International friendly World Cup guide - England
Venue: UPC Arena, Graz Date: Sunday, 30 May 2010 Kick-off: 1315 BST
Coverage: Full coverage on ITV, commentary on BBC Radio 5 live and the BBC Sport website
England coach Fabio Capello has rung the changes for their final friendly before the World Cup, handing starts to Tom Huddlestone and Darren Bent.
Tottenham midfielder Huddlestone and Sunderland striker Bent will be given the chance to impress the England boss against Japan in Graz on Sunday.
Chelsea trio John Terry, Ashley Cole and Frank Lampard return but there is no place for team-mate Joe Cole.
Capello will trim his official World Cup squad from 30 to 23 on Tuesday.
Manchester City's Gareth Barry missed Monday's 3-1 win over Mexico and is not included in the squad for Sunday's game but the midfielder will be given right up until Tuesday's deadline to prove his fitness after an ankle injury.
 |
606: DEBATE
RockingTheJoint
|
Capello explained: "Barry is getting better and better, he has improved a lot and the doctor has said he will probably be ok for South Africa but we need to have a last check by the doctor."
There had been concern regarding the fitness of Steven Gerrard after the Mexico game but the Liverpool captain will be a substitute against Japan and Capello insisted he is not worried about the midfielder.
"He is fit. He was tired after the game against Mexico," said Capello.
"He won't play the first half against Japan but probably the second half.
"I know him very well and just want to get to know the other players."
England's line-up for the friendly in Austria has a slightly experimental look with Tottenham's Aaron Lennon operating in an unaccustomed left-wing role while Arsenal's Theo Walcott will start on the right wing.
But when asked whether the team that starts the game against Japan will be his same starting 11 for England's opening game of the World Cup against the United States on the 12 June, Capello replied: "no, absolutely not."
Portsmouth goalkeeper David James will come into the side as he aims to establish himself as England's number one ahead of West Ham's Robert Green, who impressed against Mexico, and Joe Hart of Manchester City.
|
TWITTER UPDATES
Dan Roan with the England squad in Austria
|
But Capello, who revealed he already knows 20 of his 23-man party, admitted he has "more or less" decided who will start in goal.
Bent, who missed the game against Mexico with a hamstring injury, will start as Capello tries another strike partner with Manchester United talisman Wayne Rooney.
The pair scored 50 Premier League goals between them this season but Bent has Peter Crouch, Jermain Defoe, and Emile Heskey to battle with for a place on the plane to South Africa.
Captain Rio Ferdinand will lead the side out, while Glen Johnson continues at right-back.
Unless Capello makes any late changes to his starting line-up for the game against Japan there will be seven players yet to feature in England's two World Cup warm-up games, either starting or as a substitute.
However, the seven of Chelsea's Joe Cole, Tottenham's Michael Dawson, West Ham's Matthew Upson and Scott Parker, Manchester City's Shaun Wright-Phillips and Aston Villa's Stephen Warnock and Emile Heskey could still come off the bench on Sunday.
With the official squad announcement expected on Tuesday, Capello said: "I am really happy because all the players are fit.
"I am not happy that I will have to decide on the 23 players because all of the players have trained really well and I have to tell them.
"On the first of June you will know the 23 players that will go to South Africa but I will phone the players to tell them in the morning."
England team to face Japan:
David James, Glen Johnson, John Terry, Rio Ferdinand, Ashley Cole, Theo Walcott, Tom Huddlestone, Frank Lampard, Aaron Lennon, Wayne Rooney, Darren Bent.
sildenafil citrate 100mg | levitra prix | paroxetine et prise de poids
No comments:
Post a Comment