. I hope so. Rodwell is a really interesting player, a young player. I hope the competition to play the Euros will be really strong for all the players."
Rodwell and the rest of England's talented selection of players have roughly six months to prove their worth to Capello, something that has been notoriously difficult to do during the Italian's tenure in charge of the team.
Of all the players in the national pool, however, the following five have the most at stake regarding their possible position with the team, or potentially, on their couch watching the tournament at home, injuries withstanding, of course. Also included is a percentage that each makes the final team and is on that British Airways flight to central Europe.
 | 1. DARREN BENTFORWARD | ASTON VILLA |
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If Darren Bent ever wants to become a staple in the English national team, this is his time to do it. With the uncertainty surrounding Wayne Rooney and the length of his suspension still ongoing (more on that later), someone has to step up in front of goal for the Three Lions.
Having made only a handful of national team appearances since his initial cap in 2006, Bent's history with his country has been spotty at best. Finally healthy and apparently settled at a club (he's been at four different teams since his first cap), the 27-year-old has the potential to fill Rooney's very big shoes at the early stages of next summer's tournament.
"I feel under less pressure in the sense that when you are not in the side so often, you feel every game is a trial," Bent told reporters. "To some extent it is still the same now - but I am definitely more relaxed now. I've played more games consistently. Every time I've been fit since the World Cup, the manager has played me and it's gone really well."
With Aston Villa finding its bearings in the league, Bent will be asked to lead the line. If he can consistently put in solid outings and be among the EPL's top scorers, Fabio Capello will have no choice but to select his as one of the forwards he brings to Poland and the Ukraine. Having never been selected for a major tournament before, that's a very big if.
| | 2. GARY CAHILLCENTER BACK | BOLTON WANDERERS |
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Another spot that is seemingly yet to be determined is that of a center back partner for captain John Terry. With Rio Ferdinand's form nowhere near international quality at the moment, Capello has had to test a few different options to determine who will play next to his controversial leader.
Recently, Cahill has been one of the first options on his team sheet. A strong, resolute defender who happens to play well for a team that isn't any good, Cahill has impressed when surrounded with players that have the class necessary to play for a national team.
"It's very easy and comfortable to play alongside him," Cahill told reporters of playing with Terry. "We are giving nothing away at the minute. We've been really well organised and that's very pleasing. For us at the back, we have to keep things tight to see games out and get positive results."
Endearing himself to his teammates can only go so far though as the Bolton man has a very tricky time ahead of him. With rampant speculation of a move away from the Reebok Stadium, Cahill has a very difficult decision to make at an even more difficult time. Does he leave to go to a bigger club like Chelsea or Arsenal and risk playing time or a dip in form due to an adjustment period? All of which could harm his chances of being in the team this summer.
Something of a 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it' scenario, Cahill may decide to stay with Bolton to ride out the year. In doing so, he may be overlooked due to the inferior quality of the team's play. Will be a big decision for him to make and it definitely will impact whether he makes the final squad.
| | 3. STEVEN GERRARD/FRANK LAMPARDMIDFIELDER | LIVERPOOL/CHELSEA |
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This duo is grouped together because, well, they always have been and it will almost certainly be the last major tournament for both. They aren't the players they once were only two years ago, as injuries and the wear and tear of the Premier League have worn on them heavily.
Having said that though, both have been stalwarts in the England team for the better part of the last decade and have been vital to its (marginal) success in that time. With nearly 200 appearances and 50 goals combined, Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard have defined the England midfield lately. Well, the pair and one golden-haired maverick currently plying his trade in the City of Angels.
Because of this, we'd all be remiss to overlook them, Fabio Capello included. When they are on their game, performing at the elite level that we've become accustomed to, each brings something to the table that few others in the national pool is able to. Having them in the side may just depend on whether they can stay healthy, something neither has proven in recent years, Gerrard in particular.
"Going into any tournament as a player, you always take it as your last because you never know what could happen two years down the line," Gerrard told the Mirror. "I’m 31, I’ll be 32 by the time Euro 2012 comes around, so, whatever happens, I’ll be treating it as my last one. But it would be nice, if this is to be my last tournament, to get to a semi-final or a final rather than come away disappointed like we have been previously."
Their impact on the national team has been massive, but a place on the Euro 2012 squad is not as assured as it once was and both will need to put in the extra work to get there.
| | 4. JACK WILSHEREMIDFIELDER | ARSENAL |
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One player pushing Gerrard and Lampard for their spots in the team will be Arsenal's Jack Wilshere. The talented 19-year-old was superb in his breakout season in 2010-11 and appears to have a very bright future ahead of him, for both club and country.
Unfortunately, Wilshere has been hindered by an ankle injury that has kept him out all of this season and has really hurt his chances of making the England roster for Euro 2012, given that he hasn't been a part of the team since June.
“Normally, England don't play like that when Wayne Rooney and Jack Wilshere are available,” said Spain's Cesc Fabregas after his team's 1-0 defeat to the Three Lions. "But unfortunately they were without a few players and maybe it was an obligation to play like that. England are a very solid team and if they have Jack back it will make a massive difference to them. He is the one with the talent to make things happen and on Saturday we didn't see that really."
With the midfielder apparently out of action until the new year, he'll have to work harder than the rest of the guys on this list (and those who are fit and up for consideration) to not only perform at a high level but to work his way back from a long spell on the sidelines. Assuming he gets 15 good league appearances under his belt to end the year, his place could be safe, though with the setbacks he's already had with this injury, it may be tough.
| | 5. WAYNE ROONEYFORWARD | MANCHESTER UNITED |
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Probably the most difficult situation of all the players included, Wayne Rooney's potential place in the team could be determined before the end of the year. With UEFA set to rule on whether Rooney's three-match ban for kicking out at Montenegro defender Miodrag Dzudovic last month should be upheld or reduced on Dec. 9, the Manchester United forward could see his chances of making the team increase or stay the same.
Arguably one of the stupidest things that Rooney has done in his career, the little kick and subsequent red card not only jeopardized his place in the team but also the fate of the team itself, as the 26-year-old is far and away the team's most gifted and important outfield player. Without him in the team, it is a totally different beast, one with much less bite.
"Obviously, it’s devastating for me but it’s something that’s my own fault, so I can’t really complain," said Rooney to reporters earlier this month of the incident. "It was stupid by me. I regretted it as soon as I did it. It’s no excuse, but I still feel the punishment is a bit harsh. I’m disappointed with it."
Assuming the ban stays the same, Rooney will have to have his A-game for the remainder of the season and end it in such scorching hot form that Capello has no choice but to take him in the hopes that he'll be an added boost in the knockout stages, assuming England makes it that far. Otherwise, Rooney could become an afterthought if players like the aforementioned Bent, Andy Carroll or Jermain Defoe can start scoring with more frequency.
Lots of pressure on Rooney to perform for his club as its his only chance to show his worth given the stickiness of the situation. Then again, UEFA could announce that it has reduced the ban to two games, or less likely, one game, and the decision to pick him would be much easier. Right now though, Rooney's back is against the wall.
Shane Evans is an editor for Goal.com USA. His feature, "The Full English" appears every Friday morning. Contact Shane at with questions, comments and
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