PETER CROUCH has a great goalscoring record for England, you can’t argue with that – but what you can dispute is whether he merits a place in the stating line-up.

I don’t think the sort of team England will have to beat to win a World Cup – Brazil, Spain, Argentina – will be too fearful of him.

He is more of a Plan B if things aren’t working. If you need to throw someone on to bag you a goal, he is your man.

But the problem isn’t with Crouch so much, it’s with the England set-up. I just don’t think it can manage with a 4-4-2 as there’s not enough happening behind the strikers.

Rooney doesn’t need anyone up there with him if he has Gerrard in the middle of a three behind him with two wider players.

Then two midfielders can slot behind them to complete a 4-2-31 formation. I think the retaining of possession, movement and pressing of the ball in the central areas will be much more effective.

And if England can press the ball higher up the pitch then sides will find it harder to live with them.

Mexico were allowed too much space to roam with the ball and pick their passes on Monday. This can’t happen in South Africa.

And the best thing about the formation is the players who would slot into it are such good athletes, we wouldn’t even need a holding midfielder in there.

If England were to kick off against the USA today my team would be:

(4-3-2-1): James; G Johnson, Ferdinand, Terry, A Cole; Lampard, Milner; Lennon, Gerrard, J Cole; Rooney.