England World Cup Team: read Alan Smith's 23 players for South Africa

The big fella might not score many but his selfless running creates space just behind for Rooney and Gerrard.Between the sticks, Robert Green, it seems, stands in pole position and in fairness the West Ham keeper hasn’t done a lot wrong in an England shirt.You can’t imagine the England coach, for example, venturing into a major tournament with a total rookie he hasn’t already evaluated in previous games.

Not for Capello the Theo Walcott scenario when Sven Goran Eriksson controversially took a teenager with no Premier League experience to the last World Cup.Some players, of course, are automatic starters.Aaron Lennon was favourite before he got injured but now it’s less clear because Walcott still looks a better substitute than he does a starter, since his understanding of the game leaves a bit to be desired.Heskey, in effect, is used as a tool to maximize the talents of England’s star men.Who, for instance, starts on the right wing where the Italian demands pace and outright width?In his prime, David James was definitely a cut above while young Joe Hart, in time, could go further as well.

For that reason, we can almost discount those outsiders making a late bid for the World Cup 20 With one friendly left before the final squad is announced, the time for experiments has probably passed.To be frank, though, he’s nothing more than ordinary at this level.That only leaves the goalkeeper, seeing as the back four picks itself should Ashley Cole make it.Rio Ferdinand, John Terry, Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard and Wayne Rooney - if fit, they form the basis of the team.That only leaves James Milner, whose intelligence and versatility guarantee a plane ticket, but whose natural style doesn’t fit Capello’s requirements on the right.Capello’s final squad, then, will have its imperfections.A pity that, because, whereas Fulham’s Bobby Zamora falls short on quality if not on goals, I would take a punt on Adam Johnson, the 22 year-old winger settling in well at Manchester City.Less promising still, he can’t match the blinding speed of Lennon or Walcott.This brings us on neatly to a short explanation of Emile Heskey’s involvement.Carlton Cole, on the other hand, is more suited to the task, if only he could knock off one or two rough edges.Capello has got to think about that, just as he’s got to assess who’s in or out of form.Fabio Capello has never been much of a gambler.Neither can Jermain Defoe, as proved against Egypt in March.Downing, granted, is a capable footballer who can swing in a dangerous cross, but Johnson’s ability to beat a man might be more useful in a tight match.But it will also boast several figures of genuine class.Peter Crouch, despite a brilliant goal ratio, can’t do this so well.As it is, Stewart Downing, Johnson’s old Middlesbrough teammate, stands ahead in the queue as a left-sided option.In this regard, Shaun Wright-Phillips isn’t much better off.After that, though, even Capello might harbour one or two doubts.