So let’s do just that.

England always fall short in the big tournaments. But that doesn’t mean we can’t make a few bob on them even if they limp home early in traditional style.

Paddy Power is among a host of firms pricing up players to make Roy Hodgson’s 23-strong squad for the summer.

Guessing the squad is a bit like playing Fantasy Premier League – without all the best players.

But one man that quite literally leaps off the page at a big price is Andy Carroll.

The West Ham striker is 4/1 to make the squad. And that looks a decent punt given the paucity of options open to England.

Hodgson will take at least four strikers – and probably find room for a fifth after the 2010 quartet of Rooney, Defoe, Crouch and Heskey failed to deliver.

The bookies rate Rooney and Sturridge certainties which is hard to argue with.

But I don’t see why Danny Wellbeck should be 1/4 on and at any rate a couple of other berths could be up for grabs.

Rickie Lambert plays the “English number nine” role well. But not as well as Carroll who has the ability to unnerve the best of defences.

If we are 1-0 down to Italy in the first game then Hodgson will want the option of an old-school target man to feed off Steven Gerrard’s deadly deliveries.

Of course Carroll has only just returned from a long-term injury.

But a decent finish to the season will see him fresh and raring to get among the world’s best centre halves.

If Emile Heskey made the plane in 2010 then Carroll at 4s must rate as a cracking bet.

This weekend’s FA Cup ties look a tricky bunch to make money on but Southampton to beat Sunderland and Everton to put out Swansea warrants a cheeky double at a touch over 5/2.

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Running Total for all bets this season to a £10 stake: £+10.00