Football Manager 2017’s predicted England squad for the 2022 World Cup contains current Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham and Leeds United players.
It’s 2022 on Football Manager 2017; Tottenham have won the Champions League, Kevin de Bruyne is the most expensive player on the planet following a £115 million move to PSG, Arsenal have finally signed Gonzalo Higuain, Ryan Giggs has finally got a job in management and Liverpool still haven’t got their hands on the Premier League title.
Yet, we know that there is one thing far more important… The Mail Online’s miserable attempt to predict England’s ‘team of the future’ shows how difficult such predictions can be, with the likes of Robbie Threlfall and Jose Baxter making that unfortunate XI. Can Football Manager do any better then?
The game is notoriously accurate when it comes to players abilities and potential, although they cannot of course get them all right. We fast forwarded to 2022 on the management simulation game, which was released last week, to see who they’re predicting to take to the field for the three lions at the 2022 World Cup, which is incidentally moved from Qatar to Argentina on FM.
England prospects Dele Alli and John Stones
Goalkeeper: Jack Butland
Ask most people who’ll be England’s number one in 6 years time and they’d probably go with Jack Butland. The 23-year-old was first called up in 2012, and it seems only a matter of time before he displaces Joe Hart. The man on-loan at Torino held his ground for some time on FM17, with Butland not becoming a regular until 2020, but Hart failed to make the squad for 2022, with current Leeds United youngster Bailey Peacock-Farrell being Butland’s able deputy.
Left-Back: Luke Shaw
Another unsurprising inclusion, Luke Shaw will only be 26 when the 2022 World Cup comes, and providing he can stay fit, he should be a shoe-in. With Danny Rose aged 31 and dropped to Tottenham’s reserves and both Aaron Cresswell & Kieran Gibbs aged 32, it is once again a Leeds United player playing second fiddle, with Charlie Taylor being picked as Shaw’s backup.
Centre-Back: Reece Oxford
Tipped for greatness for a long time now, it is worth remembering Reece Oxford is still only 17. The West Ham defender who is also capable of playing in midfield was a somewhat surprise inclusion in Gareth Southgate’s (yes, he’s still in charge) England starting XI, having won just 3 caps prior to the start of the tournament, aged 23.
Centre-Back: John Stones
A safe shout, you would think, given John Stones’ potential and early development under Pep Guardiola. The former Everton defender has become a regular for Manchester City for 6 seasons by 2022, and already has 70 caps for England at the age of just 28.
Right-Back: Chris Smalling
Chris Smalling captains England at the 2022 World Cup on FM17
England’s captain for the 2022 World Cup, no it’s not still Wayne Rooney (he’s an out of work manager now), but it’s still a Manchester United player. Chris Smalling is one of the senior members of the squad in 2022, aged 32, with 85 caps to his name. Right-back seems to be a future problem area for England, with Smalling having been pushed out wide in favour of Callum Chambers and Kyle Walker, the more natural right-backs in the squad.
Defensive Midfield: Eric Dier
Eric Dier has already become a regular starter for England, so it’s no surprise to see the Spurs man having racked up 69 caps by the time England head to the 2022 World Cup. Still at Tottenham and valued at £38 million, the former Sporting midfielder is playing an anchor man role for Gareth Southgate’s men.
Central Midfield: Dele Alli
Just as is the case with the current team, England’s starting XI at the 2022 World Cup is very Tottenham heavy, and Dele Alli partners Eric Dier in the midfield. Fresh off the back of a fine season at Spurs, Alli is valued at £42.5 million in 2022, and has won 73 caps at the age of 26.
Central Midfield: Lewis Cook
Something of a forgotten man at Bournemouth this season, and already being linked with a loan move in January, Lewis Cook broke into the first team at Elland Road at 17, and Leeds United fans were bitterly disappointed to see their young starlet depart for the south coast. It didn’t work out for Cook at Bournemouth on FM17, and a move to West Brom was followed by a switch to Chelsea, where he has established himself as a star man in the Premier League.
Left Wing: Raheem Sterling
Sterling won his 90th cap at the 2022 World Cup on FM17
England’s 2022 World Cup squad is noticeably short of wingers, with only one natural winger in the squad outside of the two that make the starting XI. Raheem Sterling wins his 90th cap for England at the tournament, although his performances for Manchester City between 2016 and 2022 are better described as solid than exceptional.
Right Wing: Alex Oxlaide-Chamberlain
There may have been an effort to turn Alex Oxlade-Chamberain into a central player in recent times, but he’s very much a winger come 2022 on FM17. Sold by Arsenal to Chelsea for just £16 million, the 28-year-old breathed new life into his career with the Blues and has won 82 caps for his country.
Centre-Forward: Harry Kane
The man keeping Marcus Rashford out of the England team still in 2022 is Tottenham striker Harry Kane. Aged 28 when the 2022 World Cup comes around, Kane has smashed in 45 goals in 76 caps for his country, and he is up to 123 Premier League goals, putting him level with Dwight Yorke. Still at Tottenham and just as prolific, Kane’s form has restricted Rashford to a still mightily impressive 56 caps (aged 24), in which time he has scored 26 goals.
Subs:
England’s substitutes for the 2022 World Cup include current stars such as Jack Wilshere, Jesse Lingaard and Kyle Walker, current teenagers such as Joshua Onomah and Marcus Rashford, a couple of regens like ‘Rob Burnett‘ and current Brentford goalkeeper Daniel Bentley.
Which players were you surprised to miss out on England’s 2022 World Cup team on Football Manager 2017?
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