England World Cup Squad Preview

Written by James Beckett Wednesday, 26 May 2010 13:19

World Cup Squad Previews

England will once again be looking to make up for years of disappointment this summer. Every tournament The Three Lions squad arrive with their usual over confidence, but every tournament they disappoint. Could this summer be different?

After failing to qualify for Euro 2008, England needed a major overhaul of international football, and Fabio Capello was the man given the job of overseeing this process. Capello saw a vast improvement in results, as England comfortably qualified for South Africa, with 9 wins from their 10 qualifying games. But in truth Capello didn't inherit a bad squad, it was just a new method that was needed.

Capello's mission was quite simple, find a way of getting the best out of England's talismanic figure Wayne Rooney. Capello adopted new formations, with Rooney regularly the focal point. The Manchester United man thrived under the pressure, scoring nine times in qualifying games, and if England are to perform in South Africa, Rooney will need to be at his best once again.

But England do have other key players. Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard will be hoping to improve on disappointing showings at the last World Cup. While Gerrard's season has stuttered at Liverpool, Lampard has been terrific in a Chelsea side which won the double, scoring 27 times in all competitions.

Elsewhere there are places in the squad for wingers Aaron Lennon and Shaun Wright-Phillips, who have the pace to trouble any defenders, and James Milner is another tricky player who could get defenders worried.

In defence England have been hit an injury to captain Rio Ferdinand so who will partner John Terry in the centre of defence remains to be seen, Terry was stripped of the armband after revelations about his private life, and will be looking forward to concentrating on purely footballing matters. Capello also has two flying full backs in the shape of Ashley Cole and Glen Johnson, however he may be concerned over Johnson's defensive qualities.

Capello did name one surprise name in the shape of Jamie Carragher, who returns to international football after 3 years in exile, there is also a spot for injury prone Tottenham defender Ledley King, and a call up Michael Dawson.

England had only Gareth Barry as an injury doubt, and Tom Huddlestone and Scott Parker were called up cover, while Capello will definitely be without David Beckham who misses out with an achilles injury.

Capello does have plenty of options in his thirty man provisional squad, but England may be found lacking in some areas of the side, most notably in goal, with Capello seemingly unsure who is his number one. However England should have a relatively successful tournament, and with a bit of luck, good easily reach the semi final stage.


England's 30-man provisional squad for the World Cup finals:

Goalkeepers: Joe Hart (Manchester City), David James (Portsmouth), Robert Green (West Ham).

Defenders: Jamie Carragher (Liverpool), Ashley Cole (Chelsea), Michael Dawson (Tottenham),  Glen Johnson (Liverpool), Ledley King (Tottenham), John Terry (Chelsea), Matthew Upson (West Ham), Stephen Warnock (Aston Villa).

Midfielders: Gareth Barry (Manchester City), Michael Carrick (Manchester United), Joe Cole (Chelsea), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool),  Frank Lampard (Chelsea), Aaron Lennon (Tottenham), James Milner (Aston Villa),  Shaun Wright-Phillips (Manchester City).

Forwards:  Peter Crouch (Tottenham), Jermain Defoe (Tottenham), Emile Heskey (Aston Villa), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United)

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