Ecuador v England: Three experiments to redo in Brazil

Ross Barkley has a chance to press for an England starting place

Michael Lintorn looks at what elements of Roy Hodgson's Ecuador gameplan can be repeated at the World Cup...

Roy Hodgson promised an experimental selection against Ecuador in Miami - a match that England are an attractive 2.021/1 to win - and the forecast XI is more eccentric than almost anyone would have predicted.

A 4-2-3-1 is expected with Ben Foster in goal, Luke Shaw, Phil Jones, Chris Smalling and James Milner at the back, Frank Lampard and Jack Wilshere holding and Wayne Rooney, Ross Barkley and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain supporting Rickie Lambert.

Owing to the reality that the England manager can never please the entire public, some will criticise a tactician previously pegged as too cautious for being overly adventurous and claim that picking a side that has virtually no chance of being reassembled for a World Cup clash is a waste of time.

However, three of the tests that Professor Hodgson is planning to conduct at the Sun Life Stadium laboratory could yet be replicated against Italy, Costa Rica and Uruguay in Group D, which England are 3.259/4 to top...

Milner at right back
Using a midfielder in this position when there are three other men who have adopted the role fairly regularly - Glen Johnson, Jones and Smalling - seems odd, but as the latter pair are in the squad as centre-back cover and there are plenty of wide midfield options besides Milner, it isn't that crazy. Johnson has become a bit more injury-prone in recent seasons and was criticised against Peru, while Milner has long proven his work rate, energy, defensive graft and eye for a cross higher up the pitch, so it is worth investigating if those qualities render him a valid alternative at right back.

Barkley as a number ten
If you are undecided on whether to tune in to the Ecuador friendly, the likelihood of Barkley making his first start should seduce you. The Everton prodigy's first four caps arrived in second-half cameos that totalled 70 minutes, and though it remains odds-against that he will start against Italy, he deserved a proper audition before being written in or out. Hodgson has shown with his handling of Leighton Baines and Adam Lallana that any opportunities seized will be rewarded, so it certainly isn't beyond the realms of possibility that a man-of-the-match effort from Barkley will lead him to alter his plans.

Rooney on the wing
While England's back five and the fact that Steven Gerrard and one other will sit in front of them appears set in stone barring injuries, there are still issues to resolve in the attacking quartet. Playing Rooney behind Daniel Sturridge is the easiest way to accommodate both in their favoured positions, yet there is a risk of Gerrard and his partner being overwhelmed, particularly by Italy if they pick four central midfielders in a 4-3-1-2. Shunting Sturridge out wide is difficult to justify after a 24-goal campaign, so stationing Rooney on the left might be a more satisfactory - albeit not exactly ideal - solution.