Fabio Capello made an impressive start to his England career in World Cup qualification, topping the group as the highest-scoring European nation. Only the 1-0 reverse to the Ukraine spoiled England’s 100% record. Capello now has to take this momentum to South Africa, but what will be his strongest XI? England are likely to stick with the tried and tested 4-4-2 formation, and I predict that this will be Fab’s best line-up:
David James. Tough choice for Capello, ‘Calamity James’ has had a mixed career including both gaffes and glory. But over the past few seasons, especially under Harry Redknapp at Portsmouth, James had exceeded himself and had cut out the mistakes from his game. However, errors have crept back as his club sit rock bottom of the Premier League. He is, however, reliable at international level and a likely candidate for the number 1 jersey.
Glen Johnson. No contest. Well, providing he can retain the form he found before the injury he sustained earlier this season. Once again a regular in a struggling Liverpool side, Johnson is a great attacking full back who I believe will have no problem in convincing Capello of his return to form. That, and there is no realistic challenger to Johnson for the right-back slot.
Rio Ferdinand. He’s had a shaky season at United, including an injury hidden from Sir Alex Ferguson where he struggled to walk the day after a game. But now he seems to have recovered and he looks forward to a decent run-in up to the World Cup. And now the England captain, an absolute certainty to start in central defence.
John Terry. Oh boy does he have a point to prove. It’s unfortunate for Terry that his publicised misdemeanours and dip in form has surfaced in a World Cup year. Like Rio, Terry has got his bad game out of the way and looks to help Chelsea win the Premier League this season. Knowing JT’s character, he will prove all the doubters wrong and stand tall in South Africa.
Ashley Cole. Needs to take a leaf out of Terry’s book and bounce back. He is set to return from injury very soon and is expected to retain his place in the Chelsea side, ahead of Yuri Zhirkov. ‘Cashley’ is very lucky that he is on the same books as former England Skipper Terry. JT will more than likely take Cole under his wing and convince him to make amends for his off-the-field antics. I’m really hopeful he can prove his fitness, and the next best English left-back won’t be the class act that Ashley Cole can be.
Theo Walcott. Interesting. This is without a doubt the problem area for England at the moment. There are a few names being thrown about for this position, including Wright-Phillips, Lennon and Milner. But following a pearler of a performance away at Croatia back in September, hat-trick hero Theo is held in high regard by Capello; he recently turned Arsenal’s home game against Barcelona on its head and he is starting to justify his £12million price tag. He’s by no means a certainty for a start, but he will make the squad if he is fit.
Frank Lampard. Not for me this one. Lampard is a world-class player with ability in abundance. However, he is the type of player that can play out of his skin for his club, but can’t take the high levels of his game up to the international stage. If he is fit, he’ll start – no question. But for me he is a big name that doesn’t exceed expectations for his country. A reliable penalty taker though, if ever there was a team that needed one.
Gareth Barry. Has gone from strength to strength in recent seasons. Now an England regular, Barry is an integral part of the England setup. Not only does he play as the holding midfielder that England requires, but he also plays the role of the well-behaved kid at school who is moved to sit between two trouble makers; Lampard and Gerrard. It is well-documented that Lamps and Gerrard can’t play together in the same team. But Barry has been drafted in and provides a fantastic balance to England’s play, allowing Lampard and Gerrard to push forward. With a masterful eye for a killer pass, England’s Mr. Reliable is almost guaranteed to be in Capello’s starting XI.
Steven Gerrard. Not your conventional left winger but he plays the part as good as anyone else. For Liverpool, he is a match-winning playmaker. But he falls into the same bracket as Lampard in that his international performances don’t compare to club football. Liverpool have struggled throughout the 2009/10 season, but Gerrard has still remained the talisman that he always has been. For England, his positional play with the overlapping Ashley Cole is extremely effective and his link up with Rooney in qualifying has been superb. Another big name, another guaranteed starting place.
Emile Heskey. I don’t see it, I really don’t. I don’t buy into the whole ‘he makes Rooney play well’ rubbish. Heskey is not of international standard and never will be. In my opinion, it is a waste of a place if Capello gives it to someone who can make another player play well. Rooney has scored over 30 goals this season for United, without Heskey. Rooney doesn’t need him. However, Capello seems to have taken a shine to the stocky frontman, meaning Emile Heskey is likely to start in England’s strongest XI.
Wayne Rooney. Hasn’t had a bad season, has he? Goals galore and consistent team performances for Manchester United. Currently second only to the God that is Lionel Messi, Rooney will be England’s focal point for the World Cup. Will the pressure be too much? Time will tell. All that we do know is that he is 100% certain to start.
Obviously, no-one knows what goes through Capello’s mind, and it is impossible to predict injuries and form for the remainder of the season. So here are some players that have an outside chance of creeping into Fabio’s best XI:
Joe Hart. Burst onto the international scene a while back but never looked solid enough to hold down a regular place. But this season he has kept his head down and a loan move to high-flying Birmingham has been a masterstroke. He has aided the tipped relegation candidates up to the lofty heights of the Premier League. Don’t be surprised if he nudges Robert Green off the bench.
James Milner. Massive chance. Milner has been in superlative form for Villa and has shown great maturity and footballing knowledge despite his young age. His doomy, gloomy Newcastle days are over and he is a starlet of an attacking Villa side. England have many options on the right-hand side of midfield and Milner would be my choice every time.
Aaron Lennon. When fit – dangerous. Fitness is Lennon’s Achilles Heel – he’s constantly in and out of the Tottenham side. But when he’s in, he is IN! Feet as quick as Ronaldo, with as much pace as Walcott. His final ball has been criticised many a time but his assist record is incredible. Will be a fantastic weapon if he can prove his fitness.
Joe Cole. It seems a long time since Joe Cole was a regular in the England side. He played, and scored, in the early games of World Cup qualification but has been ravaged by injury this season. Joe is a gifted technical player who brings something different to the table. He looked top, top class with a sweet strike against Sweden at the last World Cup in Germany. He’s back from injury and faces a race against time to prove to Fabio that he deserves to be in the team. Watch this space.
Jermain Defoe. Had a cracking start to the campaign but has faded away into mediocrity. On his day he is as unplayable as Rooney himself, but his days are too few and too far between. He is such a better quality player than Heskey but he hasn’t hit the ground running at international level yet. He has goals to his name and that will put him in a great position when it comes to selection. But to earn a start? He’ll need to pick his season up sharpish.
Peter Crouch. Prolific England scoring record. He has always been a scoring threat in an England shirt. But there are two drawbacks. Firstly, Crouchy is constantly victimised by referees when defenders cannot out-jump him and it interrupts the flow of play. As well as giving defenders the option to fall over and claim they have been fouled. Secondly, he hasn’t really done it against the big boys (no pun intended). His goals have come against lesser sides, including a hat-trick against Jamaica. Could he dislodge Heskey? I wouldn’t rule it out.
The first choice England back four is pretty much set in stone, but there is some discrepancy as to who should play on each wing and who should partner Rooney up top. There are places up for grabs for England in South Africa. If you were Fabio, who would you pick?
-Andy Woolston
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