Why Manchester United icon Michael Carrick did not nail down a place in the heart of England’s midfield remains one of the great mysteries of modern times.
Yes, the Three Lions had Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard at the peak of their powers during the 2000s and the early-2010s. But barely an international break came around without that tired old question being asked of whoever was sat in the England dugout at the time.
Why could Lampard and Gerrard not play together to the peak of their abilities?
Who knows, had Sven Goran Eriksson or Fabio Capello found an answer, perhaps David Baddeil and Frank Skinner would have been forced to re-write their iconic verse long ago.
In the eyes of many a Manchester United supporter, Michael Carrick was the missing piece of an England side who perennially underperformed in Euros and World Cups.
Between 2001 and 2015, Carrick earned only 34 caps. Even more remarkably, his only tournament appearance for the national team came against Ecuador at the Germany World Cup of 2006.
Manchester United legend explains Michael Carrick’s England struggles
In hindsight, a midfield trio of Carrick sitting deep, with both Lampard and Gerrard bombing on, may have suited England a lot better than what Capello and the late, great Eriksson eventually settled on.
Rio Ferdinand insists that Carrick would be a guaranteed starter for England if he was still playing today. There is, after all, more of an emphasis on controlling number sixes in the modern era.
But Paul Scholes, who found himself shunted out wide at times to accommodate the Chelsea and Liverpool superstars, can understand why Carrick never managed to translate his success at club level onto the international stage.
According to his former Man United team-mate, Carrick struggled to impose himself either in training or in matches amongst a squad of players who possessed, if not more ability, them maybe more of a presence or an ego.
“He we wasn’t himself was he [on England duty]? He didn’t burst out [from the group],” Scholes recalls.
“Carra was a brilliant player. I loved playing with him. An absolute Rolls Royce. Just sometimes, when you went with England, there was a presence of six or seven other midfield players and he almost stood back a bit and didn’t fight against it.
“You almost wanted to give him a shake and say; ‘Come on, you’re good enough to do this! You’re good enough to play!’.
“I’m not sure if he ever had that inner-self confidence to go on and do it.”
Scholes is right, according to Liverpool hero Jamie Carragher
Jamie Carragher, who travelled with Carrick to the ’06 World Cup, agrees with Scholes’ view of events.
“I think Carrick was brilliant. A fantastic player. But whenever we went to England, when we trained, I could understand why Michael Carrick didn’t play,” Carragher adds.
“I think his character… What you’ve got to remember is, when you go to England, there is probably seven or eight players who are probably a level above the rest of the squad. Your starters.
“You’ve got Stevie Gerrard there, you’ve got Lampard there. Imposing characters who demand the ball. They’ve just got a presence. Michael Carrick almost went smaller in training and in England games.
“I maybe think he needed a bit more arrogance.”
Speaking to the BBC back in 2018, five-time Premier League champion Carrick opened up on why he felt his England career never really took off in the way it should have for a player of his talent and skill-set.
The now-Middlesbrough boss – Carrick is proving himself to be an ‘incredibly talented coach’ – even admitted that he asked the FA not to select him in the end.
By his own admission, he struggled with the stress of constant travel international football required.
Eight years after Carrick’s retirement, meanwhile, the Red Devils are still crying out for a midfielder of his ilk. Though former United ace Owen Hargreaves believes Manuel Ugarte can fit the bill.
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