Gary Neville was predicted to be the England manager for the 2022 World Cup, and it's not even the worst of the Independent's predictions from 2013!
Gareth Southgate is set to name 55 players who he could be taking to Qatar next month, with FIFA having a deadline for the extended squads on Friday.
With such a large squad you start to wonder who won't be included, with nearly 30 players set to be cut before the announcement for those who will be heading to the Middle East for the tournament.
Advert
Jose Mourinho has even called on Southgate to call up Chris Smalling, with the Roma centre back having last played for the country in June 2016!
Three years before that though, Smalling, then at Manchester United, was being tipped to be the starting right back at the World Cup.
That's according to a prediction by the Independent from 2013, who picked their side to be heading to Qatar, and it's fair to say they were a little off.
Advert
First up, they had Neville as manager, with the Sky Sports pundit at that point the assistant boss for Roy Hodgson's team, before his terrible stint as Valencia manager.
Jack Butland: Then - Stoke City, on loan at Barnsley, Now - Crystal Palace, played nine games this season. Butland played nine times for England from making his debut aged just 19 in 2012 until his final appearance in 2018, where he was in the World Cup squad.
Chris Smalling: Then - Manchester United, Now - AS Roma, one of Jose Mourinho's first choice players. Smalling played 31 times for the national team but hasn't been in the squad for five years.
Phil Jones: Then - Manchester United, Now - somehow, still Manchester United. Jones has played 13 times in the past four seasons for United but hasn't left yet. He actually played twice in the last World Cup.
Advert
Nathaniel Chalobah: Then - Chelsea, on loan at Nottingham Forest, Now - Fulham. Played twice in the league this season, Chalobah holds an international record of officially zero minutes. Of actual playing time he has the second shortest career of any player for England, ahead of only Martin Kelly, by one second.
Luke Shaw: Then - Southampton, Now - Manchester United. Shaw is likely to be the only player in this team to play any part in Qatar. Scored in the final of the Euros last year and will battle Ben Chilwell for the starting position.
Jordon Ibe: Then - Liverpool, Now - Adanaspor. Having battled mental health issues and leaving Derby in 2021, he returned to football to join Turkish second division earlier this year but has yet to play. Has never played for England.
Ross Barkley: Then - Everton, Now - Nice. Never really lived up to his full potential, despite five years at Chelsea and 33 caps for England. Hasn't played for the national team since 2019.
Jack Wilshere: Then - Arsenal, Now - Retired. According to the article, there was 'no doubt,' the midfielder would be leading the team. If not for injuries that might have been the case but alas, Wilshere retired earlier this year. He did at least play 34 times for his country, although not since elimination from the Euros in 2016.
Advert
Wilfried Zaha: Then - Manchester United, Now - Crystal Palace. In fairness, this one would have been a good shout but the Palace forward, always in the argument for 'best player outside the 'big six,' now plays for Ivory Coast. He did play twice for the Three Lions.
Chuba Akpom: Then - Arsenal, Now - Middlesbrough. Akpom never made it at the top level, playing just 12 times for the Gunners, with lots of loan spells in between. Now plying his trade in the Championship, Akpom was never close to the national team.
Daniel Sturridge: Then - Liverpool, Now - Free agent. Sturridge nearly helped Liverpool win the league in 2014, scoring 21 times but it was all downhill from there. Played in Euro 2016, scoring the last minute winner vs Wales, but hasn't appeared for the team since 2017.
It can be difficult enough to guess who Southgate is going to pick for the final 26 at this stage, just a month away from the tournament, so attempting to predict a squad nine years away is always going to be tough.
Advert
Many of their picks were extremely talented players, and all definitely at the age that they could be going to the World Cup if they'd lived up to their promise.
Working out why it didn't work out for so many of the players made me think of The Simpsons' famous 'Homer at the Bat' episode, with Monty Burns telling Waylon Smithers how optimistic he was his nine ringers would play in the big softball game.
"Unless, of course, my nine all-stars fall victim to nine separate misfortunes and are unable to play tomorrow. But that will never happen," Burns explains.
"Three misfortunes, that's possible. Seven misfortunates, there's an outside chance. But nine misfortunes? I'd like to see that!''
The Independent have seen 10 misfortunes, and only Shaw remains...
Featured Image Credit: Alamy & Footy RendersTopics: England, Football World Cup, Gareth Southgate, Gary Neville, Jack Wilshere