For a country so steeped in rich footballing tradition, and one that’s produced some of the finest talent this world has seen, you’d think they would have a better record on the world’s largest stage. But no, with the exception of one lone World Cup title under their belt (1966 vs. West Germany), one semi-final appearance, and a handful of quarterfinal appearances, the proud nation of England has little else to show for it’s World Cup efforts (please note: I’m no snob. As an American, I fully realize that’s probably more success than we’ll ever even sniff in the World Cup).

And with the memories of their poor performance in the 2010 tournament that culminated in a second round exit courtesy of rival here and here.

Yes, he’s still raw, but the signs are there that suggest he’s on his way to greatness. At 6’2” and 170 pounds, he already possess ideal size (with room to grow) for handling a large workload and enduring the rigors that accompany being a box to box midfielder. His pace and ability with the ball at his feet appear to be of the utmost quality as well as he completed an impressive 63% (80/128) of his Take On’s (attempted dribble past an opponent), on the way to bagging six goals in all competitions for the Toffee’s this season.

The young Barkley will almost assuredly feature more as a bench player in Brazil, but he could easily provide some muscle in the middle of the pitch as well as some much needed energy as the tropical climate is sure to take it’s toll on some of the England regulars.

Daniel Sturridge, Forward - Liverpool

For this Englishman, it’s all about one thing: the goals. And let’s face it, defending your own net is important and all, but putting the ball in the back of the opponent's net more than they put it in your’s is what wins games. Liverpool proved this true time and time again this year as their back line was consistently beaten, but it proved irrelevant as their attacking style often yielded three or four-plus goals in the process. And spearheading that attack, along with fellow strike partner Luis Suárez, was Daniel Sturridge. In fact, had it not been for the otherworldly season that Suárez had, we'd probably be talking about Sturridge and his 21 goals and 7 assists as the PFA Player of the Year.

Sturridge has what most would call a “nose” for goal. His finishing is clinical, and he’s proved that if given the slightest window of opportunity he can exploit a defense. And if he’s not doing the damage himself, he’s creating it by either setting up a teammate or causing his marker to foul him (which they did 39 times this season). The latter of which can lead to dangerous set pieces or better yet a penalty kick if he’s brought down inside the box.

Alongside Wayne Rooney, Sturridge will likely serve as another striking presence at the top of England’s formation. The team has the midfielders and pressing fullbacks to get the ball into these two, and they should make life interesting for the opposition.

Luke Shaw, Defender - Southampton

At 18, Luke Shaw is the youngest player on the England squad. But his play on the field this year, much similar to his Saints teammate Lallana, essentially forced Hodgson’s hand in selecting him for the World Cup roster. His season was so good in fact, that in just his first full year with the senior level Southampton club he was named to the PFA Team of the Year.

As a fullback in modern football, one must be able to not only hold down your side of the pitch in defense, but also aid in your team’s attack by flying down the wing and crossing the ball into the forwards and attacking midfielders. Shaw did all of that this season, and then some. Not only did he win the majority of his tackle opportunities (61/104), but he also chipped in 37 interceptions and made 150 clearances from his left back position. And when he wasn’t defending, he was fulfilling the other part of positional obligations with 33 created chances that included 1 assist.

He’ll likely be another player to come off the bench for Hodgson as he’s behind Leighton Baines on the depth chart, but he’s proved capable on both sides of the pitch and should no doubt see plenty of the field. His vigor and boundless energy will be an asset, especially later in games when players tire and the team will need a youthful injection.

The Lad’s face a stiff test in Group D of the opening stages of the World Cup. With perennial powerhouse Italy and the always dangerous Uruguay lurking on the schedule, they’ll need to be at their best, and they’ll need to do right out of the gates if they’re to advance. Yes, players like Steven Gerrard and Wayne Rooney will of course play significant roles in how far the team goes, but it’s on the backs of it’s youth - and particularly these four players - that may determine how the story of England’s 2014 World Cup is written.

The Projection

On the strength of a nERD ranking of seventh, England rates a 82.48% chance of escaping Group D. It really does come down to their ability to handle Uruguay (12th) and the shockingly low ranked Italy (18th), who has some struggles in recent International play. From there, it's anyone's guess. Fans of the Three Lions will, however, take some solace that nERD gives them a 4.17% of winning it all, bringing some relief to a population so desperately in need of good football form.