GK Robinson (back ups in James and Foster)

CB Terry (c)
CB Carragher (back ups in Ferdinand, Ledley King, or as RCB Gary Neville)
LCB Bridge or A.Cole if fit

Deep midfield
DM Hargreaves or P Neville or Reo-Coker
DM Beckham or Carrick

Wide midfield
Left Joe Cole (back up Gareth Barry rather than Downing)
Right Aaron Lennon (back up SWP)

Attacking midfield
Gerrard (back up Lampard – tho’ I have to say that although Gerrard has sometimes been in inspirational form for Liverpool, I haven’t really seen him do it for England, where he gives away possession much too readily (Lampard much less so) and I think Lampard is better as a ‘straight’ midfielder. This formation, though, requires almost a front three to link together, and I’d like to see Gerrard and Rooney given a run at it. There’s also no point in having all three of Beckham, Gerrard and Lampard.)

Split striker
Rooney (Crouch vs Estonia)

Striker
Owen (back ups in Defoe and Johnson)

This is a formation that accommodates Beckham. I think Carrick could do much of his job in terms of distribution during a match, but it might not be worth structuring the team around him in the same way, as he hasn’t got the deadball gifts. In which case switch to standard 442 and put Gary Neville or AN Other into the right back slot.