5. Michael Carrick
Michael Carrick, now linked with the United interim manager role is often regarded as one of the most technically gifted midfielders of his generation, yet he earned only 34 caps for England during his international career.
A key part of Manchester United’s success for over a decade, Carrick’s was controlled on the ball, with an excellent passing range and provided defensive cover in midfield.
Fitting in Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard, and Paul Scholes created a midfield conundrum for England.
While Scholes frequently played on the left to accommodate both Lampard and Gerrard, this failed to create the necessary balance.
The ideal setup would have involved Carrick as a deep-lying playmaker, providing the defensive cover and stability that the team needed.
Unfortunately, the inability to find a suitable formation that incorporated Carrick alongside two of the three other talents limited his international appearances.
This oversight ultimately contributed to England’s struggles during a period when they had the potential to achieve greatness, leaving many fans to ponder the impact Carrick could have made had he been more fully integrated into the national team.
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