Group C (Inggris, USA, Aljazair, Slovenia)

[rondwisan]

Originally Posted by theater of dream

Udah Opa...

wkwkwkwk...................

gubrax ...
hehehe ..., finally i knew what u mean

untung Berba udah cabut dari timnas bulgaria ..., lah jadi OOT

[theater of dream]

I hope i am wrong... but i prefer Hargo 54 detik ketimbang Carrick 54 games

[drivemein]

England World Cup squad: Wayne Rooney still waiting for his strike partner to show
-telegraph.co.uk-



After the experiment came the tried and trusted formula. Fabio Capello couldn't quite bring himself to play Wayne Rooney up front on his own as he had done during training.

At the time, it seemed like the perfect remedy to the absence of a centre-forward ready for the role as Rooney's accomplice. After doing his bit in qualification, Emile Heskey's subsequent form for Aston Villa has been truly underwhelming, which has made England's coach take a second look.

In Austria, that involved using Rooney in the way Sir Alex Ferguson so often did for Manchester United. In Steven Gerrard, what's more, Capello has the perfect player to support from deep. It looked like a plan steeped in common sense.

As it is, that plan might get a 'B' tacked on the end, if last night's decision to start with Peter Crouch is anything to go by. Mind you, you can't knock the big man in an England shirt. Twenty goals from his previous 37 caps is some going, no matter what they say about the quality of opposition.

Nevertheless, Crouch didn't fulfil the criteria Capello originally set for his most advanced forward. He had to stretch the backline by working the channels. He had to occupy defenders through strength and pace. In short, he had to create the space for Rooney to work.

With respect, Crouch isn't suited to any of that. What he has got, however, is intelligence, touch, an eye for goal and, oh yes, a fair bit of height. And that came into play halfway through the first half when Crouch ducked and dived at the far post to nod back a corner into Ledley King's path.

It was clever play by the Tottenham forward, because his movement won the day rather than his tendency at this level to use those long arms and get penalised.

He kept his arms down again to score England's second from close range after another corner. Yes, he should have been flagged for offside but the basic point remains – this kind of contribution shouldn't be overlooked when set-pieces in South Africa will decide many games.

The second half saw a different dynamic, with Jermain Defoe replacing Crouch to turn England's attack into a more thrusting affair. It's not a new combination but one that, in fairness, has yet truly to spark into life.

It didn't here either, mainly because Mexico defended pretty well. One of England's best moments, in fact, came when Gerrard burst forward to latch on to Rooney's perfectly-timed pass. Now there was a clue if ever Capello needed one. Here were two Scousers perfectly in tune.

Even so, at the end of the night we were left none the wiser as to the make-up of England's strike force for the opening game on June 12. Heskey, Crouch or Defoe to partner Rooney? None seems ideal. Perhaps it's time to use that Plan B.

[drivemein]

England World Cup squad: Michael Carrick fluffs finals audition
-telegraph.co.uk-



As he trudged off the pitch, head bowed, an hour gone and his number raised, Michael Carrick looked like a man who had been presented with a first-class air ticket - and then forgot his passport.

Too much can be read into such contests, such auditions. Too much rests, in the eye of the observer, in each mis-placed pass, each tackle half-heartedly entered into for the fear of failure or the fear of making a mistake.

But Carrick was a casualty last night. James Milner also - although he at least found some necessary redemption later on. Both will still be favoured to make the plane to South Africa, Milner especially, but their stock was diminished. Asked to play in the middle against the Mexicans and they made it a muddle.

It was a good evening for the watching Frank Lampard and a good one, also, for Gareth Barry - but only if he can pass that crucial fitness test later today and give Fabio Capello a sliver of hope that his ankle may recover in time for that second group game against Algeria on June 18. The England manager’s belief that he needs a specialist holding player was confirmed.

The Italian does a thrusting motion with his arms low and out-stretched when he’s happy and England score a goal. It’s like a short-arm jab. Brief and controlled; a violent sign of approval. As the goals went at Wembley they were greeted with a statuesque stillness from Capello. Ledley King headed home, Peter Crouch bundled the ball over the line and Glen Johnson whipped in an admittedly fine third goal.

But Capello was more irritated by what was happening around those moments. He had spoken about “this game being important for the alternatives” in his squad and starting with Carrick and Milner in the centre was their opportunity to stake a claim. This was, after all, the first time that Capello had selected a side without either of his first-choice central players, Lampard or Barry, in the team, a sequence of matches that runs to 22.

Milner, along with Adam Johnson - why was he only given five minutes? - has been marked out by Capello as England’s most improved player. The Italian admires his diligence, his willingness to learn and his bravery in wanting to receive the ball. He shone against Brazil last autumn in Qatar because he did not shirk.

But last night the action passed him by. Milner was chasing shadows. Alongside Carrick, whose confidence is shot - witness the ridiculous under-hit cross-field pass intended for Leighton Baines but which flew straight to Giovani Dos Santos - he struggled. Only a fortunate deflection off Rio Ferdinand blocked a goal-bound effort.

The problem was the pair were too flat and too passive. It was like a non-aggression pact. It meant they were alongside each other, rather than covering the angles. Mexico, the strings being pulled by captain Gerardo Torrado, played “between the lines” with Dos Santos dropping into the space that would normally be occupied by Barry. It wasn’t smart and their retention of the ball wasn’t either. England were being out-passed and out-manoeuvred and Milner’s brightest moment was when he pulled wide and crossed deep towards Crouch.

Capello abandoned the experiment at half-time. It was a first 45 minutes that surely cemented his belief that Theo Walcott was worthy of inclusion - his pace was a constant threat, as was Aaron Lennon’s when he came on, and if only his final delivery matched it.

There would surely be clues to Capello’s thoughts with the changes he made at the interval and not just in personnel. Crouch had passed his audition, if he needed to, and gave way to Jermain Defoe, Jamie Carragher required time on the pitch as did Joe Hart but still Adam Johnson was made to wait. Milner survived the cut but was not allowed to resume in the centre of midfield with Steven Gerrard pushed inside to occupy the position he craves.

It meant England were given greater definition with Carrick immediately taking the holding role and sitting in front of the back four. Capello’s adjustments quickly ensured a reaction. But Carrick didn’t last and on came Tom Huddlestone. It meant that the central midfield had been unstitched after just two-thirds of the match and suddenly Gerrard was driving into the penalty area and providing some impetus. He linked sharply with Wayne Rooney to win a free-kick just outside the lip of the area but then was also willing to drop back and allow Huddlestone to push forward.

Maybe it was also because Mexico had lost a little belief but England seemed to gain some control, and though Milner was a workmanlike, rather than impressive presence, out wide but did provide greater protection for Leighton Baines.

It was a curious night, an in-between occasion. But it was also one in which reputations were questioned rather than enhanced. Capello looked unimpressed which may be no bad thing.

[Redsbusby]

kasian Wazza, semoga baik2 saja..

[Diego]

"Inggris bersama Fabio Capello akan menjadi tim yang bagus. Tetapi untuk meraih Piala Dunia, saya kira tidak mungkin," Alex Ferguson - Manchester United

[Hendy]

wah belom liat highlightnya nih,, nyari dulu ahhh

setelah melihat highlightnya...emang roooney kurang menonjol yah..apalagi sundulannya yang gak gol..atau emang reflek kipernya yg lg bagus?

[Redsbusby]

Originally Posted by Diego

"Inggris bersama Fabio Capello akan menjadi tim yang bagus. Tetapi untuk meraih Piala Dunia, saya kira tidak mungkin," Alex Ferguson - Manchester United

Opa jagoin Spanyol ama Brazil yah katanya? Wahh, menarik diliat di PD, mengapa sampai tidak memperhiutngkan Inggris... dan argentina

[drivemein]

Ups, Gerrard Cedera
-goal.com-



Gelandang andalan Inggris itu mengalami cedera saat menjalani sesi latihan.

Steven Gerrard sedikit membuat banyak membuat cemas publik Inggris dan fans The Three Lions setelah hanya bisa mengikuti sesi latihan selama 30 detik. Penyebabnya, dia mengalami cedera.

Menjalani sesi latihan di kaki pegunungan Alpen, Austria, seperti dilaporkan The Sun, Gerrard harus menghentikan sesi latihan dengan berjalan terpincang sambil memegangi betisnya. Pelatih fitnes Stefano Tirelli pun langsung mendatangi kapten Liverpool itu dan melakukan perawatan di pinggir lapangan dengan memijit betis kanannya.

Setelah melakukan perawatan ringan, Gerrard sudah bisa kembali melakukan joging. Dia juga menunjukkan sinyal baik-baik saja kepada jurnalis. Namun dia tidak mengikuti sesi latihan permainan.

Gerrard dilaporkan menjalani perawatan lanjutan di hotel Schloss Pichlarn dan kemungkinan besar akan absen untuk laga ujicoba melawan Jepang di Graz di akhir pekan.

[drivemein]

Capello Kian Yakin Barry Pulih Tepat Waktu
-goal.com-



Peluang tampil Gareth Barry di Piala Dunia 2010 kian terbuka.

Tingkat kepercayaan Fabio Capello terhadap kepulihan Gareth Barry mencapai level penuh.

Capello memang menunggu kepastian kondisi Barry sebelum menentukan skuad inti yang akan diberangkatkan ke Piala Dunia 2010. Barry masih bergulat dengan cedera engkel yang dideritanya pada akhir musim Liga Primer Inggris, tapi kini kondisinya menunjukkan tanda-tanda positif.

"Proses pemulihannya lebih cepat daripada yang kami bayangkan," ujar Capello kepada Sky Italia.

"Kami akan menentukannya pekan depan. Kami sangat yakin."

Inggris juga menunggu kondisi Wayne Rooney yang beberapa kali menderita cedera saat memperkuat Manchester United musim ini.

"Untuk Rooney, dia pemain yang sangat penting dan saya harap dia akan tampil di Afrika Selatan," sambung Capello.

"Tapi tim lebih penting lagi. Dia baik-baik saja saat ini, dia sudah pulih dan kondisinya 100 persen."