World Cup 2014: 8 Players Who Can Win It For Their Country

7. Steven Gerrard (England)

Current Odds: 25/1

Coming in marginally ahead of France because this is an English website... is England and their captain and star man in midfield, Steven Gerrard. Seen as equally a long shot as our neighbours across the channel, England are another team lacking in relative quality on a world-wide scale and also the nation most expected to be negatively effected by the climate in Brazil.

Whilst Roy Hodgson's decision to approach the grand stage armed with youth and optimism has proved somewhat infectious to the general population, the consensus remains that England simply lack the quality needed to progress into the very late stages of this competition and we face a potential Quarter Final match with Brazil should we finish second in our group.

Luis Suarez's recent injury will, undoubtedly, increase our chances of avoiding that and a far simpler draw awaits us in the top right of the knockout brackets if we do finish top of the group. To do that, England are going to need to be tactically spot on, utilising our experience through the middle to avoid gassing ourselves in the heat and absorbing the obvious possession we will squander and transitioning that quickly into attack with pace and drive through the flanks, without isolating the strikers from the game.

Steven Gerrard's guile, heart and ability to swiftly transition up the pitch with long, accurate passes, is, thus, going to be vital to our chances of any success. In addition to the defensive stability he can provide, Gerrard is going to need to pick his spot with his passes and ensure we do not become bogged down in our own half when off the ball. His leadership in organising the team, defensively, is equally important.