Soccer Equipment Reviews

*Written before Capello’s provisional squad was announced on Tuesday, 11 May 2010.

Part One of SER’s FIFA 2010 World Cup coverage

Special Focus: England’s provisional 30-man squad

So Gareth Barry is crocked, half the papers have Owen Hargreaves on the plane to South Africa, and Bobby Zamora has ruled himself out in order to get surgery on his troubling Achilles tendon. Rio Ferdinand has only managed a dozen games this season, John Terry has not been at his best, Jamie Carragher has apparently been recalled from his self-imposed international exile, and Jermain Defoe’s forgotten where the back of the net is. Add a player rating index managed by Fabio Capello that includes England players and it is not entirely smooth sailing for Don Capello and his backroom staff.

With that, here is my provisional 30-man squad:

Goalkeepers

Joe Hart, David James, Robert Green, Paul Robinson.

Hart has had a very good season on-loan at Birmingham and it would be a shame to see him return to Eastlands as Shay Given’s deputy. My England #1. David James seems to be Capello’s favourite; his run-in in the FA Cup has definitely helped him maintain his form after Pompey’s abysmal season. Green has been unpredictable at times this season, but Capello seems to trust him. Definitely in the provisional squad. Paul Robinson is the outside runner in this, but as a fourth keeper he deserves as much as any of the others to be in the squad. Hasn’t really been given a chance under Capello but he has been just as solid if not more than at least Robert Green. Might be given a chance to prove himself.

Who will be #1?

Defenders

John Terry, Rio Ferdinand, Ashley Cole, Glen Johnson, Michael Dawson, Ledley King, Jamie Carragher, Phil Jagielka, Leighton Baines.

Virtually England’s best defenders listed above bar Gary Cahill, whose blood clot earlier this year may have cost him a spot in the squad despite a very good season prior. Ashley Cole is fit again and is England’s top left back. In fact, he is one of the world’s best in the position. Stephen Warnock misses out in this; it was a two-horse race between Baines and Warnock and Baines is the better player, not to mention he has had the better season with Everton. He was offered the chance to play for England against Egypt and put in a solid if nervy performance for his first senior cap. Dawson and King have had sensational seasons with Tottenham and King’s three games in twelve days will be a good sign for England’s medical team. Jagielka is the odd-ball because of his knee injury earlier in the season. Was definitely in contention before he tore his cruciate ligament and his performances in the new year may have helped him force his way at least into the provisional squad. Liverpool duo Johnson and Carragher are left. Johnson is England’s number one right back at the moment, as Capello doesn’t seem inclined to bring Gary Neville back into the England fold. Neville’s presence would offer some good guidance for England’s wingers, particularly Lennon and Walcott. Carragher has been rumoured to have been offered a spot in the provisional squad, ending his self-imposed exile. He can cover at centre half or right back if need be.

Starting centre-half pairing?

Midfielders

Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, James Milner, Michael Carrick, Joe Cole, Scott Parker, Tom Huddlestone, Owen Hargreaves, David Bentley, Aaron Lennon, Theo Walcott, Adam Johnson.

Gerrard had a mediocre season by his standards for Liverpool, but he has shown glimpses of his brilliance toward the end of his season. He is without a doubt one of the best midfielders in the world and England’s success will depend on a number of factors, including Gerrard. How Frank Lampard can score 20+ goals a season from the midfield is beyond me. I have often criticised Lampard, especially for his England displays (which, to be honest, have not always been stellar), but he deserves full credit for a fantastic season with Chelsea. Capello seems to have sorted out the Lampard-Gerrard issue and it will be great to see the duo firing on all cylinders this summer. Gareth Barry was probably the first name on the team sheet before his injury. City doctors have ruled him out for up to four weeks, which makes him a doubt for the World Cup. As a result, Owen Hargreaves, Scott Parker, and Tom Huddlestone have been drafted into the squad. Hargreaves is very unlikely given his 20 seconds of football this season, but one can always dream; he was England’s best player in Germany four years ago and he deserves another World Cup appearance. Scott Parker swept the annual awards for West Ham and quite rightly so. The powerhouse has been capped at every level for the Three Lions, but never under Fabio Capello. Given Barry’s injury and his form this season, it is very likely that he will add to his caps against Mexico and Japan. Huddlestone and Carrick are two brilliant passers of the ball. While Huddlestone has excelled this season, Carrick has had a rather average season. The two of them are very viable options in the middle of the park and there is no reason why they won’t be included in the provisional squad. England’s flanks make up the rest of the midfield pack. Milner’s excellent season with Villa certainly deserves another call up — in fact, don’t be surprised if he starts. Joe Cole is arguably England’s most creative player and despite his stop-start return from injury, he seems to have recaptured the form that made him such a threat. His flexibility means that he can play on either wing or in behind the frontman. On the other side of the pitch are the speedy Lennon and Walcott. Lennon struggled with injury in the latter part of this season, but he will be an asset, as will Walcott’s pace. He will need guidance, and perhaps David Beckham’s presence in South Africa can teach young Theo how to get his head up and deliver a cross. David Bentley is the odd man out here, as is City’s Adam Johnson. Decent season with Tottenham, Bentley certainly looks rejuvenated in his second season after struggling in his first year at White Hart Lane. Johnson has transformed as a player who deputised for Stewart Downing in the Championship before being brought out of obscurity and thrown into Manchester City’s starting 11. He has a very good delivery and with a bit of guidance and maturity develop into a solid player. Could feature in South Africa.

Is 20 seconds enough for Hargreaves?

Strikers

Wayne Rooney, Darren Bent, Peter Crouch, Jermain Defoe, Emile Heskey.

A whopping 43 goals in all competitions this season for Rooney almost landed him the Golden Boot. He has more than filled the gap left by Cristiano Ronaldo and has led the Manchester United frontline impressively. England’s hopes rest on Rooney’s performances and judging from his flying form in qualifying and during the season, they are looking good. He says that he’ll be fully fit by the time South Africa comes around, so watch out. How any striker can score 24 league goals (half of his team’s goals) for a team that finished in the bottom half of the table and not be called into the squad is beyond me. Deserves to go to South Africa. Crouchy scored the £50 million goal against Manchester City that guaranteed Champions League football for Tottenham next season to cap off another fine season. His England record is beyond incredible with an amazing 20 goals in 37 appearances. He can score with his feet and with his head, while his 6’7” frame makes him the perfect targetman. Defoe is Tottenham’s chief goal poacher and despite being limited to substitute appearances for most of England’s qualifying campaign, he has scored eight goals, most of them from off the bench. He should be a no-brainer for the plane ride. Heskey was originally not going to make the squad — he didn’t shine for Villa this season and doesn’t score half as many goals as his fellow England strikers, but he works for England. His successful partnership in qualifying with Wayne Rooney could be devastating this summer.

Notable Absentees

Joleon Lescott, Wes Brown, Gary Cahill, Matthew Upson, Stephen Warnock, Gareth Barry, Bobby Zamora, Carlton Cole, Gary Neville, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Ben Foster, David Beckham**

**It is likely that Beckham will travel with the backroom staff.

My final squad looks like this: Hart (GK), Robinson (GK), James (GK), Green (GK), G Johnson, Carragher, Terry, Ferdinand, Dawson, King, Baines, A Cole, Jagielka, Milner, Lennon, Hargreaves, Parker, Huddlestone, Gerrard, Lampard, J Cole, A Johnson, Carrick, Bentley, Rooney, Heskey, Crouch, Bent, Defoe, Walcott.

UPDATE: Capello’s provisional squad – Hart (GK), James (GK), Green (GK), G Johnson, Carragher, Terry, Ferdinand, Dawson, King, Baines, Warnock, A Cole, Upson, Milner, Lennon, Parker, Huddlestone, Barry, Gerrard, Lampard, J Cole, A Johnson, Wright-Phillips, Carrick, Rooney, Heskey, Crouch, Bent, Defoe, Walcott.