Not all that surprising. Given the fact that central defense was going to be a problem area, with all those injuries and worrying lack of form. Fabio Capello induced Jamie Carragher to comeback from retirement. He loaded up on central defense. There is John Terry, Rio Ferdinand, Matthew Upson, and as anticipated, Ledley King and Michael Dawson.
King’s return to form was tempered with caution because of his long standing knee problems. But he has so far suffered no ill effects.
“Ledley King is one of the best England defenders,” Capello told BBC Radio 5 live. “He played four games in the last 15 days and told us he had no problems with his knee.”
In fact, Harry Redknapp will be full of glee. Six Spurs were named to the roster. Apart from King and Dawson, the midfield was boosted by Aaron Lennon and Tom Huddlestone, just finished with his best season. Peter Crouch and Jermain Defoe are also in, giving a very well balanced representation in all areas.
The big story was Paul Scholes who was being courted by Capello to reconsider retirement and there were some indication that the Man Utd veteran would be amenable to those entreaties. Scholes last international was way back in the 2004 Euro.
“We had been monitoring him for the second part of the season when he’s played very well,” Capello said. “We tried to convince him to come back, but he said ‘no’. He preferred to stay with his family.”
The inclusion of Crouch and Emile Heskey gives an indication as to who will complement Wayne Rooney. This goes with Capello’s choice of pairing up a more physically imposing striker bringing a threat on set pieces with someone smaller and speedier. Bobby Zamora ruled himself out with his Achilles injury.
Scott Parker gets a nod because he has been the best player for the Hammers. Owen Hargreaves might have been the only England player with a consistent work ethic in the 2006 World Cup. However, his lack of playing minutes stretched for a year and a half, making him a huge risk.
Michael Carrick has struggled with form and Gareth Barry is an injury concern. In fact, his inclusion seems to have arisen from a misunderstanding. Capello believing that it would be the end of the month for an injury re-evaluation only to be informed that the date had been moved forward by a week.
Joe Cole makes it back. Ancelotti might have used him sparingly but Capello would have been foolish to exclude him. At his best, Cole’s sudden shifts in acceleration and tight ball control make him elusive and difficult to tackle.
The surfeit on the right also reflects concerns over injury and form. Theo Walcott who had made the position his to lose a year ago, has been one of Arsenal’s frustrations. Lennon returns after a long injury layoff. Shaun Wright-Phillips has not done enough to convince that he can start. Adam Johnson, who has yet to be capped, showed glimpses of his potential and was rewarded by Capello. His versatility is a plus as he can be used on either flank.
England’s goalkeepers have also proven difficult to nail down but Joe Hart’s form on loan to Birmingham has been outstanding.
Goalkeepers: Joe Hart (Manchester City), David James (Portsmouth), Robert Green (West Ham).
Defenders: Leighton Baines (Everton), Jamie Carragher (Liverpool), Ashley Cole (Chelsea), Michael Dawson (Tottenham), Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United), Glen Johnson (Liverpool), Ledley King (Tottenham), John Terry (Chelsea), Matthew Upson (West Ham), Stephen Warnock (Aston Villa).
Midfielders: Gareth Barry (Manchester City), Michael Carrick (Manchester United), Joe Cole (Chelsea), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Tom Huddlestone (Tottenham), Adam Johnson (Manchester City), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), Aaron Lennon (Tottenham), James Milner (Aston Villa), Scott Parker (West Ham), Theo Walcott (Arsenal), Shaun Wright-Phillips (Manchester City).
Forwards: Darren Bent (Sunderland), Peter Crouch (Tottenham), Jermain Defoe (Tottenham), Emile Heskey (Aston Villa), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United).