Fabio Capello sprung no major surprises when he named England’s squad for their opening Euro 2012 qualifiers against Bulgaria and Switzerland early next month. Injuries to Chelsea duo John Terry and Frank Lampard have given Manchester City defender Joleon Lescott an opportunity to warm the subs bench and probably handed fellow City youngster Adam Johnson his first competitive cap.
West Brom goalkeeper Scott Carson is back in favour after two years out of the squad, and the inclusion of Tottenham striker Peter Crouch will have the majority of England’s fans fearing the same style of World Cup play which ended in a 4-1 drubbing by Germany. As we already knew, Arsenal’s bright young thing Jack Wilshere misses out but team mate Kieran Gibbs retains his new kid on the block status.
Capello is again putting his trust in yesterdays failures with the realisation qualification for the Euro 2012 Finals should be a formality. England’s bland brand of football is coming home once more.
England squad for Euro 2012 qualifiers against Bulgaria (home on 3rd September) and Switzerland (away on 7th September):
Goalkeepers: Scott Carson (West Brom), Ben Foster (Birmingham), Joe Hart (Manchester City).
Defenders: Gary Cahill (Bolton), Ashley Cole (Chelsea), Michael Dawson (Tottenham), Kieran Gibbs (Arsenal), Phil Jagielka (Everton), Glen Johnson (Liverpool), Joleon Lescott (Manchester City), Matthew Upson (West Ham)
Midfielders: Gareth Barry (Manchester City), Michael Carrick (Manchester United), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Adam Johnson (Manchester City), James Milner (Manchester City), Theo Walcott (Arsenal), Shaun Wright-Phillips (Manchester City), Ashley Young (Aston Villa)
Forwards: Darren Bent (Sunderland), Carlton Cole (West Ham), Peter Crouch (Tottenham), Jermain Defoe (Tottenham), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United).
Photograph by Gee Lynch
