West Ham United’s in-form players should be picked for Euro 2016.
When Roy Hodgson selected his latest England squad there were some very notable omissions, with West Ham United fans wondering how on earth Michail Antonio, Mark Noble and Aaron Cresswell had been overlooked.
The failure to call up Noble in particular raised eyebrows and tempers alike, while Antonio’s brilliant recent form means he should have been selected ahead of Theo Walcott, who has been flattering to deceive for years.
However, England’s performance against Germany at the weekend proved emphatically that players picked on form rather than reputation can make all the difference.
It was no surprise the Tottenham Hotspur quartet of Harry Kane, Dele Alli, Eric Dier and Danny Rose ran the show against the World Cup holders, with Jamie Vardy scoring almost as soon as he came off the substitutes’ bench.
This is an England side full of confidence, so just imagine how much better it would be with Antonio primed to burst down the flanks and Noble doing what he does best in midfield?
Given Rose’s form and the imminent return of Luke Shaw, Cresswell may be hard pressed to get a spot on the plane this summer, but Noble and Antonio should be included without question.
Hodgson should look at what confidence does to a team and ensure he does not make the same mistake regarding West Ham’s brilliant players when he selects his next squad.
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