Why Capello won't regret taking Joe Cole to the World Cup

Written by James Beckett Wednesday, 02 June 2010 12:14

England World Cup Blog

Four years ago Joe Cole was a regular in the Sven Goran Eriksson's England side, yesterday he scraped through in to the England squad, but can the Chelsea man repay the faith that Fabio Capello has shown in him, and reach the same heights that he did in Germany?


Cole was one of the few men that can really say they performed in 2006, he stood out as one of the bright attacking sparks, in an otherwise dull England side, and topped his performances off with a stunning goal against Sweden. But since then, injuries have seen Cole almost disappear of the radar, and his appearance against Japan on Sunday was his first cap since 2008.


But Cole performance against Japan may have won Capello over. He produced the cross that lead to England's equaliser, and his all round display was very impressive, and England fans will be hoping that Cole may have recaptured the form that he had in 2006.


However whether Cole actually can reach that level of form again, remains to be seen. Cole showed brief glimpses of his quality during the second half of the season, but he was a peripheral member of the Chelsea squad that won the double, and couldn't persuade Carlo Ancelotti to pick him on a regular basis.

But there is no doubting Cole's class, and he proved against Japan that he still has something to offer England. He is a more versatile option then the likes of Adam Johnson and Theo Walcott, who both failed to make the final 23 man squad, and Cole's ability to act as the link man between midfield and attack, could be the deciding factor that persuaded Capello to take him to South Africa.


Cole played just off Wayne Rooney on Sunday, and gave Rooney the freedom to play where he wants to, which is on the shoulder of the last defender. In the first half when Rooney was playing with Bent, and we saw Rooney in deep positions, this is not where the Manchester United man is at his destructive best. In the second half, Rooney looked much more at home playing with Cole.


If Cole is given the opportunity to play just off Rooney in South Africa, it could prove to be another successful tournament for the former West Ham man, and there is no doubting in my eyes, that Capello won't live to regret giving Cole the opportunity to star in South Africa.

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