Fabio Capello has named his England squad for Wednesday’s game against France (Which we’re still giving out tickets for, by the way!!) and included four fresh faces in his 23 man squad.
Seemingly in response to criticism the Italian tactician received over going back on his ‘Young Lions’ policy by calling up Bolton veteran Kevin Davies, coach Capello has handed call ups to 3 under-21 year olds and one 28 year old.
Before we look at the football boots of these fresh faces, let’s take a look at the full England squad to face France on Wednesday 17th of November.
Goalkeepers: Ben Foster, Robert Green, Joe Hart;
Defenders: Ashley Cole, Rio Ferdinand, Kieran Gibbs, Phil Jagielka, Joleon Lescott, Micah Richards, Chris Smalling, John Terry;
Midfielders: Gareth Barry, Steven Gerrard, Jordan Henderson, Adam Johnson, James Milner, Theo Walcott, Jack Wilshere, Ashley Young;
Fowards: Gabriel Agbonlahor, Jay Bothroyd, Andy Carroll, Peter Crouch.
Chris Smalling – Age: 20 – Manchester United. adidas Predator_X Football Boots
adidas Predator_X wearer Chris Smalling caught the eye of Sir Alex Ferguson during his time at Fulham. In fact, the young Greenwich Native impressed the veteran Scot enough that he splashed out £10m on the young centre back during the January transfer window of 2010, just 2 months after his first league start with Fulham.
Jordan Henderson – Age: 20 – Club: Sunderland. Umbro Speciali Football Boots
Sunderland midfielder Henderson has attracted a lot of attention from so-called ‘bigger clubs’ after a sterling start to the season in the north-east.
Allegedly being courted by likes of Manchester City and Manchester United, Speciali-wearer Henderson’s command in midfield has seen Sunderland go unbeaten against the likes of Arsenal and Liverpool.
Capello has previously touted the Sunderland-born youngster as a future England international, so it wouldn’t be any surprise to see Fabio bloody the youngster against France.
Jay Bothroyd – Age: 28 – Club: Cardiff City. adidas adiZero football boots
Probably the biggest surprise in Capello’s selection is Championship striker Jay Bothroyd. 11 goals in 13 games in what is widely regarded as a very tough division has clearly caught the eye of the England Camp.
adiZero wearer Bothroyd has also racked up 5 yellow cards in those 13 games, so he may well have to curb his reputation as a rough-and-ready frontman if he wants to become the consummate professional that Capello often asks his player to be (which may not be a good thing, in this writer’s opinion)
Andy Carroll – Club: Newcastle United – Age: 21. Umbro Speciali Football Boots
Powerful Number 9 Andy Carroll will be the man who most people expected to see on the England teamsheet. There has been calls for the Gateshead native to be called into the England set-up since his sensational form at St. James’ Park last season.
Carroll has also had the most colourful past in terms of football boots. This season alone, the striker has been through the adidas Predator_X, the leather adiZero before playing the last games in the Umbro Speciali.
Umbro would do well to tie the youngster to a proper football boots-contract as many pundits are touting him to be a big part of England set-up for a long time to come.
What do you think of Capello’s selections?
Let us know in the comments section!
its a surprise that no one has tied Andy Carroll up on a boot contract, and wont Puma have a chance since they do the Newcastle kit?
JACK WILSHERE, the future
JACK WILSHERE, the future…
When’s the last time a Championship player was in the first XI England team?
Capello has to decide whether fullbacks or wingers provide width. Also his love for a big target man, I never see a bombarment of crosses.
If I remember correctly it was David Nugent, whilst he was still at Preston.
He scored on his debut too, blatantly robbing a goal off Jermaine Defoe, I think!
I agree, on the wide players too – I’d like to see more crosses, preferably from A. Cole & G. Johnson – as Walcott, Lennon, SWP and A. Johnson all like to cut inside rather than cross from the byline.
where’s pennant and etherington? ):