England's Greatest

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St. George's Park Training Base, Staffordshire

Officially opened in 2012, St. George's Park has become the cornerstone of England's national football teams at all levels. This world-class facility represents the culmination of a significant reform in English football, which has faced its share of struggles in recent years.

Despite England's rich footballing heritage, the country's national teams have been haunted by disappointment. After failing to qualify for the 2008 European Championship and enduring a dismal round-of-16 exit at the 2010 World Cup, English football found itself at a crossroads. These failures, though painful, served as a catalyst for change.

In response, the English Football Association (FA) partnered with the Premier League to launch the Elite Player Performance Plan (EPPP) in 2011. Designed to revamp the country's youth development system, the EPPP aimed to emulate the success of France's Clairefontaine academy, which has produced a steady stream of elite talent. At its core, the plan sought to provide state-of-the-art facilities and a comprehensive, sustainable system for nurturing footballing talent across all age groups.

Before this, the England national team lacked a permanent training base, with squads often relying on Arsenal's Colney training ground for local preparations before matches. The lack of a dedicated base and the absence of full-time medical staff underscored the inefficiencies in the country's footballing infrastructure. The youth teams, such as the U21 squad, fared no better, often operating without the necessary resources and support.

The opening of St. George's Park signaled a new era. The facility not only provides a permanent home for the senior and youth teams but also serves as the heart of the FA's youth development program. This facility would eventually become the breeding ground for future England stars like Phil Foden, Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, and Jude Bellingham, marking the start of a new wave of talent emerging from the English system.

However, the fruits of this reform were still a distant prospect. At this time, England's senior team, under manager Roy Hodgson, was in a transitional phase. The country's footballing future was uncertain, and many were questioning whether the changes would lead to success in international competitions.

This uncertainty was evident in a meeting at St. George's Park, where Hodgson, along with his coaching staff and director of development Gareth Southgate, gathered to begin the process of selecting the squad for the upcoming 2014 World Cup in Brazil. The clock was ticking down to the tournament, and the team was in the midst of its preparations.

Hodgson, a seasoned coach with decades of experience, had already overseen England's qualification for the 2012 European Championship, but his tenure had been far from smooth. Hodgson's first major competition had ended in disappointment, with England exiting the tournament in a penalty shootout loss in the quarterfinals.

As the team's head coach, Hodgson knew the upcoming World Cup was critical for his future. His performance in Brazil could determine whether he remained at the helm or was swiftly replaced.

At the meeting, a PowerPoint presentation illuminated the screen, highlighting the potential candidates for the World Cup squad. Ray Livingston, Hodgson's assistant, presented the list of players under consideration: four goalkeepers, nine defenders, and a midfield featuring an 18-year-old sensation from Leicester City—Tristan Hale.

Tristan had just helped Leicester City win the Championship and had been named the league's best player. His rise had been meteoric, and his selection for the squad was causing quite a stir among the coaching staff.

As Livingston continued, he mentioned other prominent names like Jamie Vardy, who had broken the Championship goal-scoring record. The final list of 30 players was coming together, but the inclusion of Hale in the midfield was still a topic of debate.

A senior technical coach voiced his concerns: "While his performance this season has been exceptional, Tristan Hale is still very young. He's only 18, and his professional experience is limited. He has not yet played in the Premier League. Can he handle the pressure of the World Cup? We might be better off relying on more experienced players."

The discussion shifted to Vardy, with some coaches questioning his ability to perform on the world stage. Despite his prolific goalscoring in the Championship, many felt he was too reliant on support from teammates like Hale. Vardy's playing style—characterized by his speed and ability to exploit space—was also a concern, as it left him vulnerable when the space wasn't there.

Hodgson listened attentively to the coaches' arguments. Then, he turned to Southgate, who had been a strong advocate for Hale. Southgate had seen something special in Hale, particularly in the way he orchestrated Leicester City's attacking play with his vision and passing range. After watching the young midfielder's performances, Southgate had been quick to recommend him to Hodgson.

"I believe Tristan is exactly the kind of player we need," Southgate said, his voice firm. "His creativity is something we've been lacking in midfield. We have pacey attackers who can exploit space; what we need is someone who can deliver precise passes and create opportunities for them and entire team. He knows how to control the game something we are lacking."

Southgate's support for Hale was unwavering, and his influence carried weight within the FA. He knew the World Cup was a major step for the young midfielder, but he believed the experience would be invaluable, even if Hale wasn't getting much playing time.

Hodgson, although traditionally conservative in his selections, couldn't ignore the arguments in favor of Tristan. The young midfielder had already proven himself in the Championship, and his passing range, vision, and set-piece ability made him a potential asset to the squad. 

After considering all the input, Hodgson made a decision: "We'll keep Tristan Hale on the list for now. Whether he makes the final squad will depend on his performance in the FA Cup final."

The decision was made. Hodgson planned to attend the FA Cup final, where Leicester City would face Premier League giants Arsenal, to see how Tristan Hale performed under pressure at one of the highest levels.

At 8 p.m. on May 5th, the English Football Association announced the 30-man preliminary list for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

The four goalkeepers are led by Manchester City's Joe Hart, with Ben Foster (West Bromwich Albion), Fraser Forster (Celtic), and John Ruddy (Norwich City) on standby.

The nine defenders include Leighton Baines (Everton), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Phil Jagielka (Everton), Glen Johnson (Liverpool), Phil Jones (Manchester United), Luke Shaw (Southampton), Chris Smalling (Manchester United), Jon Flanagan (Liverpool), and John Stones (Everton).

The midfield is made up of eleven players, with Steven Gerrad and Frank Lampard leading the charge. Joining them are Ross Barkley (Everton), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Adam Lallana (Southampton), James Milner (Manchester City), Tristan Hale (Leicester City), Raheem Sterling (Liverpool), Jack Wilshere (Arsenal), Michael Carrick (Manchester United), Tom Cleverley (Manchester United), and others.

The six forwards are led by Manchester United's No. 10, Wayne Rooney.

The 30-man preliminary list includes Rickie Lambert (Liverpool), Daniel Sturridge (Liverpool), Danny Welbeck (Manchester United), Andy Carroll (West Ham), and Jamie Vardy (Leicester City), representing a mix of established and rising stars in English football.

Injuries to players like Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain excluded some prominent names, but this squad included England's best options for the upcoming challenge.

That night, Tristan was not as excited as his mom and dad when he learned that he had made the 30-man preliminary list for the Brazil World Cup.

For him, the moment felt more like a heavy decision than a moment of triumph. He likened his situation to being a soldier sent into battle under a banner he didn't fully believe in—his body was in the fight, but his heart was uncertain. He wanted to embrace the opportunity to compete at the World Cup, but there was an underlying sense of discomfort.

When he scanned the list, he couldn't help but complain in his head. This England squad was possibly the weakest in England's history at a World Cup.

And the results only confirmed it. The Three Lions failed to qualify from the group stage, crashing out of the tournament early. It marked England's worst World Cup record since 1958.

The team's biggest issue was the inability of two of England's best midfielders—Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard—to coexist in the same lineup. Both were solid, reliable players with strong defensive abilities, vast coverage, and powerful shots. However, neither was known for their vision or playmaking. Their ability to organize play was consistently lacking.

For much of the past decade, England had relied on the 4-4-2 formation, where the midfielders' roles were simplified—especially when Beckham was present. Beckham's presence allowed the other midfielders to focus on their defensive work and leave the creative duties to him. But after Beckham's retirement and with Rooney dropping into midfield, things became more disjointed. Rooney wasn't the type to organize play either, which further compounded the issue.

[The amount of Beckham glaze I had to deal with in this chapter and during the entire world cup has damaged my mental health to the point I didn't think was possible reading a chinese story about fucking football.]

Amid this turmoil, young Jack Wilshere emerged with hope. His brilliant dribbling and ability to thread through ball after ball brought optimism. Many believed Wilshere would be the answer for England's midfield for years to come.

But the promise was short-lived. Injuries plagued Wilshere's career, and his potential, once brimming, slowly withered away. The dream of a new era of English football began to fade.

Despite these challenges, the English media continued to hype up their team. The departure of legends like David Beckham, Rio Ferdinand, Gary Neville, John Terry, and Michael Owen had created a void, but the British press still clung to the hope that, under the leadership of Gerrard and Lampard) and Rooney, with a healthy Wilshere, this "talented" England squad could surprise everyone.

Tristan's eyes flicked across the names on the list again, as a small part of him hoped for better.