National League England World Cup Squad

It’s and time for the start of the World Cup and it would have been remiss of me not to wonder what a National League World Cup squad would look like. So, I’ve made my selections and figured I’d share them. 

I was tempted to do another challenge but the truth is that the XI would have looked very similar to the one I completed a few weeks back – 18 of the 23 were English. For this one, I figured I would look at the elite. 

What has been highlighted to me is the ridiculous strength of the division currently. The quality on display is fantastic and I’ve no doubt this squad would more than handle itself in an EFL campaign. 

The only rules for this were no loanees and the players needing to be English, or available to play for England. 

So, without further ado, my 26-man World Cup tournament squad:

Goalkeepers 

Nathan Ashmore – Boreham Wood

Ryan Boot – Solihull Moors

Mark Howard – Wrexham

It became quite difficult to separate the goalkeepers, tougher than I initially thought. Why these three? 

Nathan Ashmore and Ryan Boot have long been the best in the division, rarely putting a foot wrong and being strong last lines of defence and organisers behind good defences. As for Mark Howard, he has a fantastic amount of EFL experience and has barely put a foot wrong since joining Wrexham this summer. A strong, experienced group of keepers vying for the number one jersey. 

Centre-backs

Richard Brindley – Notts County 

Jamal Fyfield – Boreham Wood 

Aaron Hayden – Wrexham 

Femi Ilesanmi – Boreham Wood 

Callum Howe – Solihull Moors 

Ben Tozer - Wrexham

Firstly, I had to weigh up whether this was going to be a back three or four. Seven of the current top ten play with a back three with another occasionally switching to the formation. My preferred full-back options were more attack minded and I wanted to let them loose. And there isn’t a huge amount of wide options available that made me believe this had to be a four, even if the options are there to make the change during the game. 

The above meant choosing a back three and selecting players to suit. In Aaron Hayden, Callum Howe, Ben Tozer and Jamal Fyfield, I have powerful centre backs who are strong in the air, defend their penalty box and provide a threat in the opposition area. In Richard Brindley and Femi Ilesanmi, I have wide centre back options that provide solidity, speed, an ability to cover out wide, progress the ball and can cover at full back or wing-back. 

Wing-backs 

Ryan Barnett – Solihull Moors 

Jack Bridge – Southend United 

Vincent Harper – Eastleigh 

Jeff King – Chesterfield

Right wing-back was simple enough. Jeff King has been one of the outstanding players in the division this season and he has been for a few seasons now. Choosing between Reece Hall-Johnson, Kyran Lofthouse and Ryan Barnett wasn’t easy, but I’ve plumped for the latter thanks to his searing pace, ability to cross and his versatility, which enables him to take the ball in a number of positions comfortably. 

I realised that there is a dearth of to class English left backs in the division. Thankfully, Jack Bridge has stepped up at Southend United this season and performed excellently, a constant threat to the opposition who is happy to play high up the pitch, looks after the ball and creates from little. And Vincent Harper is just raw pace and energy and tenacity and a goal threat and I really enjoy watching him, so he’s in. 

Midfielders 

Ollie Banks – Chesterfield

Darren Oldaker – Chesterfield 

Matt Palmer – Notts County

Matt Robinson – Dagenham and Redbridge 

An area that was always going to be built around Matt Palmer, the man who will control games for me. He needed support, so I’ve plumped for Chesterfield pair Ollie Banks and Darren Oldaker, players that pass the ball for fun and give this area of the pitch some legs. I was torn on the fourth selection given the quality across the division but I’ve gone for Matt Robinson, a box-to-box midfielder who provides an added goal threat and can play with both feet. 

Attacking Midfield

Ryan Colclough – Altrincham 

Elliott Lee – Wrexham

Liam Mandeville – Chesterfield

Joe Sbarra – Solihull Moors 

This is an exciting bunch. Let’s start with the latter trio, those vying for the role of attacking midfielder. They are all players that can play as the link, they can form part of a front three or drop in as an eight. They are all technically gifted, look after the ball, create chances and get in and around the opposition area. A fine group. 

Ryan Colclough isn’t really an attacking midfielder. He’s not a striker either. Or a wing-back. But tournament football requires an ability to change shape when required and Colclough is one of the most unique players in the division, so he’s in. 

Strikers 

Michael Cheek – Bromley

Macaulay Langstaff – Notts County 

Paul Mullin – Wrexham

Ollie Palmer – Wrexham

Kabongo Tshimanga – Chesterfield 

This was fun. Obviously, Macaulay Langstaff and Paul Mullin were in. Their records at this level are insane. And I can’t forget Kabongo Tshimanga, who remains a fine striker and a killer in one v one situations. Ollie Palmer is the other who has to be in this squad, a real handful physically, a threat from set-pieces, not afraid to work hard and should provide relief for the defence if under pressure. 

I had one place left and it was tricky to decide who that should go to. My worry is that this team won’t be as fluid as Notts County so Langstaff, Tshimanga and Mullin may need to be paired with a target so I’ve plumped for Michael Cheek, a consistent goalscorer and all round striker. 

The Standby List

Craig Ross – Woking

Nathan Ralph – Southend United 

Kyran Lofthouse – Woking

Luke Young – Wrexham

James McShane – Dorking Wanderers 

Cedwyn Scott – Notts County 

I’ve made the calls and explained my decisions, leaving the door open in case of injury. 

For Craig Ross, a call following a terrific start to the season and his long term consistency. His team mate Kyran Lofthouse has returned from injury, changed position and still remains one of the finest young talents in the division. Nathan Ralph gets the nod for his leadership and versatility. Luke Young is a fine midfielder and leader and is unfortunate that he’s up against such quality for the role of sitting in midfield. James McShane provides a goalscoring threat and ingenuity. And Scott is unfortunate he’s up against so much goalscoring talent and perhaps a tad unfortunate I’ve favoured Tshimanga.