England vs Japan

[SpotSpur]

Tomorrow (Sunday) England play Japan as part of their World Cup preparations, at the UPC Arena in Graz, Austria. Fabio Capello has already announced his squad for the match.

David James, Glen Johnson, John Terry, Rio Ferdinand, Ashley Cole, Theo Walcott, Tom Huddlestone, Frank Lampard, Aaron Lennon, Wayne Rooney, Darren Bent.

Would of liked to see Dawson start, but glad Lennon and Thudd get the chance.

Kick Off at 13:15 on ITV1.

 

[PT]

I guess he's looking at Bent as a viable altenative to Defoe who does look out of sorts. I don't understand the centre backs, who must be first choice, starting though. It must leave a bad taste in Upson and Dawson's mouths who have been training intently to impress for an appearance in either of the games.

 

[werty]

Is this England's last friendly before the final 23 are announced?

 

[Kyras]

Is this England's last friendly before the final 23 are announced?

Yeah squad named tuesday.

Buzzing that Hudd starts.

 

[Kendall]

can't believe walcott gets another run out

 

[brasil_spur]

Walcott really doesn't impress me, he has little to his game and rarely tracks back and gets stuck in.

I would be scared for our chances at the WC if we start with him, especially with Milner, Lennon and Cole as better options IMO.

Dawson i think should get a run out tomorrow, as i'd be very annoyed if Upson, who has been crap for England, gets a spot in the 23.

 

[hughy]

I can onlyt see walcott starting as a good thing. I don't think he impressed enough against Japan to warrant a place in the 23. Glad he's looking at Hudd again.

 

[DC_Boy]

hopefully Daws will get 45 mins

if he doesn't get at least that - i guess he's staying home - but I'dlike to see Capello give him five minutes or so in that case, just so he becomes an England international

if lennon plays left wing, be interesting to see how he copes

as long as he's got his pace, crossing and shooting ability back to the level it was, he'll be dangerous on either wing

the fact that Heskey's not starting makes me think he won't start v USA - which is a very good thing

4-4-2 should be Crouch or just go for rooney on his own with some kinda 4-5-1

what's hilarious is how many media 'experts' called the team wrong, saying Capello would pick his strongest team - yeah right cos this team will start v US - not!

 

[Legend10]

can't believe walcott gets another run out

Bizarre, this is the ultimate pace only footballer. We might as well try and find out if Usain Bolt has any English heritage and pick him if we are seriously going to take Walcott.

 

[jamesc0le]

hopefully cole and dawson will get a run out at some point.

huddlestone. glad he got his chance but he's gonna have to be blinding to go to the world cup since barry is now a cert.

after this season would hope j cole and hudd go instead of the likes of carrick n walcott, would be justice.

think dawson deserves to go ahead of upson but its unlikely, seeing how capo does thing, builds bonds with players and rarely lets them down. dawson a shoe in for the next euros i would imagine

 

[teddy_sheringham_125]

I'd be surprised if Dawson doesn't get 45 mins, why else would Capello pick him in the squad if he's not even going to have a look at him in an England shirt?

 

[Rocksuperstar]

Capello has been impressed by Dawson on more than one occasion this season, he'll get a fair crack of the whip and at least 45 minutes - I think the likely reason he wants to get Rio back out there is simply because he's fresh back from injury, is team captain and he needs to be sure that he's at 100%. The more game time he can get the better.

 

[nferno]

iv said this more than once, but i really really reeally hope Lennon gets the number 7 shirt. it's such a waste when walcott is wearing it.

 

[llamafarmer]

What does he see in Walcott? One performance against Croatia. He's marginally quicker than Lennon perhaps, but every other facet of his game is weaker imo.

Hope Daws gets a game and good luck the Hudd - that's a strong team, so he's got every chance to show what he can do.

 

[beats1]

Yeah squad named tuesday.

Buzzing that Hudd starts.

Are you sure he names it on tuesday cause some have named their squads the last couple of days and SSN have a program saying capello names squad at 7.30 tomorrow nite

 

[antiloqus]

Why the fuck is he still experimenting when this is the last game to go before the tournament starts? surely we need to be trying to gel the 1st XI together.

 

[Kendall]

We all know what the first 11 will be though really. The same team that qualified in the first place.

It'll be a back 4 of Johnson, Ferdinand, Terry and Cole. It'll be Gerrard on the left, Lampard and Barry in the middle and Lennon or Walnut on the right. Then it'll be Rooney + Crouch or Defoe up front.

There doesn't need to be much more gelling done really. Just a little experimentation with a different system for different teams.

 

[MR_BEN]

Squad definitely announced tuesday.. tonights programme on SSN is just 3 pundits view on who will make the squad.

Hoping Walcott has a stinker today (ordinary game then) and gets brought off at half time, lennon switch to the right and JC or AJ come on on the left.

 

[SlickMongoose]

On at the same time as the GP? Whose bright idea was that?

 

[Marty]

Yea I know, it being at 1.15 is really messing with my schedule for today. Can something please happen so it gets pushed back to 3?