4. An Ageing Squad
England have a steadily ageing squad. Seven of those expected to be named in manager Roy Hodgson's final 23-man squad are 30 or over. Ashley Cole (32), Phil Jagielka (31), Steven Gerrard (33), Frank Lampard (35), Michael Carrick (32), Jermain Defoe (30) and Rickie Lambert (31) will likely make the shortlist of players to travel to Brazil in 12 months. Meanwhile, the likes of Leighton Baines and Ashley Young will be 29 by the time next summer's tournament rolls along, which all leaves Hodgson with something of an old squad. The so-called "Golden Oldies" Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard were supposed to have led us to glory during the era of a "golden generation" for the country but have failed to do so in the last five major international tournaments. Sure, we have young players coming through, like Daniel Sturridge, Andros Townsend, Ross Barkley, Raheem Sterling, Jack Wilshere and Tom Cleverley, but neither of these players have been capped more than 10 times. How can players with such limited experience be expected to win the World Cup?