Fabio Capello will name a provisional 28-man England World Cup squad on May 16th. After two friendlies, against Mexico and Japan, the final 23 for South Africa 2010 will be announced on 1st June. However, it’s important that intense and fruitless deliberation over the chosen few should begin as soon as possible.
The core of Capello’s squad seems quite settled but it’s the margins that will require consideration. Seven defenders were selected for the Egypt friendly and it’s likely that the same number will go to South Africa. Glen Johnson will be the right-back with Wes Brown as reserve, but it helps that Brown also plays at centre-back. Cover for full-back is also available from midfielder James Milner, which means that Capello can take a fully resourced squad with seven designated defenders. If Ashley Cole fails to return from injury then Stephen Warnock or Joleon Lescott could be called up.
Michael Carrick should be selected to bolster the central midfield. James Milner and Steven Gerrard could step in to the middle if Barry or Lampard are unavailable for the first XI, but it makes sense to have a genuine defensive midfielder in the numbers.
It’s wide-midfield where most of the questions reside. Whilst Aaron Lennon must be running him very close, Theo Walcott has been Capello’s favourite right-midfielder when available. Although he is returning to form with Arsenal, Walcott failed to impress against Egypt – Capello would be very reluctant to lose his pace from the squad, but his inclusion is not assured. Shaun Wright-Phillips is also pushing for a place in the squad and, unlike Walcott, he performed well against Egypt. Capello has always favoured the deployment of a winger on the right, which prevents congestion in central areas with Gerrard tucking in from the left. So if Lennon picks up an injury, and Walcott and Wright-Phillips don’t make the squad, there isn’t really a flying winger available. Milner is a highly capable midfielder but isn’t likely to stretch a full-back quite as much as the members of the aforementioned triumvirate. Stewart Downing could make the squad by virtue of being the only genuine left-sided midfielder in the frame, whilst David Beckham probably won’t start any games, but his experience, presence and elan could prove crucial when he is introduced from the bench. Joe Cole could also come into the reckoning if he catches the eye for Chelsea in the forthcoming weeks.
Forwards Emile Heskey, Wayne Rooney, Jermain Defoe and Peter Crouch all seem destined for South Africa. But Capello won’t wish to run light on attacking resources and Carlton Cole may make the squad as well. The strong target-man is central to the current England approach, and Cole fits this description. I think Capello’s main quandary is selecting three from Beckham, Downing, Walcott, Wright-Phillips and Carlton Cole. If he opts for Cole then he could be perched redundantly behind the other four strikers. But if an extra midfielder is picked, it does seem as if the squad is skewed towards an over-abundance of midfielders. We at the WCC blog predict that the following will be Fabio’s 23:
Extended squad (outside the 23)
Carlton Cole
Shaun Wright-Phillips
Joe Cole
Stephen Warnock
Joleon Lescott
I think after the Egypt game, SWP has a strong chance to make the squad either at the expense of Walcott or Lennon.
It’s amazing how Stewart Downing waltzes straight back into the frame. He is lacking in quality in all areas of his game.
I don’t think Fabio will tolerate players who aren’t fit or haven’t played much, so unless Ashley Cole and Aaron Lennon have time to prove their fitness and Joe Cole and David Beckham get a run of games, I would put question marks over their places in the squad.