Let me state from the outset I do not think left midfield is the best position for Steven Gerrard in the England team.
The Liverpool captain is that good a player that he will do a job anywhere, but he has openly admitted his favoured position is in the centre or playing just off a forward, which he does for his club.
If it was up to me I would play him more centrally but England boss Fabio Capello has stuck with a successful formation in World Cup qualifying and I'm not sure he is going to change it now even if he probably agrees with Gerrard's assessment.
Capello still needs back-up for the left flank, though. A few players have been tried out but I have sneaky feeling the Italian may plump for the least experienced player among the options available.
Years | Winners | Runner-up | Third place |
2006 | Italy | France | Germany |
2002 | Brazil | Germany | Turkey |
1998 | France | Brazil | Croatia |
1994 | Brazil | Italy | Sweden |
1990 | Germany | Argentina | Italy |
1986 | Argentina | Germany | France |
1982 | Italy | Germany | Poland |
1978 | Argentina | Holland | Brazil |
1974 | Germany | Holland | Poland |
1970 | Brazil | Italy | Germany |
1966 | England | Germany | Portugal |
1962 | Brazil | Czech | Chile |
1958 | Brazil | Sweden | France |
1954 | Germany | Hungary | Austria |
1950 | Uruguay | Brazil | Sweden |
1938 | Italy | Hungary | Brazil |
1934 | Italy | Czech | Germany |
1930 | Uruguay | Argentina | America |