10 Big Questions Raised By England's World Cup Squad

2. Has Hodgson Picked The Right Seniors?

Hodgson's selection of a significant number of youngsters may have so far been the main talking points regarding the squad, but he's been wise enough to include a number of senior internationals to blend a little know-how in among the youthful enthusiasm. While it's fun to speculate on the pros and cons of the squad's younger players, it was no less important for Hodgson to choose the right older players to make their presence felt on the field in more than just experience. In that respect, Hodgson's selection is a little hit-and-miss. I've already explained why Ashley Cole deserved a seat on the plane ahead of Luke Shaw, but while it pains me as a Chelsea fan to say this, the selection of Frank Lampard is considerably more questionable. Lampard is among the best midfielders of his generation, but his recent form for Chelsea has seen a big drop from the season before. The precision passing and shooting which made him such an invaluable offensive asset have lost a few yards of precision and while he was never the quickest, those trademark runs forward have been getting fewer and further between of late. Perhaps the (remote) possibility of winning an international cup in what will surely be his last tournament will motivate him back to form, just as the possibility of becoming Chelsea's all-time top goalscorer did last season. Sending a 35-year old in mixed form to represent his country in the humidity of a Brazilian summer doesn't seem the best idea though, particularly when England already has a decent number of midfield options and his place could have helped pad out the slightly flimsy defensive line. Speaking of which, controversial though it may be, Hodgson should have been begging John Terry to return for one last shot at redemption. Not only has his form been phenomenal this season, but even without the captaincy, he'd be exactly the sort of organiser this England back line needs. His partnership with Cahill has proven near impregnable for Chelsea and he's played many times with Glen Johnson for club and country. Many would argue that he doesn't deserve a third chance, particularly regarding the nature of his most recent alleged offence, but his presence could have exponentially improved England's chances of getting through the group stage at least. On the plus side, Rickie Lambert looks a canny inclusion. His blunt-force strength on the ground and in the air could prove invaluable in disrupting sides like Costa Rica, who are almost certain to pack their defence and make it near impossible for anyone to run or play through them. He may not be glamourous, but is a great bullying centre forward with a good goalscoring pedigree at Premier League level and in his four international appearances to date. If Hodgson is brave enough to use him, he could be a valuable secret weapon for England to have up their sleeves.