The squad for the next games is: Foster (Manchester United), Green (West Ham), Robinson (Blackburn), Johnson (Liverpool), Brown (Manchester United), Upson (West Ham), Terry (Chelsea, capt), Lescott (Manchester City), A Cole (Chelsea), Bridge (Chelsea), Wright-Phillips (Manchester City), Lennon (Tottenham), Beckham (Los Angeles Galaxy), Barry (Manchester City), Lampard (Chelsea), Carrick (Manchester United), Gerrard (Liverpool), A Young (Aston Villa), Milner (Aston Villa), Rooney (Manchester United), Heskey (Aston Villa), Defoe (Tottenham), C Cole (West Ham), Crouch (Tottenham). Assuming everyone is fit then I see it as follows for South Africa: Keepers - There's still a good chance that either Hart or James will be involved - I don't think anything's set in stone with the keepers other than that Green will be one of the three. Defenders - Ferdinand will go, and Jagielka has a chance if he comes back in the same form as before his injury. Bridge could miss out with Lescott able to play left back. Midfield - Hargreaves is the $64,000 question. If he's fit (and that's a big if) he is likely to travel (he could also provide cover at right back and free up another spot). Other than that, Downing will probably be back in the reckoning as I don't see Capello taking three right wingers (four if you include Beckham) in Wright-Phillips, Lennon and Walcott (who will be picked as he provides a striking option) and not a single left footed option. Milner and Young both offer versatility, but it may come down to a straight choice between the two. Forwards - Walcott for Crouch as fifth striker.
England are pretty much screwed without Rio. If any combination of Terry/Upson/Jagielka play, commendable performers as they are, England's hopes are severly lessened.
If any team loses one of their best players their chances are lessened, although we did win in Germany with Terry and Upson at the back.
Of course, arguably England's best player. Its just the lack of pace in those I mentioned that worry me. England defend too deep as it is. That German team was very poor.
Italy lost Nesta (their best defender) before the knock out games and ended up playing Materazzi and Cannavaro - hardly the quickest of pairings. Obviously they stood no chance.
Yes but Italy are actually rather good at maintaining possession when they feel the need and had players like Gattuso /Rossi/Perrotta bouncing effervesently in specific and controlled areas and Pirlo dictating. I'm still surprised Italy managed it with Materrazzi and he certainly grabbed the headlines in the final. England need pace to be effective in my opinion.
Henry should have done more, for sure. Klose is one paced, not particularily useful outside the box and relies on good service - Italy, whoever their personnel, always seems adept at strangling the supply lines. Shevchenko I was a big fan of but he had next to no support in that Ukraine side.
The best opposition striker in their group was Koller - who did not face them due to injury. Italy then had Australia! Then in the QFs, Italy faced Ukraine - the weakest of the last 8 teams. Germany and France were tough but that was in the semis and Final. Italy clearly got an easy draw before the semis. Obviously eventually they had to face some quality sides as they progressed. Just compare Italy's path to the Final and France's path. Anyway going back to England. I don't think England are in trouble if Rio is out. At CB England are relatively deep. After Rio we have Terry, Upson, Lescott, Jagielka, Turner, Brown, Wheater etc. OK some of these are raw/untried at this level but it is unlikely we have more than 3 CBs out at the same time. I am more concerned about goalkeeper depth and quality for England.
I'll go with- Green; James; Foster G. Johnson; Ferdinand; Terry; A.Cole; Brown; Upson; Lescott Lennon; Lampard; Barry; Gerrard; Beckham; Hargreaves; Carrick; J.Cole Rooney; Heskey; Defoe; C.Cole; Walcott
personally i think we need 2 players for each position and 3 gks so, green/james/robbo - possibly hart instead of robbo if form is good johnson/brown cole/bridge terry/upson rio/lescott barry/carrick lampard/hargreaves - if owens fit, otherwise the likes of huddlestone or noble possibly if they are in form gerrard/cole - or young lennon/theo rooney/defoe heskey/cole this is all atm stuff though
Green Foster Hart Cole Gibbs Brown Johnson Ferdinand Terry Upson lampard Gerrard Young Lennon Carrick barry Joe Cole Milner Rooney C.Cole Defoe Heskey walcott
We dont need 3 tall strikers ... i say we need two target men (heskey ,cole) two pacey forwards (defoe ,walcott) and the roonster.. We sure as hell dont need downing when we have young ,gerrard ,milner and joe cole
This is one time when we have multiple options in most positions. In 2002 and 2006 we picked injured players in our squad because we didnt have the depth.
The World Cup Squad for SA has not yet been picked - we may yet again end up picking players who are slightly injured.
Yeah, I think the days of Downing making the squad are growing less and less. With the players we have now, and the younger ones coming up, it makes it that much more unlikely for him.... Injuries would be the only way he gets brought into the squad now..
My ideal squad would be something like this: Green Hart James Johnson Brown Rio Terry Upson Lescott A.Cole Bridge Lennon Walcott Milner Gerrard Lampard Barry Hargreaves (definately if fit and playing well) Joe Cole Defoe Rooney C.Cole Heskey I actually had real trouble with midfield.. I think that is our position where we have the most depth when all players are fit. If Hargreaves is fit and playing well, I think he has to go, and that probably means Carrick having to stay home, which would be a shame.. Joe Cole is also a player that if playing well would surely come.. Milner has earned a squad place in my eyes, as has Defoe and Carlton Cole... another thing we could do, but I'm not sure if Capello will do, is leave Lescott out and bring in Carrick, as Brown can play CB, and Hargreaves can play RB.. I'm not sold on Lescott at the moment. Sadly, there is no place for Beckham it seems, it is a shame, but for the good of the team I think he will understand. He is the one player in our squad with the most passion maybe bar JT.
Green James Foster Johnson Brown Ferdinand Terry Upson Lescott A. Cole Bridge Lennon Gerrard Lampard Barry Milner Beckham J. Cole Walcott Rooney Heskey Defoe C. Cole I don't think Hargreaves will be fit, otherwise he'd be in there instead of Beckham. Beckham seems to have the support of Capello now anyway and has probably jumped above Carrick in the English midfield pecking order. The defence and forwards practically choose themselves, although Crouch could still oust Carlton Cole for that last spot. The goalkeeping position is still an area of debate, although Green is definitely on the plane to South Africa. Any two of James, Foster, Hart, Robinson and Carson could still make the squad.
James is almost a dead on cert to go. Love him or hate him - he has experience. If Green gets an injury, the last thing we need is a new keeper that has no experience. The other keeper will be one of Foster, Robinson or Hart.
The same argument could be made for Robinson though. The way I look at it, the three will be Green, one of James/Robinson and - maybe - Foster.