A 2007 prediction of has failed in spectacular fashion, with the selected players only amassing 60 caps between them over the past 17 years. One publication took a gamble on forecasting the 17 years ago, but their predictions fell significantly short - nine of their choices didn't even make a single, solitary appearance for England in their career. Reflecting on the England side of 2007, Steve McLaren was leading a squad brimming with potential.
Paul Robinson was ruling the roost in goal, while Rio Ferdinand, John Terry and Sol Campbell were the defensive backbone - supported by Ashley Cole and Micah Richards in their prime. The midfield boasted Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, David Beckham and Owen Hargreaves, while Wayne Rooney and Michael Owen were netting goals left, right and centre. Following such a formidable line-up was no easy task, but it didn't prevent some from speculating who would succeed the 'golden generation' albeit with limited success.
Only two of the forecasted players received call-ups to the England squad; Theo Walcott and Micah Richards. Walcott had already been capped for the Three Lions at just 17 in 2006, having joined by then. He went on to earn 47 caps for his country over the following decade, scoring eight times in total.
Richards found his major break with England while he was still representing , landing a debut against the Netherlands in November 2006 when he was just 18. He would earn 13 caps for England, scoring his solitary goal in a 3-0 vic.
