Since when was Downing a candidate for the right wing? As a left footer he was always one of those rarities in English football, a viable solution to oft discussed left side ‘problem’.

And Carrick is devoid of the quality to be a consistent performer in European domestic competition, let alone at an international tournament. Possibly even Capello thought the same as he tried the random revival of Paul Scholes’ international career.

Thankfully Capello picked a different team to your suggested ‘Christmas Tree’ line up…

Rooney was also rubbish last night , 3 rubbish performances in a row. It takes a world cup to expose the golden generation for what they are. Average. Ashley Cole is the only english player who has maintained his reputation. The Germans should beat England based on both team’s performance so far.

Aside: It was interesting/entertaining to contrast the full-time analysis on BBC with RTE. the truth is somewhere in between. England are good. Deserve to get to the knockouts but the Germans should beat them. Brazil, Argentina, Spain and Holland are all considerably better than both teams though.

James, Johnson, Upson, Terry, A. Cole, Milner, Lamps, Barry, Gerrard, Defoe and Rooney.

I’m firmly in the Carrick camp that he should be starting every game, and feel people were too quick to throw him in the rubbish because of a bad season and first half against Mexico (alongside the inexperienced, out of position James Milner).

No witdh from Capello is an odd one, I was expecting Lennon (or SWP) to start out on the right.

And again… no Joe Cole. Why bother taking him?

I hope Carrick starts as per your predictions, but I doubt Capello will take a punt with him