Given the low World Cup expectations for a transitional England team, the clamour for manager Roy Hodgson to put his faith in the next generation was probably as logical as it was romantic.
And yesterday, the veteran coach achieved what few of his predecessors have managed, in revealing a squad for a major tournament to widespread harmony and praise.
Dropping Ashley Cole was the headline act, yet his regression to second-choice left-back took the sting out of the backlash.
And the inclusion of 18-year-old Luke Shaw as understudy to Leighton Baines was part of a clear strategy of Hodgson’s to infuse his squad with youthful ambition.
Shaw is part of a new wave of English talent which has excelled in the Premier League this season, and he is rightly joined on the plane by Ross Barkley, Raheem Sterling and Adam Lallana – as well as Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain who at 20 already possesses 14 caps.
The challenge for Hodgson now is to be bold enough to make their Brazilian odyssey more than just a glorified sight-seeing exercise.
Barkley’s penchant for the spectacular and fearless dribbling marks him out as a special talent, Sterling emerged at the forefront of Liverpool’s unlikely title bid, while Lallana has looked every inch an international footballer in his three England outings to date.
It’s probably unlikely that any of them, or certainly more than one of that trio, will line-up from the off in England’s opener against Italy in Manaus on June 14, but Hodgson has to be decisive enough to give them ample time to affect the game from the bench and brave enough to start them thereafter when their campaign almost inevitably requires fresh impetus.
Ahead of them much will, as always, depend on Wayne Rooney and it seems likely that Daniel Sturridge’s form will see the Manchester United man deployed as a second striker with Rickie Lambert and Danny Welbeck the reserve forward options.
It’s not the finest stable of frontmen England has ever taken to a tournament, but perhaps the greatest area of concern for Hodgson will be at the back, where he opted to take just seven defenders to free up another midfield berth.
Yet the truth is, given a dearth of options, it was probably an easy call. A back five of keeper Joe Hart, Glen Johnson, Phil Jagielka, Gary Cahill and Baines virtually picks itself, but while it’s a collective of proven Premier League performers, it’s a unit as yet largely untested at the highest level.
And when you have back up options like a half-fit Phil Jones and Chris Smalling – coming off abject campaigns with United – it is understandable why some fear it is the area which could prove to be their undoing.
What most England fans are also hoping is that Frank Lampard doesn’t come into the equation; and that the veteran’s input is restricted to mentoring youngsters or coming on to take a penalty in a shootout.
Lampard’s legs look heavy in the Premier League let alone in the heat of Brazil and Hodgson would be better served making full use of the younger, fresher options he has been visionary enough to select.
