Crouch: Back in the England squad
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Crouch recalled to England squad
Peter Crouch has been recalled to the England squad ahead of the World Cup qualifiers with Kazakhstan and Belarus, but Michael Owen misses out.
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Coach Fabio Capello made four changes to his 23-man squad, two of which were enforced due to injuries sustained by Joe Cole and Paul Robinson.
But Owen found himself left out again and there must be some doubt over the Newcastle striker's international future.
Capello hinted at Owen's omission in an interview with Sunday newspaper journalists, citing Newcastle's poor form, plus a need for strikers within his squad to do more than just score goals.
And so it has proved, with Crouch the man called upon to supply extra striking impetus now Cole is unavailable.
David Bentley's poor form for Tottenham has also contributed to him being left out, with Shaun Wright-Phillips gaining an immediate dividend from his move back to Manchester City, having left Chelsea for under half the £21million he made the move the other way for three years ago.
However, neither Wright-Phillips nor David Beckham, who keeps his place, can expect to oust Theo Walcott from Capello's starting line-up given the Arsenal man scored a superb hat-trick in the win over Group Six favourites Croatia in Zagreb a month ago.
Predictably, Steven Gerrard is back following a minor groin operation, with Jimmy Bullard's elevation to international ranks proving to be brief, while Scott Carson benefits from Robinson's absence due to a calf injury.
Full squad: James (Portsmouth), Green (West Ham), Carson (West Brom); Brown (Manchester United), Johnson (Portsmouth), Terry (Chelsea), Ferdinand (Manchester United), Lescott (Everton), Upson (West Ham), A Cole (Chelsea), Bridge (Chelsea); Beckham (Los Angeles Galaxy), Walcott (Arsenal), Barry (Aston Villa), Jenas (Tottenham), Lampard (Chelsea), Gerrard (Liverpool), Downing (Middlesbrough), Wright-Phillips (Manchester City); Heskey (Wigan), Crouch (Portsmouth), Rooney (Manchester United), Defoe (Portsmouth).
ell999 : "...TEAMtalk's Ian Watson, I believe I owe you an apology. I said that if Owen ended up at Utd, I would eat my dog. Michael Owen is now a United player, and my dog certainly isn't on my dinner plate! Fair play to you mate, y..." view full comment
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Your Comments
yosserhughes (Aston Villa fan)
"I agree that Gabby should not be in the squad, it is too early for him and his performances so far this season do not warrant it. However, I do not know what Downing is doing that Ashley young isnt, with Joe Cole out I know Gerrard is probably going to be put out on the left but it things need mixing up. I think Capello is the write guy for the job but I cannot understand his reckoning on this."
key1982 (Manchester United fan)
"As always, 99% of so-called England fans complaining with the selections. Let the Capello get on with the job, and it will come good in the end. GGMU!!"
MikeDaSpike (Newcastle United fan)
"There is no place for Downing, Jenas, Green or Defoe. Are these players better than Young, Agbonlahor, Owen, Joe Hart. How is Green better than Joe Hart. It just shows that Capello made up his mind before yesterdays games. I don't think brown is international quality either. "
redboy22 (Liverpool fan)
"where's Ashley Young??????? and maybe Gabby???? "
Russ_avfc (Aston Villa fan)
"I think that if Newcastle we stable and doing a lil better in the league owen would be in the squad but capello said the other day that he is low on confidence with everything that is going on at the club which i concider to be the right decision. The fact that he has then put Jenas in the team is a bit of a wonder but hey im not boss. Ashley Young is not in the squad simply because against good opposition he gets marked out the game, simple (but we are playing Kazakhstan, so another wonder). The only reason Downing is in the squad because he is a lefty and it adds natural balance to the team. Why is bridge in the team, that bloke never does anything! I hope now defo and crouch are playing together they can strike up a good partnership."
YNWAanfield (Liverpool fan)
"charWHUFC are u joking about Carlton Cole? He has to be one of the worst strikers in the premier league. Why is Jenas in the squad he is a joke of a player. For me England should play 4-4-1-1. GK: James. RB: Johnson, CB: Terry, CB: Ferdinand, LB: Cole. RM: Walcott, CM: Gerrard, CM: Barry, LM: Young/Cole, AM: Rooney, ST: Crouch/Heskey"
Dr Football (Manchester United fan)
"wow... just amazed how could someone leave a player like abonlahor out of the team.. he's ahead of jenas and downing if ask me"
chillbanana (Tottenham Hotspur fan)
"Jenas? What a joke. Absolute joke."
mr.fibble (Middlesbrough fan)
"as a boro fan I hate to say it but downing needs dropped for now "
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