Former England international Danny Mills believes that only one current member of the Three Lions squad would be able to get into what was widely described as the ‘Golden Generation’ team of the early 2000s.
That phrase was coined to describe the star-studded team that England had under Sven-Goran Eriksson, although they flattered to deceive when it came to major tournaments and never advanced beyond the quarter-finals of a World Cup or European Championship.
Comparing the squad of his generation to the present, Mills made an eye-raising point about how only the captain, Harry Kane, would get into the ‘Golden Generation’ XI.
“I mean there’s lots of players that I played with without a doubt that would be in that squad,” Mills, who won 19 caps for his country, said. “I’d have to go with Wayne Rooney, and I’d probably play him, you could play almost two centre-forwards with Harry Kane.
“I think that would be fantastic. But then I look in that midfield and go, Declan Rice is a decent player, but Steven Gerrard in my eyes is better than that.
“Centre-half, do I look at Rio or John Terry? Left-back, Ashley Cole. 2002 until 2008 was probably, apart from ’66, the best squad around.
“Look at the squad that I was in, it would have been Seaman, Neville, Rio, Sol Campbell, John Terry, Johnny Woodgate coming through, Ashley Cole at left-back, Beckham, Scholes, Butt, Owen Hargreaves, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, Joe Cole off the left, perhaps Owen, Rooney coming through and whoever else was in it at that time. I mean, sensational squad. Absolutely sensational.”
On the inclusion of Kane, former Leeds United star Mills added: “And the argument today is, ‘Is the current squad better?’ and everyone goes, ‘You look back at it with rose-tinted glasses.’
“Harry Kane’s the only player that possibly gets into that squad. But I’ve said many, many times, Rooney was unbelievable. Would I rather play against prime Harry Kane or prime Wayne Rooney? Prime Harry Kane all day long. Because Wayne Rooney could eat you alive in six or seven different ways. Kane’s a fantastic goalscorer, great movement, great intelligence, scores goals, but Rooney could do all that and more, in my opinion.
Danny Mills was speaking in association with BOYLE Sports, who offer the latest football odds.
