11. Michael Carrick
The most curious aspect of England’s 2-0 victory over Poland was the substitution of Michael Carrick for Frank Lampard.
Lampard started against Montenegro, and was practically immobile, desperately hoping the ball would come his way so he could attempt to deflect a shot into the net.
Carrick meanwhile shielded the England defence well against Poland (apart from when the Three Lions committed an absurd nine men forward for corners, which we’ll put down to a strange bout of adventurousness from manager Roy Hodgson), and attempted 51 passes in the first half vs Poland, completing 48 of them.
Carrick showed sharp thinking and awareness to quickly spread play to Leighton Baines to cross for Wayne Rooney’s opening goal, and while he is a strangely polarising player for one so inoffensive, he ought to be a certainty for Brazil.
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