England's Alphabet XI: The L-Team Boasts Lineker, Lampard and Le Tissier

England tops Group L at this World Cup, but what if we assembled a squad of Three Lions greats whose surnames all start with the same letter? The L-Team would be nothing short of spectacular.

In Goal: Harry Linacre

Nottingham Forest's long-serving custodian Harry Linacre stands as the sole goalkeeper eligible for this particular outfit. His two caps from 1905 make him the only option in the net—an unopposed selection, really. Joe Lewis had a brief moment in the sun when Fabio Capello handed him a shock call-up in 2008 after Chris Kirkland withdrew from the squad, but the Peterborough man never got off the bench.

Defence: Lawler, Labone and Lescott

Chris Lawler, a Bill Shankly favourite at Anfield for 15 years, claims the right-back slot after winning three First Division titles with Liverpool. He bided his time before earning his first cap in his late twenties, having been third choice behind Jimmy Armfield and George Cohen in 1966. Tino Livramento and Ephraim Longworth lurk as alternatives.

At centre-half, Brian Labone—the legendary Everton captain and one-club man—partners Joleon Lescott. Labone famously sacrificed World Cup glory in 1966 to marry his future wife, though he later lined up alongside Bobby Moore in Mexico '70 for the final of his 26 caps. Lescott, another Goodison Park graduate, won his opening seven England appearances at Everton before decamping to Manchester City in 2009. He featured in Roy Hodgson's Euro 2012 squad and scored against France in the opening match.

Graeme Le Saux takes left-back duties. Injuries derailed his hopes of competing at the Euros in both 1996 and 2000, leaving France '98 as his sole major tournament. He managed one international goal—a strike in the 1995 Umbro Cup that alone justifies his selection.

Midfield Maestros: Lampard, Le Tissier and Lee

Frank Lampard Jr. anchors the midfield. One of only ten England centenarians, the Chelsea legend sits joint-eighth on the all-time appearance list alongside Sir Bobby Charlton. His attack-minded approach provides the blueprint for this L-Team engine room.

Alongside him sits Matt Le Tissier, the Southampton magician who lit up the early Premier League era with flair that rivalled imported talent like Bergkamp and Cantona. Yet Le Tissier's eight caps tell a frustrating story—whispers of insufficient work-rate and stamina, combined with his stubborn loyalty to unfashionable Saints, robbed him of the honours his talent deserved.

Francis Lee completes the trio, though the Manchester City great was primarily a forward. A pre-Sheikh era icon who lifted the First Division in 1968 and scored City's maiden European trophy penalty in the Cup Winners' Cup, Lee became a fixture in Alf Ramsey's side after his domestic success. He was instrumental in defending the World Cup at Mexico '70 before that gut-wrenching 3-2 quarter-final defeat to West Germany ended his major tournament involvement.

Attack: Lawton, Lofthouse and Lineker

The L-Team's forward line might just be the strongest across all the alphabet sides. Tommy Lawton bagged 22 goals in 23 games—a record that would likely still be standing had the Second World War not robbed him of his prime years. Powerful yet nimble, imperious in the air, Lawton was arguably the planet's greatest centre-forward during the 1940s. Yet he never graced a World Cup, shockingly dropping into the lower leagues to win the Third Division South with Notts County rather than competing in Brazil in 1950.

Nat Lofthouse, another Bolton-born striker, partners Lawton. Signing for his hometown Trotters the day after World War Two began, he became an instant sensation on his professional debut, netting over 20 goals in his first season. The 'Lion of Vienna' earned that nickname after a commanding display against Austria in 1953, scoring twice in that famous victory before adding three more at the 1954 World Cup in Switzerland—though quarter-final heartbreak against Uruguay followed.

Gary Lineker completes this devastating trio. The Golden Boot winner at Mexico '86, Lineker's clinical finishing proved decisive in knockout matches. His two penalties against Cameroon in the 1990 quarter-final sent England to Turin. With such firepower on display, few other L-surnames will get a look-in, though Everton legend Bob Latchford waits on the bench.

This XI would certainly trouble any opponent.