England 2006 vs England Today: Combined XI of ‘Golden Generation’ team vs 2025 squad

We are in the midst of yet another international break, as the Premier League goes on hiatus. As England get ready for their games against Wales and Latvia, let’s have some fun.

Today, we’ll do a combined best XI of England’s 2006 World Cup squad in comparison to the players they have available today – including stars from Arsenal, Chelsea and Real Madrid.

Because this is England, to stay in the spirit of things, we’ll use the 4-4-2 formation for our combined XI. England may not line up with this formation any more – but we couldn’t think of anything more appropriate.

Combined XI

GK: Jordan Pickford

In 2006, England struggled for quality goalkeepers. The likes of Scott Carson, Paul Robinson and David James were all a cut below the rest of the squad – but Jordan Pickford is arguably one of the Three Lions’ best players presently.

The Everton man is prone to a moment of madness, but he has looked far more composed between the sticks in recent years. A phenomenal goalkeeper on his day, he has made plenty of crucial saves for England during his time as their number one.

RB: Trent Alexander-Arnold

Trent Alexander-Arnold is the only contemporary player on this list who is not in the most recent England squad – but nevertheless, few would disagree with his placement in this list.

Alexander-Arnold’s unrivalled passing ability gives England an extra dimension to their game that simply cannot be replicated. He has not hit the ground running, but he is still the Three Lions’ best right-back when fully fit.

CB: John Terry

John Terry is one of the best, bravest defenders of all time. His place in this XI goes without saying – Terry always played with his heart on his sleeve, whether for club or country.

For all of the talent that England’s 2006 squad in central midfield, their centre-back pairing was just as good – the next player on our list will only hammer this point home further.

CB: Rio Ferdinand

On paper, Rio Ferdinand was the ideal centre-back partner for Terry. While Terry lacked pace, Ferdinand had it in spades – any balls over the top were routinely swept up by the Manchester United legend.

Many would call Terry and Ferdinand the two best centre-backs in Premier League history – therefore, it boggles the mind that they did not perform better when put together in a Three Lions shirt.

LB: Ashley Cole

Another fantastic defender who should have done more for England, some would consider Ashley Cole to be among the greatest left-backs of all time.

As a pure defender, Cole had no peers. He regularly neutralised even the most talented of wingers – he may not have been popular, but his talents cannot be denied or overlooked.

RM: David Beckham

This may be a nostalgic pick, but it’s easy to forget how good David Beckham was behind all the glitz and glamour of his post-football career.

Few players have had a better cross – or a free-kick – than Beckham. Some may argue that other players are more worthy of this spot, but we would encourage these people to go back and remind themselves just how good Beckham was.

CM: Frank Lampard

Frank Lampard at Chelsea was a true phenomenon – a central midfielder with a goal record that would make most strikers blush, one of England’s greatest shames is failing to get the best out of him.

He never worked in England’s midfield two, no matter who his partner was. Lampard needed to play in a midfield three to get the most out of him – something England’s head coaches never had the guts to implement long-term.

CM: Steven Gerrard

Steven Gerrard may have ‘loathed’ playing for England who believed his international compatriots were ‘egotisical losers’, but the ability he had – especially during his prime years in 2006 – was almost incomparable.

Like the rest of the 2006 almuni in this list, Gerrard underachieved for England. Don’t let this fool you, however – the former Liverpool captain is arguably the most complete central midfielder that England have ever had.

LM: Bukayo Saka

Bukayo Saka is one of England’s best players at the moment. Consistent, technically brilliant and with underrated physical attributes, Saka should be one of the first names on anyone’s current team sheet.

He has certainly had his ups and downs – but who in this XI hasn’t? It’s a shame Saka wasn’t born 20 years earlier – he would’ve been a perfect fit in the 2006 squad.

ST: Harry Kane

Is Harry Kane the greatest England striker ever? He’s certainly up there, though older audiences may point to the likes of Jimmy Greaves, Geoff Hurst and Alan Shearer. With that being said, none of these players have scored as many goals in an England shirt as Kane has.

Not only is Kane a brilliant goalscorer, he’s also an extremely clever player and a brilliant passer of the ball. He certainly has his critics, but Kane will definitely be missed upon his retirement from internaional football.

ST: Wayne Rooney

To call Wayne Rooney a ‘what could’ve been’ story seems massively disrespectful, considering everything he achieved. However, in an England shirt, Rooney rarely delievered when it mattered.

Nevertheless, he is a shoe-in for this list. One of the best players in Premier League history, Rooney had it all as a striker – it’s just a shame he could only ever muster one World Cup goal.