Four-Three-Glee

I have to admit, I am stealing Sky Sports News headline from Gary Neville's post-match comments on the Wales - England match for the title but it isn't exactly harming anyone now is it?

Anyway, back to the matter at hand, I have to admit I was pleasantly surprised by Fabio Capello's choice of formation for both games against Wales and Ghana but the 4-3-3 appeared to have worked. Granted, a late Asamoah Gyan strike held England to a 1-1 draw against Ghana yet it also highlighted a coming of age on Capello's part.

England have been crying out for a change in formation since their catastrophic exit from the World Cup at the hands of a better organised Germany. Playing a rigid 4-4-2, England were completely outplayed from kick off to the final whistle. On a club level, 4-4-2 still works to an extent but when games on the international stage are won and loss in the midfield, a packed one is a better one. World Champions Spain utilise this to maximum ability with Barcelona trio Sergio Busquets, Andres Iniesta and Xavi pulling the strings from the centre of the park. Germany played a similar way against England using Bastian Schweinsteiger, Sami Khedira and Mesut Ozil to detrimental effect as they passed and probed their way through the space left by Gareth Barry and Frank Lampard in the midfield.

Four of the six games after that match England won playing 4-4-2 and looked unimaginative going forward and flat as a team. Yet, the emergence of Jack Wilshere has proven a shining light in a, somewhat, cloudy time during Capello's campaign. Used as a holding midfielder against Denmark, Wilshere was given the opportunity to perform on the national stage and impressed out of position but Capello knew he had a dilemma on his hands; how to accommodate Steven Gerrard, Lampard and Wilshere in the England midfield. It's common knowledge that Lampard and Gerrard, despite being world class players, don't work together yet Capello insisted on playing the two in the starting XI.

An injury to Gerrard ruled him out of England's encounters against Wales and Ghana while rumours circulated that Lampard was going to be dropped for Wilshere prompting fears of international retirement. Capello, however, had other ideas. Playing the 4-3-3 meant Lampard and Wilshere had a chance to express their creative freedom as the ever consistent Scott Parker sat back and protected the back four, much the way Busquets does for Spain allowing Xavi and Iniesta to push further forward.

England found themselves 2-0 up against Wales within 15 minutes with Ashley Young further re-enforcing his England credentials and much credit goes to Capello and his formation change. With an out-and-out striker available in the form of Darren Bent, Andy Carroll, or Jermain Defoe, England can rely on the 4-3-3 formation with Young and Wayne Rooney the most likely candidates to fill the positions out wide, with the latter having been moved from his customary central position he often finds himself in a Manchester United shirt and used to play on the international stage. Jack Wilshere is a certainty to start for the senior side with his performances against Denmark, Wales and Ghana being of the highest quality.

Parker may have made the position his own for now and rightfully so. MOTM display after MOTM display from the West Ham captain in his club shirt has rewarded him with the start against Wales. However, he will face competition in the future from Jack Rodwell and Tom Huddlestone. The third position in the midfield trio will be a straight two man battle between Gerrard and Lampard.

Some might say that Capello has shifted his formation around to accommodate Wilshere into the starting XI. If that was the case, it is the best decision Capello has made since he took charge of England back in 2008. 4-4-2 was far too rigid in today's international game and it gives Wilshere the chance to hurt opponents much the way he does week-in, week-out for Arsenal.

If Capello fails to adhere by his new formation in the coming qualifiers, he will be doing so at his own peril. England have the players to play 4-3-3 and to play it well. If they perform with the right mentality I have to admit, Euro 2012, should England reach it, could be a competition that they go far in.

Anyway, I have got to go and give my girlfriend some attention.

Laters,

Macca