Ahead of Wednesday’s friendly match vs. Switzerland, Fabio Capello has whittled down his pool of potential players to a final squad of 23. For Capello and the English side it’s more than a mere friendly; they must prove to a football community still reeling from the disastrous Euro 2008 qualifier campaign that England’s international presence can be resurrected.

It’s not the first time the English team has faced the challenge of rising from the ashes of disappointment. But following the dismissal of ex-manager Steve McClaren and the lengthy decision-making period that led to Capello’s hiring, a team which was largely in shambles must now pull together with very little time to adjust to each other or their new coach.

Some familiar faces have made the cut, while Capello has also injected fresh blood into the mix. While regulars like David Beckham (omitted due to lack of match fitness) and Paul Robinson were not included in Thursday’s provisional list, veterans such as David James, Michael Owen, Steven Gerrard, Ashley Cole, and Rio Ferdinand provide a solid foundation.

Capello has chosen the relatively inexperienced Scott Carson (2 caps) as his primary goalkeeper, with David James (35 caps) and Chris Kirkland (1 cap) also available if required. His defensive options are Rio Ferdinand (64 caps), Ashley Cole (61 caps), Wayne Bridge (27 caps), and fairly fresh faces Wes Brown (14 caps), Joleon Lescott (4 caps), Micah Richards (11 caps), and Jonathan Woodgate (6 caps).

In midfield Capello has selected Owen Hargreaves (39 caps), Steven Gerrard (63 caps), Joe Cole (47 caps), Shaun Wright-Phillips (18 caps), Jermaine Jenus (17 caps), Gareth Barry (16 caps), David Bentley (2 caps), and Ashley Young (1 cap). David Bentley is perhaps the most controversial choice, as much has been made of his “competition” with David Beckham for a spot on the right. Bentley proponents argue he offers everything Beckham has provided in his near-century of appearances for the team, prompting speculation about the role Beckham will play in Capello’s England.

For attacking options Capello has named forwards Peter Crouch (24 caps), Wayne Rooney (40 caps), Michael Owen (88 caps), and Jermain Defoe (26 caps). Comparatively, these choices offer greater depth of experience than the seemingly experimental defense and midfield, which include several players with few international appearances to their names.

But Capello has proved himself a careful, if sometimes mysterious, tactician in his extensive history. While the exact motives for his squad selection cannot fully be guessed, it is likely he will adjust for the right chemistry to restore confidence that England can once again be a competitive force on the international stage.

Source:
TheFA.com

2 Responses to “Capello Selects Final Squad for Switzerland”

Leave a Reply

Name (required)

Mail (will not be published) (required)

Website