who’s on your proverbial plane? (part 2)

Though the international break is now all but lost in our memory banks after the dramas of this weekend’s latest round of beach ball infested Premier League action and a Champions League match day filled with more shocks than a lightning storm in Tokyo, I must drag your attention back to my post from last week, where I begun an inquest into Fabio Capello’s selection posers for South Africa next year.

If you’ll recall last weeks post, I suggested that there was a core of Capello’s squad that if fit will be on the plane to the southern hemisphere no matter what happens in the intervening time, but that there were plenty of places still very much up for grabs. Looking at the goalkeepers and defenders in contention for a squad place I’d named my selection for South Africa and now must move on to the midfielders and attackers.

Click here to refresh yourself of last week’s post.

As a quick reminder then, here are the players who we will definitely be seeing in South Africa next summer, unless they are unfortunate enough to pick up an injury:
> Defenders: John Terry, Rio Ferdinand, Ashley Cole, Glen Johnson.
> Midfielders: Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard, Gareth Barry.
> Strikers: Wayne Rooney.

So, with Lampard, Gerrard, Barry and Rooney added to the ten names I selected in the first half of my squad last week, that leaves us nine free seats on the plane and a whole host of contenders for them. Capello needs to select an occupant for his right flank from the many contenders as well as selecting his first choice partner for the mercurial Wayne Rooney up front. So who deserves to make the cut?

Midfielders
England’s real strength lies in midfield where they can call on two of the most complete box-to-box players in the world at present, and there’s little doubt that Lampard and Gerrard will play key roles in South Africa. Alongside them, Gareth Barry has cemented himself a place on the plane and is the favourite to fill the holding role; something he will undoubtedly do unless Owen Hargreaves returns to form spectacularly after shaking off his injuries – I think there’s a decent outside chance the ex-Munich man will be on the plane.

It is on the right hand side though, where Capello’s bid decision comes. With Gerrard drifting around on the left side and Ashley Cole overlapping, Capello seems to favour employing a more traditional winger on the right hand side, a department in which England are beginning to be spoilt for choice.

Theo Walcott and Aaron Lennon are the front runners for the starting role at present, both having made a massive impact in the qualifying matches, they’ve both progressed a long way in terms of coupling their electrifying pace with accurate end-products in the last year or so, and now both are a very frightening proposition for any defender of any calibre. They’ll both be on the plane.

Joe Cole is an interesting contender given how little he has played recently, and he will be another hoping to hit the ground running on his return from injury. There’s no doubting his talent and he certainly brings something a little bit different to the party for England, as he’s shown in previous tournaments. Given that he could be equally adept at performing his magic tricks on the left too, I think that if fit and showing a bit of form, Capello would be a fool not to take Cole with him.

Which means that places for the likes of James Milner, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Ashley Young and Stewart Downing are starting to look a bit sparse. I think he can only afford to select one of these players and for me it would be Milner every time. The others have all had chances on the international stage and have stumbled, while Milner is equally adept playing on either flank or in the middle, has a great engine and can deliver a great dead ball. That versatility could prove very handy for England, and I think Capello liked what he saw in the recent training camp from the young Villain.

As I mentioned, I think Owen Hargreaves is a good bet to make the trip, so long as his injuries clear up. He was so good for England in 2006 and can provide that crunch in midfield as well as being versatile enough to cover England’s right back spot. In fact, I think he would give Glen Johnson a run for his money as England’s number two if Fergie used him there for United. Either way though, his inclusion leaves no room for Michael Carrick, who is too similar to Barry and Hargreaves to make the cut.

Completing the midfield lineup will, almost certainly, be David Beckham. Now, old Goldenballs divides opinion like no other but Capello is clearly a fan and with a loan move to Milan looking likely, Becks should be in good shape come next June. What’s more, he’s shown time and time again that he can deliver when it matters for England and while I don’t think he’s in England’s first XI, he’s a fantastic weapon to bring off the bench and provide some pinpoint ammunition for the forwards if they’re struggling.

Forwards
Wayne Rooney would walk into any international side in the world and he will rightly be the first name on Capello’s team sheet next summer. While England have a strong squad, I can’t help but think that our only chance of winning the competition lies at the feet of the bull-headed Scouser. If he hits top form in South Africa, England will have a fighting chance, and Capello needs to carefully choose his other forwards to help bring the best out of Rooney.

Emile Heskey obviously looks to be Capello’s first choice foil for Rooney. He is a player highly skilled in bringing his teammates into play and there’s no denying that he can make things happen and dominate defenders. However, his scoring record at the top level is very poor and I’m not sure whether he remains the best bet – especially if not playing regularly for Aston Villa. I really feel that Heskey may not do enough to justify his inclusion, and Capello will be on the lookout for a better bet.

Whether or not that turns out to be Peter Crouch I don’t know, but I’ve little doubt that the lanky Londoner will be on the plane. He does cause problems for defenders and there’s no denying that he knows where the goal is while he also has the handy knack of being possibly the luckiest footballer alive – I’ve never seen the ball drop so kindly and with such regularity to any other player as Crouchinho, and that’s never a bad thing to have on your team.

I think Carlton Cole may well emerge as Rooney’s surprise partner, but it depends largely on how West Ham’s season goes. He’s started brightly and combines Heskey’s strength and teamwork with a knack for getting goals, and if he can keep his confidence up and the goals flying for the Hammers, I think Capello will sit up and take notice. Darren Bent is also a contender but he’s more of a poacher than Cole, so I think the West Ham man edges it.

While favouring a big, strong partner for Rooney, Capello also appreciates the need for having an explosive sort of poacher on the bench, ready to make an impact if necessary and this is where Michael Owen may attempt to stake a claim. The United man is without doubt a predatory finisher but he lacks the pace that made him special and which the likes of Villa’s Gabriel Agbonlahor have in bucket loads.

Ahead of both of those though, remains Jermaine Defoe who is without doubt England’s most natural finisher since Owen himself was in his prime and who is having a storming season for Spurs. He’s shown under Redknapp this season that if you give him the slightest sniff of an opportunity he’ll produce the goods and that sort of clinical finishing will win him a place in Capello’s squad if he can maintain it for the rest of the season.

So who’s on my plane to South Africa?
Well, if I were Capello, my completed squad would look like this:

Goalkeepers:
Rob Green, David James, Joe Hart.
Defenders:
John Terry, Rio Ferdinand, Ashley Cole, Glen Johnson, Phil Jagielka, Matthew Upson, Leighton Baines.
Midfielders:
Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, Gareth Barry, Theo Walcott, Aaron Lennon, Joe Cole, Owen Hargreaves, James Milner, David Beckham.
Forwards:
Wayne Rooney, Jermaine Defoe, Carlton Cole, Peter Crouch.

While I’m not sure whether this is a squad capable of winning football’s ultimate prize – as I said, much of that will depend on certain individuals within the squad – I think that this is about as strong an England squad as can currently be named and covers the most amount of eventualities that the side may have to face during the trials and tribulations of football at a major tournament.

Three ‘keepers provide competition between the sticks while Glen Johnson’s right back slot can be covered by either Phil Jagielka or Owen Hargreaves. At centre back Terry and Ferdinand provide the first choice partnership but Phil Jagielka and Matthew Upson provide ample cover and Leighton Baines can cover for Ashley Cole at left back or be utilised as a left-sided midfielder (or vice versa with Cole).

In midfield Gerrard and Lampard are essential figures but around them Barry and Hargreaves provide the crunch while Joe Cole can deputise on the left if need be. The right flank can be occupied by Walcott or Lennon and Beckham and Milner can be utilised either centrally or on the right. Up front Rooney can be partnered by either Cole or Crouch in the role of targetman with Defoe and even Walcott capable of providing some explosive pace off the bench when required.

So there we have it, my England squad for South Africa next year as best I can currently pick it. I’m sure that this will divide opinions as any team/squad selection always will so don’t be afraid to weigh in with your thoughts. Who would comprise your 32, and which of my selections do you most strongly disagree with? Please go on and leave a comment below!

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