Hodgson must take Cole to World Cup
IT WILL be a very tough call for Roy Hodgson, but Ashley Cole must go to the World Cup this summer. There’s no point leaving an England centurion back at home.
Between Cole, Leighton Baines and Luke Shaw, England are spoilt for choice at left back. There are valid arguments for taking each of them but age is not one. Though Cole is 33, Roberto Carlos was the same age at the 2006 World Cup and Cafu was 36.
If Brazil had decided not to take them we would all be wondering why two modern greats of the game were not involved.
If Cole is not in the England squad, I’m sure plenty of fans around the world will be asking the same question. Hodgson may never get to manage in a World Cup again. He will lead England as far as he can in the tournament and will want to take the best group of players available to him. That includes Cole (below).
He is England’s fifth most-capped player, he has won everything there is to win at club level and he has been one of the world’s best left backs for the best part of a decade.
He showed that with commanding performances in thee first leg of the Champions League semifinal against Atletico Madrid and at Anfield last weekend. He hadn’t started a game for Chelsea since January but to come in and perform at that level is extraordinary.
At any tournament you want players who are at the peak of their powers, and I see no signs of Cole’s power waning.
Tournament foot-ball is such a high-- pressure environment. Every game is minutely scrutinised and the clamour for stories is like nothing most players will have experienced. Hodgson will want to turn to players he can trust and Cole has been to three World Cups and two European Championships. He knows exactly how to deal with that and his experience could be invaluable.
In Baines and Shaw the competition is strong. Baines has been the outstanding left back in the Premier League this season and Shaw has all the tools to become a top-class player.
If Baines is first- choice in the team then I would like to see the reliable Cole on the bench. But of course Hodgson could take Shaw to gain some experience.
Michael Owen and Rio Ferdinand went to the World Cup in 1998 and they had long and distinguished England careers. I’m not sure Shaw is quite ready to have the same impact that Owen had at the same age so is it really worth taking him if he’s not going to be involved?
Understanding the atmosphere of an international tournament is one thing but playing in a game is completely different. It’s like practising penalties — you can take as many as you like but nothing can prepare you for the reality. When the pressure is on, Hodgson will want people who ccan handle it and if Baines starts then Cole would be the perfect replacement.
There is no doubt Shaw is a future England left back, but it would be a big ask of any player to come on in a World Cup game, let alone a relatively inexperienced 18-year-old. It is a nice problem for Hodgson, but unless he can tweak his squad iit’s unlikely he can take aall three. Whoever he chooses, though, England will be well covered.