St George's Park Training Ground, Staffordshire.

St George's Park's Training Base, which opened in 2012, is currently the permanent base for England teams at all levels.

And this is the product of the reform and summary of English football.

As an established powerhouse, England's football has been overshadowed by the failure to reach Euro 2008 and the round of 16 at the 2010 World Cup.

After two consecutive major tournament defeats, the FA learned the hard way and developed the Elite Player Performance Plan (EPPP) with the Premier League.

The plan was adopted at the end of 2011 and implemented from 2012 onwards, beginning a major overhaul of the entire English youth system.

The FA was hoping to replicate the success of the Clay Fontaine football training camp in France, providing top-level hardware and a set of tactical systems for national players at all levels.

You must know that the England team not only did not have its own fixed national team station, but even the team doctor of the team did not have a full-time position.

Normally, the Three Lions will borrow Arsenal's A.T. Kearney training base on home soil for pre-match preparation.

At the time of the tournament, the team's team doctor would normally ask Premier League clubs for temporary loans.

This is still the case for senior teams, and it is not difficult to imagine the situation of youth teams like the U21 team before that.

With the opening of St George's Park, the Three Lions not only have a permanent presence at all levels, but the FA has also overhauled the youth system of English football around it.

This is also the fundamental reason why England's youth talent has exploded later, and young talents such as Foden, Saka, Rice, and Bellingham have appeared.

But that's all for later.

The reform of English football has only been carried out for two years now, and it has not seen too obvious results for the time being.

The adult team is in an embarrassing period of lack of success.

This stumped the head coach of the Three Lions, "Huo Taigong" Hodgson

The tactical room of the training base was already full of the coaching staff of the entire team.

Southgate, who is Under-21 manager and head of FA development, also sits to Hodgson's left.

They are gathered today for one purpose:

Draw up a preliminary list of 30 people to go to the World Cup in Brazil!

Next month, the 2014 World Cup will be held in Brazil, the "kingdom of football".

They need to pick the best 30 of all the professional players with English nationality.

Then, select 23 of them and go to Brazil!

The old man sitting at the conference table is none other than the head coach of the England team, Roy Hodgson!

Roy Hodgson is arguably the most respected coach and football boss in English football.

He has been coaching professionally since 1976 and has been in charge for 38 years.

He has coached national and club teams such as Swedish giants Malmo, Swiss national team, Inter Milan, etc., and has very rich coaching experience.

Because of his rich experience and tactical sophistication, he was given the nickname "Huo Taigong" by fans.

Since taking up his role as England manager in May 2012, the 66-year-old has already led the team to one European Championship.

But the results of that European Championship were not good.

Although England topped the group, they still fell on penalties in the quarterfinals.

And this year's World Cup in Brazil is a major test for Hodgson to lead this team.

If he doesn't perform well, Hodgson is likely to be out of class directly after the World Cup.

At this moment, a PPT is playing on the clear projection screen.

And on each picture, there are detailed reports of individual players.

Hodgson's assistant Ray Livington stood next to the big screen and introduced everyone one by one:

'In terms of goalkeepers, we have four options.

"Defenders."

"In midfield, the 18-year-old midfielder who has just led Leicester City to the title and won the Championship Double Player of the Year award."

"And in terms of forwards, Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy, who just broke the Championship scoring record, is also on the final shortlist."

"The above 30 players are our final shortlist."

As the assistant sat back in his seat, Hodgson, who was sitting on the top seat, slowly spoke:

"Do you have any comments on this list?"

Everyone looks at me, I look at you, and finally a senior technical coach took the lead in speaking:

"I think Ling Feng is a player to be considered"

"Although his performances in the Championship this season have been phenomenal. However, he is only 18 years old, and he has only played more than 20 professional games since he was promoted to the first team. ”

"And he hasn't been through the Premier League yet, can he really adapt to the atmosphere and pressure of an important tournament like the World Cup?"

"So, I personally tend to bring some experienced veterans, it would be better."

"His age is an advantage, though. We can recruit him into the team and train with the selected players, which is also a training for him."

As someone took the lead in throwing bricks, another technical coach also expressed his opinion:

"Jamie Vardy, I personally think he needs to be looked into further."

'He's scored more than 30 goals in the Championship this season. However, a considerable part of the goals came from Ling Feng's assists. This shows that he needs the support of his teammates a lot, and his individual ability is not outstanding."

"And his style of play is to have enough space up front for him to sprint and break through."

"Sturridge is better at his feet, Lambert is better at heading and more fulcrum up front"

"Flanagant, he's got too many injuries"

"Defoe is too old to play in a league like MLS, and there is no reference value."

After listening to the opinions of everyone in the coaching staff, Hodgson finally looked at Southgate, who was sitting on the side, frowning:

"Gareth, what do you think?"

Previously, after watching the battle between Leicester City and Burnley, Southgate immediately approached Hodgson and recommended Ling Feng as a young player to him.

And after watching Ling Feng's game footage and highlights, Hodgson was also surprised by the mature style of the young midfielder who has made a big splash in the Championship.

In particular, his varied passing was impressive.

Under his order, Ling Feng quickly became the focus of the scouting department of the England team.

Soon, a detailed scouting report on Ling Feng appeared on the table of the England team's coaching staff.

The crowd did not doubt his talent.

However, his youth, lack of top-flight experience and mental level such as ability to work under pressure made the England coaching staff a little hesitant.

Facing everyone's gaze, Southgate just said with a firm face:

"I still stand by my opinion. In this World Cup, you must bring Ling Feng! ”

"In my opinion, his creativity is something that is lacking in our middle school."

"We have a team full of fast attackers who can attack the opposition's rib space. And Ling Feng's vision and passing skills are extremely good, just enough to make threatening passes for them. ”

'In particular, his curling cross from the right flank was very tricky, right between the goalkeeper and the defender, so he was very threatening.

"And his set-pieces are precise and can provide a certain change to our tactics when the situation cannot be opened"

'Of course, I know that in the Championship, the intensity and pace of the league is not as good as the Premier League. However, the quality he has shown in the league has proven that he is skilled enough to stand in the Premier League. ”

"Even if he is not allowed to play in this tournament, let him feel the atmosphere of the tournament, which will be very important for his growth."

As the FA's head of development, Southgate's position is equivalent to the FA's spokesperson.

It is worth mentioning that he was also one of the main writers of the FA's youth training syllabus "England DNA" released in the future.

It can be said that in this room, his voice is very important.

Hearing Southgate's admiration for Ling Feng so much, Hodgson couldn't help but pay attention to this eighteen-year-old young man.

As a relatively conservative English coach, he actually prefers traditional English midfielders like Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard.

He can shoot from behind, drop back to defend, and cover the midfield with aggressive movements.

Although Ling Feng is young, he has not played a single Premier League game.

However, judging from his game footage and scouting reports, in addition to his eye-catching passing and playmaking ability, he also has the advantages of a traditional English midfielder.

Hodgson's average distance traveled by the top three and the aggressiveness he showed when defending all gave Hodgson a good impression.

Even if his shooting ability is average, as Southgate said, he is not needed to do these things as a striker and long-range shooter in the team.

As a manager, you can't just look at the individual abilities of the players, but also look at the structure of the whole team.

A team that is more offensive or defensively stronger, it doesn't work.

Balanced offense and defense is king!

Judging from the balance of the lineup, Ling Feng, a young midfielder who connects the team with passes, is indeed a good addition.

Thinking of this, Hodgson's heart had already made a decision.

However, he did not immediately agree with Southgate, saying this:

"That's it for the list. As for whether Ling Feng can enter the final list, wait until the FA Cup final is over, and then make a decision! ”

He plans to go to Wembley to see for himself what the youngster can do against a Premier League giant like Arsenal.

。。。

At 8 p.m. on May 5, the FA announced its 30-man preliminary list for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

Four goalkeepers, led by Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart, Ben Foster (West Bromwich Albion), Fraser Foster (Celtic) and John Rudy (Norwich) are on the bench;

Nine defenders, consisting of Bynes (Everton), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Jagielka (Everton), Glen Johnson (Liverpool), Phil Jones (Manchester United), Luke Shaw (Southampton), Chris Smalling (Manchester United), Frangarn (Liverpool), John Stones (Everton);

The midfield is eleven people, led by the "double German", as well as Barkley (Everton), Henderson (Liverpool), Lallana (Southampton), Milner (Manchester City), Ling Feng (Leicester City), Raheem Sterling (Liverpool), Wilshere (Arsenal) Carrick (Manchester United), Cleverley (Manchester United) and others.

The forward six, led by the Red Devils' No. 10 "Lu Xiaopang", Lambert (Liverpool), Sturridge (Liverpool), Welbeck (Manchester United), Andy Carroll (West Ham), Vardy (Leicester City)

The 30-man preliminary roster includes almost all of England's best players from the old, middle and young generations.

Except for Walcott, who was reimbursed for the season, and Oxlade-Chamberlain, who were injured and did not make it to the list, these are the people who can basically have the strength to fight.

That night, Ling Feng, who learned that he was also selected for the 30-man preliminary list for the World Cup in Brazil, was not as excited as his mother

On the one hand, his situation is like Guan Yunchang, who is in Cao Ying's heart and Han City;

On the other hand, he also hopes to step on the stage of the World Cup and compete with the best teams in the world.

Moreover, after looking at the list, he concluded in his heart that this was definitely a trip to troubled waters!

Because, this England squad is definitely the most dish-dish in England's previous World Cups.

Not one of them!

And the later results also proved that this England team is really picky.

The Three Lions, led by Shuangde and Wayne Rooney, failed to even qualify for the group stage and went home directly.

This is England's worst record at the World Cup since 1958!

The inability of the two Germans to coexist is a long-standing problem in English football.

Both are functional players with good fitness, large coverage, defensive and can shoot at goal.

But, to be honest, the two's foot technology and organizational scheduling are really not good.

If you need them to play in the middle of the field, they won't be able to play.

Especially in the past ten years, England's tactics have been the traditional 442.

When Beckham is there, the two only need to insert a kick in the midfield, and the task of organizing and scheduling can be handed over to Beckham to a certain extent.

However, after David Beckham's retirement, England's midfield became even more chaotic after the retiring Wayne Rooney was the heart of the team.

Because Wayne Rooney is not the kind of full-time midfielder who can organize with the ball!

Therefore, when Wilshere, who is skilled at his feet and can make dangerous passes, gives the English hope that he will take on the role of England's midfield for the next decade.

It's a pity that the small threat is a big piece of glass.

Frequent injuries ruined this genius boy who was once alone with Dream San Ba Saha Baibu

However, even though the squad looks star-studded, the Englishman has been blown around by the British media for many years, and the Englishman still has blind confidence in his team.

In their opinion, although there is no Beckham, Rio Ferdinand, Gary Neville, Terry, Owen and others.

However, under the leadership of Shuangde and Wayne Rooney, healthy Wilshere and others, this "talented" England team will give them some surprises!

This is yesterday's update.

(End of chapter)