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I should hope so. But wait….. Wasn’t the 2010 World Cup the last chance for the Golden Generation? Hasn’t this group of ageing, over hyped England “stars” failed to deliver once already in their ‘last tournament’ together.

I thought we were ousting the old boys from all levels of the England squad after the thumping we took from Germany one year ago? I thought they Golden Generation’s time was up? Wasn’t it time to bring in the young lads?

Well They Are Here

It’s true. They’re in there.

In fact when we look at the squad that Mr Capello has picked to participate in his side’s final qualifying game for Euro 2012 we can see that its flooded with young talent.

Danny Welbeck, Andy Carroll and Wayne Rooney are the major threats in a group of forwards that contain just one player, Bobby Zamora, over 30.

Similarly Only Frank Lampard, Scott Parker and Gareth Barry are over 30 in England’s midfield.

In fact when we look at the squad as a whole, the average of Capello’s men is just 25.8.

So why then are some paper still talking about the Golden Generation’s last hurrah, again?

Here’s Why

The squad does not include some player that will undoubtedly walk straight back onto Fabio’s team sheet.

Steven Gerrard and Rio Ferdinand are two names that spring to mind, and with their return we see a middle of the field that’s doesn’t have a single player under 30.

Yes their experience is valuable, but by taking up four of the most important areas on the park (a central defence of John Terry and Rio and a central midfield of Gerrard and Lampard), England will no doubt see the old guard clipping balls forward to Carroll and Rooney, resorting to the frustratingly dull tactics that have produced very little spark during Capello’s rule.

Whats The Solution?

Let them go, and quickly.

Lampard has taken more then enough criticism over the last few years now he’s on the wrong side of 30 and, despite a hat-trick against Bolton in Chelsea’s last outing, Old Frank is losing his legs when facing the pace of the Premier League.

Gerrard too is now on the decline, and is a player who loves to clip the ball forward in the air rather then playing a short quick passing game. This could be down to his age or just that the Liverpool talisman is very good at playing that sort of game.

Either way, it doesn’t seem to be the football that many England fans want to see. Nor has it brought much success.

Terry and Ferdinand both bulk up the back four with experience and height. However new leaders have to emerge from the young group coming through and a new England center-back partnership needs to be given time to come together in time for 2012.

Phil Jones and Gary Cahill may look as good in 2012 as a Rio-Terry partnership did in 2008-10. But it will take time for the two to gel and learn each others game.

Rebuild

It’s the word that keeps getting used but its one that needs to be taken seriously for once.

Scrap the old guard completely.

Finally let the young lads battle for positions in the starting XI and let them thrive on the big stage. What may not produce a European Cup winning squad now, may produce a World Cup winning one two years later.

This is the starting XI that I would love to see in Euro 2012.

Joe Hart

Ashley Cole, Phil Jones, Gary Cahill, Micah Richards.

Scott Parker (on current form age is not a problem for this work horse in the middle of the park), Jack Wilshere, Ashley Young, Daniel Sturridge.

Wayne Rooney and Daniel Welbeck.

It’s fast, it’s exciting and is devastatingly young.

So come on Fabio. The gold rush is over. It’s time to really invest in the future.