As per usual, there’s a wealth of expectation being placed on the English national team ahead of this summers World Cup in Brazil and quite a hefty load of that just got transferred to Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge’s shoulders with the 24-year old being handed the number 9 shirt ahead of the Three Lion’s opening match with Italy on June 14th.
The striker, who scored 21-goals league goals this season as the Reds marauded to a second place finish, is expected to be a key member of England boss Roy Hodgson’s squad this summer, though questions still remain as to how he’ll accommodate both Sturridge and Manchester United hit-man Wayne Rooney in the same line-up. With the former Everton man retaining the number ten shirt, it’s expected that both of them will make the starting eleven for the Group Stage opener, though Hodgson could be forced to tinker with the squad should he feel the balance just isn’t right.
England captain Steven Gerrard has been handed the number 4 shirt, while fellow midfielder Jordan Henderson was assigned number 14 — the same one he wears for Liverpool. Fullback Glen Johnson also got to retain the number 2 shirt that he wears for the Merseyside giants while major tournament débutante Raheem Sterling will pull on the number 19 for his country this summer.
Although Hodgson has made it clear that the players focus should be firmly on the team and on the tournament, the on-going speculation surrounding the future of Southampton captain Adam Lallana makes it important that we point out the Reds target has been assigned the same number 20 shirt that he wears for the Saints. No word on what his squad number might be should he make the move to Merseyside, but that doesn’t matter right now, does it?
Or, well, Roy doesn’t think so anyways…
