Capello's World Cup call to Carragher, Ur country needs YOU!
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Gareth Barry's blow: World Cup agony as Manchester City star set to miss Finals, but Ledley King IS in squad
Fabio Capello’s World Cup plans were plunged into crisis last night after it emerged that Gareth Barry is likely to miss the tournament in South Africa.
There are growing concerns that the ankle ligament damage he suffered during
Manchester City’s defeat by Tottenham is so bad, he may be forced out of the Finals. He has been sent for a scan but has told friends he is ‘in serious trouble’.
Crocked: Barry is helped off
With Owen Hargreaves only just returning from a 19-month injury absence, Barry was seen as Capello’s only specialist holding midfielder. That leaves the Italian turning to players like Michael Carrick, Scott Parker or the uncapped Tom Huddlestone, or forcing Steven Gerrard into a more defensive role.
It is unlikely he will gamble on Hargreaves, as it may be too soon for the Manchester United midfielder.
Carrick
Parker
Huddlestone
However, Tottenham captain Ledley King has secured a place in England’s provisional squad and will join Capello and his staff at their Austrian pre-tournament training camp.
Capello names his 30-man party for Austria on Tuesday — they then leave on May 17. Defender King impressed Capello so much in the 1-0 win against City on Wednesday that he will be included in the party which will be reduced to 23 ahead of departure to Johannesburg on June 2.
On the plane: King is in Capello's final 23-man squad for South Africa
King’s chronic knee condition is a worry but England’s boss was hugely encouraged by the fact that he performed so well against City four days after playing a part in a 1-0 win over Bolton. King has 19 caps — he was named in the squad 13 months ago for the games against Slovakia and Ukraine before withdrawing due to injury — but he could add to that with friendlies against Mexico and Japan.
Capello must then decide if he can take a player whose condition limits how often he can play and train, in view of the fact he also has serious fitness concerns over Rio Ferdinand, Joleon Lescott and Wes Brown.
The manager may make one last attempt to tempt Liverpool’s Jamie Carragher out of international retirement.
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taking king is a risk, as he cant play 2 matches in a week and he cant train as his knees are always in pain. there is always a chance he may get injured.
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scott parker is good..a driving force type of player..
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scotty parker right now is the ideal replacement for barry...even though he did poorly previously for england..
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it was a long time ago that he played for england. dun think he has a chance to stake a claim in the world cup squad because it isnt fair to those who played in the qualifying matches.
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Originally posted by Rooney9:
taking king is a risk, as he cant play 2 matches in a week and he cant train as his knees are always in pain. there is always a chance he may get injured.
it was just mentioned that he played a part in Bolton 4 days before this match against ManC and i would like to believe that your week doesn't = to just 3 and a half days??
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Originally posted by Rooney9:
it was a long time ago that he played for england. dun think he has a chance to stake a claim in the world cup squad because it isnt fair to those who played in the qualifying matches.
young man its form prior to actual WC thats the deciding factor, if you wants to be fair then get players like Gazza or Robson, out becos they are the only able midfielder worthy of being in WC for England
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my heart with parker...my head with huddlestone
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Fabio Capello's World Cup call to Liverpool star Jamie Carragher... your country needs you!
Jamie Carragher is poised to make a sensational return to international football by answering a desperate World Cup plea from England manager Fabio Capello.
The Liverpool defender quit international football three years ago citing the fact that he was tired of being nothing more than a squad player and complaining that he was never given the chance to prove himself as a top-level centre half.
But amid serious concerns over the fitness of Rio Ferdinand, Wes Brown, Joleon Lescott and Ledley King, Capello has turned to Carragher and sources at Liverpool indicated he is ready to answer the call.
National service: Carragher is ready to return to the England fold three years after retiring
Conscious that he might be accused of hypocrisy and opportunism, Carragher, 32, has been agonising over the situation for some time after a series of discussions with Capello and his right-hand man, Franco Baldini.
But Carragher has already been assured that he would definitely be in Capello's final 23 for South Africa and could play a major part.
If Ferdinand continues to struggle with back and groin problems and Capello cannot be certain of having King available for every match, Carragher would be the obvious choice as partner to John Terry at the heart of his defence.
Capello wants to name the Liverpool defender in the provisional 30-man squad he will unveil on Tuesday and then take him to Austria for a pre-tournament training camp.
There Carragher would be able to see for himself if Ferdinand and King would be fit enough to keep him out of the team.
Once the final squad of 23 is named on June 1, any subsequent seriously injured players can be replaced up to 24 hours before England's World Cup opener against the USA on June 12. And, crucially, replacements do not have to have been in the original 30.
Crock crisis: Fabio Capello has injury concerns over key players
Carragher is a man of principle and only because England need him so much is he even prepared to consider a comeback. It is a selfless rather than selfish act and the answer to two problems currently troubling Capello.
As well as centre-half, Carragher would also provide an alternative to Wes Brown, only just back from a long absence with injury, as cover for Glen Johnson at right back.
On Friday, Capello also had other issues to deal with. While Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini said he thought Gareth Barry could be back in action in 'three or four weeks' after damaging ankle ligaments against Tottenham on Wednesday, the FA fear he could be sidelined for closer to two months.
That has forced them to consider another amazing comeback - that of Owen Hargreaves, who is only just back in Manchester United's squad after 19 months out with a serious knee problem.
Capello was not prepared to take a chance on Hargreaves, but he realises he might have to now.
Pain game: Gareth Barry is out for a month and could miss the World Cup
If he has to look elsewhere for a specialist holding midfielder he would prefer Tom Huddlestone to Scott Parker, while Michael Carrick is also expected to secure a place in the original 30.
But Carragher was the main issue for the FA, and they worry that some of the statements he has made, since announcing his international retirement could be used against him.
He wrote in his autobiography: 'I confess: defeats wearing an England shirt never hurt me in the same way as losing with my club. I wasn't uncaring or indifferent, I simply didn't put England's fortunes at the top of my priority list. Losing felt like a disappointment rather than a calamity.'
In an impassioned radio interview in 2007, he said: 'I've never really played centre-half for England and, to be honest, I've never really played that well for England because I've played a lot of the time at full-back.
Back in the frame: Hargreaves may be recalled after 19 months out
'If Steve McClaren's chosen people ahead of me then I don't think anyone can really complain if I would rather concentrate and save myself for Liverpool games.
'For me, now it's time to concentrate on my Liverpool career.
'If I'm not getting a game for England at 29 there's no chance of me getting a game at 32 in the next World Cup.'
But the situation has changed, and now England need Carragher so much he is prepared to change his stance.
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Scoot parker is too short to hold any high balls, and he likes to go forward too often, that is why west ham lost lots of games this season, i think huddlestone is a good replacement, he had matured well and is a solid in Spur lower mid engine.
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other than the possibility if proofing himself on the highest level he is still down on the pecking order, the call was just becos those above him are not able to play
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i hope park get to play
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Originally posted by Saltiga:
other than the possibility if proofing himself on the highest level he is still down on the pecking order, the call was just becos those above him are not able to play
proofing? not proving meh?
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typo, but so long as message gots across its fine, but thanks for pointing out, also in www. hardly anyone bothers