What could possibly go wrong with this blueprint for success.

Most of England's problems seem to stem from the fact we have a lack of players who are comfortable having the ball in the middle third of the pitch, and probably at the back too (which I think is why more often than not it's lumped up front rather than played through)
This isn't just a problem for this tournament it's been why we haven't seen out games from winning positions in previous tournaments (e.g. Brazil in WC02, and France & Portugal in Euro04)

Unfortunately I think Rooney, Gerrard & Lampard are all looking to make the same runs and do congest the middle. And when doing this it leaves not a lot else to have the ball or make a telling pass.
Whilst this may be some United bias, I don't think the way England play as a whole gets the best out of Rooney. A friend of mine said during the Algeria game that "United look to get the ball into Rooney, whereas England are looking to get the ball to Heskey." The way we've played in this tournament has rarely suited Rooney's game although it does look clear that he's still not 100% after the injury against Bayern Munich.
The formation of Rooney up front (his best position) and Gerrard supporting (his best position) with 2 workers & passers (Hargreaves being injured for over a year is a blow) in midfield & 2 wide players should for me have been tried & worked on in the friendlies - the 2 best players playing in their best positions with a team around them working to get the best out fo these players (whilst still being capable enough to create & score themselves)

I've heard & read people asking why performances of England players is different to that of their respective club performances and all I can think of is that their clubs have technically sound players from other countries doing the non-goalscoring midfield work for them - namely Makelele & Alonso (before they moved) Essien, Mikel, Mascherano, Lucas, Fletcher, Anderson etc.

The technology debate is a big one because there are various decisions around the pitch which can be 50-50 and can lead to key incidents in a game so it would be difficult to draw a line as to where it can and can't be used.
Maybe though now is the time to get goal-line decisions assisted by technology and it starts from there.

Hopefully the 2 'big' fixtures over the next 2 days (Brazil v Chile & Spain v Portugal) remain controversy free and are the spectacle that lots of people expect from these teams.

It wouldn't have mattered how England set up, it wouldn't have changed the fact that for six hours of football Wayne Rooney had the first touch of Titus Bramble and the passing ability of a man wearing triangular boots.

The sad fact is that the man who is supposed to be England's most dangerous forward player is a pale shadow of the likes of Messi, Ozil and others in this tournament who have looked streets ahead in terms of technical ability.

The Premier League is either number 1 or number 2. If you don't agree with that you really need to explain what leagues you think are better.

Bringing up Joe Cole and Steven Gerrard's club positions is bizarre. Joe Cole has always been a player who flattered to deceive. Right now he might still be suffering with finding his feet after his long term injury, but ATM he's a piece of 5hit who's used to big wages and has got it in his head that he's worth more. He's said to be a thick tvvat as well, so he isn't exactly a likely candidate for European clubs.

The reason Gerrard isn't at a top European club is partly because prising him from LFC is so difficult. But the plain and simple fact is that the best manager in the world rates him highly and a move to Real Madrid is possible.

How are you defining "best"?

If it's the technical level of the football played I'd say that La Liga, Serie A are definitely ahead of the Premier League.

If it's tempo and excitement in front of packed, noisy stadiums then the top end of the PL probably is in the top couple of leagues in the world, but that's not how I personally judge a game of football.

I'd rather see two sides playing attractive, flowing, technically good football and finish 0-0 than a 3-3 game of head tennis between Wigan and Bolton thanks.

Not in a million years. They may well be packed out week after week but noise and atmosphere is at an all time low in the PL with far to many sit down shut up day trippers going and health & safety being over zealous. Some of the grounds and displays put on in them around the world for normal league games in top divisions are amazing.

Sorry, that's slightly off topic i know, just thought i'd point it out. I agree with the rest of your post though

LOL

LOL

The Premier League is the best league in the world in spite of the English players not because of them

Look how tired all these other premiership players look. Kuyt running his stones off for 90 mins, obviously needs a winter break

Hopefully the stadium doors have been left open to let the stink out after England's defending.