Sport
Who makes our greatest England XI ever?
Fewer teams spark a national expectation and following like England do. The Three Lions are a team that has been at the heart of football since the very beginning and are a regular sight at all the major events such as the Euros or World Cup. The rich footballing culture of England has seen them reach the very pinnacle of the sport and produce some of the greatest footballers of all time. With such a rich history to look back on, just who would make the greatest England XI of all time?
The greatest England XI
GK: Gordon Banks
One of the all-time goalkeeping greats, Gordon Banks is arguably the finest goalkeeper to ever don the gloves for the Three Lions. His England career spanned almost an entire decade running from 1963-1972 and saw Banks be part of the famous World Cup winners of 1966. It would be his save against Pele in the 1970 World Cup that would underline his talents to the world and cement his legacy as one of the all-time greats in world football.
RB: Gary Neville
Gary Neville was never the most assuming player on the pitch but he was definitely one of the most reliable and deserves a place in our greatest England XI. An astute defender at all times, Neville could defend perfectly whilst still provide an attacking outlet when it was necessary. A reliable part of the England set-up for 12 years, Neville always felt like part of the furniture in an England shirt and proved why he helped England and United to be consistently one of the best defensive units in world football.
LB: Ashley Cole
Whilst his off-field antics were questionable at times, Ashley Cole was never less than world class when on it. Possessing lightning pace and excellent passing ability, Cole was an ever-present threat down the left both in attack and defence. His ability to keep going from the first to last whistle was flawless in an international career that 13 years. With 107 caps, Cole is one of the most capped players for England and a legendary defender in his own right.
CB: Rio Ferdinand
When England needed someone to anchor the backline in the modern game, no one was better at doing that than Rio Ferdinand. Not shy to throw in a tackle or use his body, Ferdinand was always a reliable figure within the England back line. His partnership with John Terry formed a formidable duo for attackers to break down and helped England prove to be a powerhouse force in the early 2000s.
CB: Bobby Moore
Perhaps no one is more famous in an England shirt than Bobby Moore who is an automatic inclusion in our greatest XI. Moore was a world-class defender whose tackling was always timed to perfection and exemplified professionalism throughout his career. It was this all-round package that made him an inspiring captain and helped lead England to their famous World Cup victory in 1966. Moore’s performances often see him cited as one of the best defenders of all time and a first name on any greatest England squad.
RCM: David Beckham
He may have been the poster boy for glamour and celebrity but David Beckham could always deliver when he needed to. Becks was one of England’s most technically gifted players of his generation and his passing skills would only be eclipsed by his set-piece ability. His iconic free kicks generated films, games and more throughout the early 2000s with many people forgetting that Beckham was also England captain for over 6 years. A truly iconic no.7 no matter who he played against.
CM: Bobby Charlton
It’s hard to believe that Bobby Charlton held the national scoring record for half a century yet played as a midfielder. It was Charlton’s surging runs that drove forward his remarkable scoring record that saw him score 49 goals in 106 appearances for England from 1958-1970. His shooting prowess also combined with a phenomenal passing range that could cross the length of a pitch with ease and generate an attack in just a few seconds. Being a record holder and World Cup winner, Charlton truly did it all during his career.
LCM: Steven Gerrard
If there was ever an award for non-stop effort, Steve Gerrard would be one of the prime contenders for it. Playing the box-to-box role to perfection, Gerrard’s tenacity helped drive play forward whenever he could as well as protect the defence when necessary. Gerrard was also lethal from distance and would be able to find the net from 30-40yds with rasping drives if he was ever given space. With 114 caps and a former captain, Gerrard always gave 110% for his country and starts in the centre of midfield in our greatest England XI.
FW: Wayne Rooney
Capable of playing as a winger or striker, Wayne Rooney always had goal scoring instincts whenever he took to the field. Rooney was lethal from almost any distance with a powerful shot that would obliterate the net if given the opportunity. Whilst he was never the tallest or the quickest, Rooney’s awareness in the box was outstanding and even bordered on the extraordinary when he had momentum on his side. With 53 goals in 120 caps, Rooney has proven to be England’s greatest goalscorer of all time and a Three Lions legend.
FW: Gary Lineker
We all know Gary Lineker from his various TV roles but everyone’s favourite crisp aficionado was also a deadly goal scorer. One of the quickest players of his generation, Lineker was a nightmare for defences to handle when he was on the move. His finishing ability and composure was almost unrivalled and this helped him beat the likes of Diego Maradona to the Golden Boot award in the 1986 World Cup. Whilst injury cut his career short, Lineker’s goals to appearance ratio of 46 in 80 games is an outstanding feat many other strikers failed to match before and after his time.
FW: Alan Shearer
The iconic raised hand celebration was a sight many England fans enjoyed seeing throughout the 1990s and meant just one thing – Alan Shearer had scored again. The all-time Premier League top scorer was just as lethal at international level with his pace and finishing ability difficult for teams to cope with. He only played 68 times for England but scored 30 times and his Golden Boot award at home in Euro 1996 proved why Shearer is classified as one of the best strikers of his generation and a must-include in our greatest England XI.
Subs: Peter Shilton, Stuart Pearce, John Terry, Paul Gascoigne, Paul Scholes, Geoff Hurst, Harry Kane
Coach: Sir Alf Ramsey
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