John Welsh
When Stuart Pearce announced his England squad for the forthcoming friendly international match against Holland, it seemed to be a statement of intent by the caretaker manager, who was carefully bolstering his credentials to lead the national side in this summer’s European Championships. Pearce has already declared his availability for the England manager’s job, and with the prevailing uncertainty surrounding Tottenham Hotspur boss Harry Redknapp’s future, the players the former left back has selected may yet form the backbone of England’s Euro 2012 party.
Pearce has worked with many of the men chosen for the Dutch clash, several of whom have emerged from the Under-21 team the caretaker coaches on a full-time basis. Having been part of the England set-up for many years, Pearce is fully entitled to believe he has earned the right to lead the full national team, following Fabio Capello’s acrimonious departure. Redknapp remains clear favourite for the job, but also seems determined to stay at White Hart Lane until the end of the season, with Tottenham battling at the top of the Premier League.
Should Pearce be handed the Euro 2012 post, his first squad may indeed provide some continuity from the Capello reign, with established players balanced against promotions from Under-21 level.
For the goalkeeping position, Joe Hart of Manchester City is England’s number 1 shot-stopper, but joining him in the squad to face Holland are Robert Green of West Ham and Scott Carson of Bursaspor. Green is steadily regaining confidence in the Championship following his torrid 2010 World Cup campaign and similarly Carson is rediscovering his form out of the limelight in Turkey. With Ben Foster (West Brom) on a self-imposed exile from international duty, Paul Robinson (Blackburn) is one realistic alternative, having played well in a struggling team this season.
Stalwarts Rio Ferdinand and John Terry are missing from the defensive roles, but Terry’s unfortunate injury has calmed fears that his involvement in captaincy and racial issues may have distracted the team. There are potentially five right backs in the squad, although the Manchester United duo of Chris Smalling and Phil Jones can both play at centre back. Joleon Lescott and Michael Dawson are each having solid seasons yet have been omitted, leaving Chelsea’s Gary Cahill as the only true centre back, with Phil Jagielka still absent from the Everton squad following a knee injury. And Ashley Cole and Leighton Baines must be certainties to contest the left back position in the summer.
With Frank Lampard excluded for the moment, the inspirational Steven Gerrard will surely be given the task of leading the midfield area. The question of who plays alongside the Liverpool captain is one of the more intriguing issues. James Milner, Gareth Barry and Scott Parker can all play in the middle, as can promoted Tom Cleverley, but can they or any of the other potential contenders be construed as having the ability to unlock international defences?
Jack Rodwell of Everton, capped recently by Capello, is a natural box-to-box player but is now dogged by hamstring problems, while Jack Wilshere does offer creativity and the ability to run at defences, however time is against the Arsenal star in his fight for fitness. There is also the unique talent of forgotten man Joe Cole, currently enjoying a good season with French champions Lille, on loan from Liverpool, and who has occasionally provided that flash of inspiration with previous clubs.
As for width, Theo Walcott and Stewart Downing have both been selected, but the pair are having inconsistent seasons at Arsenal and Liverpool respectively, as are potential rivals Aaron Lennon of Tottenham and Wolves winger Matt Jarvis. Even though James Milner is not a regular starter in the Manchester City team, he does provide the versatility of being able to play on both flanks and through the middle.
In the striking department, Fraizer Campbell’s promotion from the Under-21s is a reward for his commanding displays for Sunderland since returning from two cruciate ligament knee injuries. With Wayne Rooney a virtual certainty to go to Poland/Ukraine, Campbell clearly has a chance of joining him in the final squad. There are several other players competing for places in the opening two games of the summer championships in Rooney’s absence. Danny Welbeck and Daniel Sturridge are both well known to Pearce, but neither have much full international experience. Aston Villa’s Darren Bent does have 13 caps, but has been unable to prove himself as an automatic choice, and an ankle injury sustained at the weekend looks to have ruled him out for the remainder of the season.
Of the capped strikers omitted from this squad, both Jermaine Defoe and Bobby Zamora have yet to fully convince as true international performers, although Defoe has contributed significant goals in his 46 caps to date. The case of Liverpool hitman Andy Carroll is even more interesting. After making his full England debut last season, the £35M signing’s form has dipped alarmingly, such that he barely receives a mention when considering England contenders. After a recent run in the Liverpool team, Carroll is gradually beginning to display glimpses of the talent which made him such a formidable striker at Newcastle. If he can produce more consistent performances from now until May, the powerful forward must come into the England equation as he can provide an extra and different option up front with his aerial prowess and strength.
There may be other players who can force their way into the England squad in the next three months however. The names of Arsenal’s young quick winger Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, the unproven Danny Graham of Swansea and the combative Lee Cattermole of Sunderland are being touted as potential Euro 2012 performers, yet would not have heralded a mention at the beginning of the season.
As the clock ticks down towards the first ball being kicked at Euro 2012, there are certain to be interesting times for those knocking on the door of an England spot – while there is continued uncertainty over who will sit in the dugout. While Stuart Pearce is advertising his claim, it is by no means a certainty that Harry Redknapp will be appointed by the summer. And for as long as the managerial uncertainty remains, there must still be time for many fringe players to grasp their opportunity.
Although there appear to be some automatic choices due to their versatility and confirmed international pedigree, the door is very much open for the remaining places in England’s Euro 2012 squad.
