Wilshere and co excel as Hodgson finds winning Wembley formula

Jack Wilshere excelled against Brazil, who included Dani Alves

I was in attendance as Wembley Stadium played host to something of a rarity this week - a genuinely impressive display from England against strong opposition. Granted, this is no vintage Brazil side. Luiz Felipe Scolari has only just taken charge of a team in transition, and was missing key players such as Thiago Silva and Marcelo for the friendly. Furthermore, as World Cup hosts, the Seleção haven't played a competitive game since the 2011 Copa America. But Brazil will always be a huge scalp on the international stage and with players like Neymar, Oscar, Dani Alves and Ramires in the starting line-up, England's achievement of recording a victory should not be belittled.

Indeed, only three times in their previous 23 encounters with Brazil had the Three Lions ever emerged victorious so this represents a crucial boost to morale and confidence ahead of next month's resumption of the World Cup qualifiers. But there was more to the 2-1 win than just the result, with Roy Hodgson coming across a formula that showed the kind of entertaining football that England have rarely been able to master. Playing a 4-3-3 formation, Hodgson surprised many with his starting line-up. By choosing the young Manchester United trio of Danny Welbeck, Tom Cleverley and Chris Smalling instead of older alternatives such as James Milner, Frank Lampard and Joleon Lescott the team had a youthful exuberance and more energy than in previous eras.

The front six in particular pointed towards a new direction for the national side. The midfield three of Jack Wilshere, Cleverley and captain Steven Gerrard combine the fast passing-ability and movement of the younger duo with the leadership and know-how of the Liverpool man. Star performer Wilshere probed from deep in the first half, and along with Cleverley showed the sort of passing movement that Spain's all-conquering midfielders would have been proud of. There is still a long way to go before England can match that level, but in the absence of a destroying figure like Gareth Barry or Scott Parker, the midfield had a more creative look than ever before -without losing any of its bite. 

Ahead of the midfielders, Wayne Rooney played centrally, flanked by Danny Welbeck on the left and Theo Walcott on the right. This combination allows the pace of Walcott, the creativity of Rooney and the energy of Welbeck to provide many options for the midfielders to pass to. All together, the line up allowed for flexibility, with all six midfielders and strikers comfortable in multiple positions. Welbeck's form in front of goal for his club this season is questionable, with only one goal in 27 apperances, but his all round play complements that of his team-mates. Plus, in 2012 he netted five times from five shots for the Three Lions - proof that he revels on the international stage. With Walcott finding the back of the net with regularity for Arsenal, and Rooney hitting the target five times in his last five England caps, the trio could prove potent for their country for years to come.

In the second half the addition of Frank Lampard, who replaced Cleverley, allowed Wilshere to move further forward and it proved another winning combination with the Arsenal youngster continuing to impress and the Chelsea veteran hitting an instinctive winner from the edge of the box. With Michael Carrick pulling out of the squad injured, and Parker certainly still in contention, there appears to be a strength in depth in a position which, before the emergence of Wilshere and Cleverley, appeared to be stagnating. Milner and Aaron Lennon were also introduced and fitted into the fluid 4-3-3 system with ease - further encouragement for Hodgson to persist with the formation.

A worry remains at the back where Gary Cahill, who did well to contain Neymar in the first half, was badly at fault for Fred's goal. The full-back positions look safe with a much-improved Glen Johnson and the newly-heralded centurion Ashley Cole in competition with Kyle Walker and Leighton Baines respectively, but it was the inclusion of Smalling that would have raised the most eyebrows. The 23-year-old is fourth choice at his club and though clearly a very talented defender, it is a risk for England to have somebody who doesn't play regularly as a first choice for his country. Aside from a worrying spell after Cahill's mistake, he looked largely assured, and perhaps Hodgson has extra trust in him from their time together at Fulham. 

It appears the manager, who has toyed with his central defensive pairings throughout his rein, has decided that Phil Jagielka and Lescott, who is also not first choice for his club, are not as good as the younger duo. But the spectre of Rio Ferdinand looms large over Hodgson, and with the former Leeds and West Ham man in imperious form in the Premier League this season, will continue to do so. Comfortably ahead of Smalling, and Phil Jones, in the Manchester United pecking order, it seems cruel that Ferdinand be excluded from the national set-up on the back of the fall-out between his brother Anton and former England skipper John Terry. Hodgson's "footballing reasons" appear weaker as he fails to settle on a solid pairing and Ferdinand's form continues. However, it would be a surprise if he did turn back to the Peckham-born defender as he has been so insistent on the issue. If Smalling can stay fit and overtake Jonny Evans and the increasingly injury-prone Nemanja Vidic at United - then perhaps he and Cahill could be a reliable partnership in the coming years. If he doesn't, Hodgson will have a real dilemma to contend with, should England qualify for Brazil 2014. But for now, the 65-year-old can be satisfied with his work so far, and focus on taking a crucial three points from Montenegro in March.