Jack Wilshere, Bobby Zamora & Kieran Gibbs In England Squad For Hungary Friendly – Crouch & Defoe Dropped

Ollie Irish

7th, August 2010

11 Comments

By Ollie Irish

Three fresh new faces in England’s senior squad for Wednesday’s friendly against Hungary: Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere (as we told you earlier this week), Wilshere’s team-mate Kieran Gibbs and Fulham striker Bobby Zamora.

It’s a start but hardly a full sweep of the new broom by Capello.

The squad in full:

Goalkeepers: Ben Foster (Birmingham City), Joe Hart (Manchester City), Paul Robinson (Blackburn Rovers)

Defenders: Wes Brown (Manchester United), Gary Cahill (Bolton Wanderers), Ashley Cole (Chelsea), Michael Dawson (Tottenham Hotspur), Kieran Gibbs (Arsenal), Phil Jagielka (Everton), Glen Johnson (Liverpool), John Terry (Chelsea)

Midfielders: Gareth Barry (Manchester City), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Adam Johnson (Manchester City), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), James Milner (Aston Villa), Ashley Young (Aston Villa), Theo Walcott (Arsenal), Jack Wilshere (Arsenal)

Forwards: Darren Bent (Sunderland), Carlton Cole (West Ham United), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Bobby Zamora (Fulham)

David James and Rob Green have been dropped, which could signal the end of their international careers. In come Ben Foster and Paul Robinson. A good decision, I think. James has had his time, while it’s clear Green’s temperament is not suited to the biggest of stages.

Good to see a recall for Phil Jagielka (he deserves it), and interesting that Zamora and Bent – neither of whom were considered good enough to make the trip to South Africa – are now back in contention, with no room for Spurs duo Peter Crouch and Jermain Defoe. Speaking of Spurs, I’d have liked to see Tom Huddlestone in the squad. Was it something Arry Redknapp said?

What strikes me first is the lack of decent strikers England now has. I don’t think Bent, Cole or Zamora would get in any squad of another so-called big nation – and on World Cup form, neither would Rooney.

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11 Comments

  1. jamatthews says:

    I thought Zamora was considered good enough to go to the World Cup but wasn’t healthy enough?

  2. Chris says:

    Personally i thought we had an excellent striker in Darren Bent,
    Frankly i hate the thought of a Mackem for England, but for all Capello said about picking on form, surely bent should have gone in place of anyone bar Rooney, good call to bring him back in.
    And 1 good season does not make a good player, I’ll wait to see how Zamora does without uncle woy this season.

  3. santi says:

    where’s joseph cole?

  4. eddy says:

    i also believe redknapp called capello to exclude huddlestone…look at dawson, he was not playing in the recent friendly because harry doesnt want to risk him in the friendly and spurs have 3 other CBs so no problem in that area.

  5. AmericaTheBeautiful says:

    “I don’t think Bent, Cole or Zamora would get in any squad of another so-called big nation – and on World Cup form, neither would Rooney.”

    Well, England is not a big nation, so called or otherwise, so it’s Bent, Cole and Zamora for you.

  6. The 100% Greek says:

    Bobby Zamora should have been in the squad since the 2002 World Cup and maybe he would go on to become the new “Shearer”,its a good thing to see some fresh faces in there anyway. From my point of view England needs definitely some good strikers(i never liked Rooney) and some decent goalkeeping skills.

  7. Ollie says:

    @AmericaTheBeautiful: Yep, and I guess that’s my point. Those who think England still is a big nation on the international stage are misguided.

  8. Donner Meat says:

    Would have liked Tom Huddlestone and Lee Cattermole get a call up. Its a start. Lets hope Rodwell can get a call up soon.

  9. MarkieMark says:

    Same old rubbish other than a few new faces. Crouch, Cole & Defoe dropped why the #### would you do that!! They were never given a chance to do anything in the world cup. I bet if that useless lump Heskey hadn’t retired he would have still been selected.

    Terry was terrible throughout the world cup & keeps his place along with Wayne I want to shout at fan’s Rooney & he keeps his place? Lampard hardly set the world alight or Stevie G yet they are still there? I bet one of them plays on the left had side YET AGAIN or even worse both in the centre because hey they work so well together!! Unless He goes 4-5-1 with Stevie behind Shrek nothing will change. We will either have a player on the left who can’t really play there or have a midfield with a hole in it the size of Jordans knockers!! I just don’t get it.

    Should have paid off Capello & tried to find a manager with a set of balls!!……..Robinson seems to have the right idea & has jumped ship I guess you can’t blame him. I think its time for us fans to do the same thing!! Atleast until the FA or these greedy over hyped players give all the fans who went to the world cup there money back as they have so much to spread around!!!

  10. Spurssy says:

    Arsenal 3-1 Spurssy..

  11. Bluebybirth says:

    I’d have

    Foster
    Glen Johnson, Brown, Terry, Ashley Cole
    Milner, Adam Johnson, Gerrard, Wilshere
    Bent, Rooney

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