Posted May 26, 200718 yr Saturday, 26 May 2007, 11:00 GMT 12:00 UK BBC Sports News Beckham recalled to England squad Former captain David Beckham has been named in the England squad for the first time since the 2006 World Cup. Coach Steve McClaren's U-turn means Beckham, 32, is set to start Friday's friendly against Brazil followed by the Euro 2008 qualifier in Estonia. Fit-again Newcastle striker Michael Owen returns in place of Wayne Rooney, who is suspended for the Estonia game. Reading's Nicky Shorey and David Bentley of Blackburn are also included in the 26-man squad. Full England squad to face Brazil and Estonia: Goalkeepers: Robinson (Tottenham), Carson (Liverpool), Green (West Ham). Defenders: P Neville (Everton), R Ferdinand (Man Utd), Terry (Chelsea), Bridge (Chelsea), Brown (Man Utd), Carragher (Liverpool), Dawson (Tottenham), King (Tottenham), Shorey (Reading). Midfielders: Beckham (Real Madrid), Gerrard (Liverpool), Jenas (Tottenham), J Cole (Chelsea), Lennon (Tottenham), Bentley (Blackburn), Carrick (Man Utd), Lampard (Chelsea), Downing (Middlesbrough), Dyer (Newcastle). Forwards: Crouch (Liverpool), Owen (Newcastle), Smith (Man Utd), Defoe (Tottenham). Any Comments?
May 26, 200718 yr WOW! He's actually got it right for a change :o And yeah there are more Spurs players than Man Utd and Chelsea players! :o Now lets hope this will be an improvment to recent performances now.
May 26, 200718 yr Good to see Beckham back in the squad! ^_^ I hope he drops Lampard for the first game, but I don't see it happening to be honest. :(
May 26, 200718 yr As Hargreaves is injured there's no chance. It's not games against Estonia where it matters though really. It's the tough games where we have to get it right!
May 26, 200718 yr As Hargreaves is injured there's no chance. It's not games against Estonia where it matters though really. It's the tough games where we have to get it right! Yep I guess. Shall be Downing/J.Cole on the left, Gerrard and Lampard in the centre and then Beckham on the right most likely methinks.
May 26, 200718 yr No Ashley Cole? He managed to play for part of the FA cup, Wayne Bridge is better anyway... and No SWP. :( Edited May 26, 200718 yr by ChapStick
May 27, 200718 yr Most people seem happy with the return of Becks. I agree he is playing well for Real Madrid but this isn't the long term solution to England's problems. If I'm honest I have more of a problem with the inclusion of Michael Owen in the squad. His exit from the World Cup virtually following the National Anthem cost us dearly (should never have been taken when not fully fit). He has hardly kicked a ball in 18 months & no goals since his recent return but I bet he starts. Not a football decision but one to satisfy the sponsors
May 27, 200718 yr Well I agree about Beckham and I was glad when McLaren decided to drop him after the Wold Cup, but his form for Real Madrid this season has been excellent and he deserves a call up. Owen is only 27 I think. He's got 5 years left in him at least, playing for England. He's like the 4th all time top scorer for England or something, and I don't think McLaren can afford to leave him out. Rooney and Crouch are both good players, but it's been proven that they cannot play as well together as they would do, with say Owen for example.
June 1, 200718 yr A good game, patchy in some places, Beckham feels comfortable in his role, Michael Owen does not look fit, I think he will come off in the second half and rest him, Brazil have had too much ball possesion, England need to find their places in the second half, and turn the volume up a notch.
June 1, 200718 yr Author Brazil are outclassing England in the first half. Although Gerrard, Terry & Shorey have played well. Beckham is playing well but is badly missing Gary Neville at right-back. While Owen is clearly not match fit and Alan Smith is easily being picked off.
June 1, 200718 yr It just had to happen at the very last minute Brazil score in the dying seconds of the added time :rolleyes: otherwise great game in the second half by England, by why take Beckham off, without Beckham it would be a different match altogether, great free kick from Beckham, John Terry finished it off in the net.
June 1, 200718 yr England :manson: You just knew Brazil would equalize <_< WTF were McClown's substitutions about? he took off to wingers and a stiker and put 3 CM's on, idiot!!! Lampost, Plobinson, Smith and Owen were abysmal.
June 1, 200718 yr Brazil are outclassing England in the first half. Although Gerrard, Terry & Shorey have played well. Beckham is playing well but is badly missing Gary Neville at right-back. While Owen is clearly not match fit and Alan Smith is easily being picked off. I agree surely they are more in form fit forwards who could fill the role. England got a draw but I'm sure it would have been a different result if the game have meant anything. Brazil are wonderful to watch whereas England are too often like watching paint dry.
June 1, 200718 yr It's funny how McClaren said he picks his players on form yet Smith and Owen have played about ten games combined this season :lol: And not scored.
June 1, 200718 yr Alan Smith was just ball watching the whole game, by Englands standards of late though this was an ok peformance.
June 2, 200718 yr Author England's XI Ratings as voted on BBC Sports (by over 78,000 people): Robinson 6.28 Carragher 6.15 King 6.11 Terry 7.32 Shorey 6.60 Beckham 7.98 Gerrard 7.83 Lampard 4.85 Cole 5.93 Smith 4.94 Owen 6.26 How much longer can the woeful Frank Lampard remain as an England International when he has been hopeless for his country since Euro 2004, and Sven & now McLaren sacrifice Steven Gerrard's attacking strengths to accommodate this slow ponderous midfielder who keeps losing possession to the opposition? :arrr:
June 2, 200718 yr That's the best and most entertaining we've played in a long while imo, McClown said that Lampard will eventually come good this morning when he's already had about 4 years and has never done anything :manson: Hargreaves should be first choice alongside Gerrard if not then give Carrick another chance to fill up that role. Oh and Crouch should play upfront with Owen who has always been our best striker and still the best option even when he's unfit but of course lets hope Rooney can start being more consistant for England when he is available for selection again. Also why is Wes Brown in the squad? <_< For Wednesday I hope Phil Neville plays right back and Carragher (the best centre back of the season) plays with Terry in the centre and hopefully Foster can dethrone Robinson next season though I'm not sure even he is a Shilton, Clemence or Banks really.
June 2, 200718 yr Lampard and Smith were awful I thought. Both very much below par, especially Lampard. I know someone who went to see the game and he said to me that they were all booing Lampard especially when his name was read out to be in the XI. Lampard's had his chance now - he showed signs of being great for England, but now he's very poor. There's no way Gerrard can be dropped, was the best player for England last night and that was in defensive role when he's much better in an attacking role.
June 2, 200718 yr Lampard, like Beckham, needs dropping and he'll come back good. It'll let him know he's not invincible and he'll then try harder...
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