England’s squad for Slovakia and Ukraine
England are in pole position to qualify from Group Six for the 2010 World Cup and they’ll move one step closer to that target when they beat Ukraine at Wembley on Wednesday, April 1st 2009.
A win in this fixture will give England 5 wins out of 5, and with tricky away ties to Croatia and Belarus already negotiated safely, the away game to Ukraine in October will probably come at a time when England have already qualified for the World Cup.
Before the Ukraine game, England face Slovakia in a friendly at Wembley on Saturday 28 March.
The squad picked for these two games includes Ben Foster, who Capello wants to take a closer look at in training before possibly giving him a role in the friendly, Leighton Baines as backup to A. Cole, Ledley King who will probably only play the friendly if at all, Aaron Lennon who should get a look-in at the friendly and Carlton Cole, who’s there because Capello doesn’t trust Michael Owen, because Ashton is injured and because England really, really lack in good strikers.
Ashley Young and Gabriel Agbonlahor are missing, presumably because a) Capello’s had his ‘look’ at them or b) Capello thinks they need more maturity and experience or c) Capello thinks they’re rattled and need a break. I’m going with A and B. Micah Richards is missing as well, presumably for the same two reasons. I still think these three will go to South Africa over people like Upson and Cole, plus there’s Walcott waiting in the U-21s as well.
England Squad
Goalkeepers: David James (Portsmouth), Robert Green (West Ham United), Ben Foster (Manchester United)
Defenders: Leighton Baines (Everton), Phil Jagielka (Everton), Joleon Lescott (Everton), Ashley Cole (Chelsea), John Terry (Chelsea), Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United), Glen Johnson (Portsmouth), Matthew Upson (West Ham United), Ledley King (Tottenham Hotspur).
Midfielders: Gareth Barry (Aston Villa), Michael Carrick (Manchester United), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), Stewart Downing (Middlesbrough), David Beckham (AC Milan), Shaun Wright-Phillips (Manchester City), Aaron Lennon (Tottenham Hotspur), Steven Gerrad (Liverpool).
Forwards: Carlton Cole (West Ham United), Peter Crouch (Portsmouth), Emile Heskey (Aston Villa), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United).
England’s 2010 World Cup Qualifying Fixtures.
Topics: England, Fabio Capello, World Cup
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carlton cole, what an absolute joke. ahead of top scorer in league (english) kevin davies and that without pennies. and im a wigan fan so no bias towards bolton.
March 23rd, 2009 @ 22:38Dunno what Carrick’s doing in there
March 23rd, 2009 @ 23:44I’d rather go with Jonathan Woodgate or Curtis Davies or even Craig Gardner (if it comes to worst) than the crocked Ledley King.
March 24th, 2009 @ 04:46i agree, it would be nice to see kevin davies in there. apparently he came close to joining the england team.
March 24th, 2009 @ 06:13Bobmagee you no nothing about football
March 24th, 2009 @ 12:15What happened to Walcott, its his fast attacking style of football that has breathed life into this very star-studded lack-luster side. If people have realised the game Walcott was replaced with Beckham, England lost after their great winning streak.
March 24th, 2009 @ 12:50If Wayne Rooney is classified as a forward, surely Gerrard should be too. He’s playing as a second striker at Liverpool(which i think is his best position) with Mascherano and Alonso in the centre.
Carrick is well deserving of his place and must start.
March 24th, 2009 @ 13:02Sheffield fc, I know plenty about football and (being a United fan) I know how poor Carrick has been lately, I guess its good that he can get a game for england on he internatonal stage but I guess Uniteds rubbish form of late probably makes Carrick look worse than he is, he’s a good passer, thats about it these days…
March 24th, 2009 @ 14:51bobmagee i am going to find you and lick your rim. shutup,carrick is immense. he is not only a good passer but creates chances and is a brilliant playmaker blud. let capello do his own job. nalis should be in the sqaud, and kevin davies
March 25th, 2009 @ 15:31joe you just said “let Capello do his own job” and then said “nalis should be in the squad, and kevin davies” A contradiction me thinks, I hope Carrick proves me wrong though…
March 25th, 2009 @ 18:35Kevin Davies and Scott Parker should have been given a run out in the friendly against Slovakia, both are playing consistently very well for their clubs and they are both full of confidence. The friendly would have given them a chance to see if their club success could be transfered to the England team
March 29th, 2009 @ 11:03