Well, the dust has settled on England’s World Cup cavalcade of whimsy and it’s that time of year again: pointless friendly time!
Sadly, it won’t even pass without drama: the meaningless
get-together with Hungary at Wembley on Wednesday has the nation’s
attention as all eyes turn to Fabio Capello; and the fans are desperate
to see what changes he will make to the disgraceful bunch that let
their country down in South Africa this summer.
While I welcome youth and think the England team needs a drastic
overhaul, Capello met England fans halfway, naming a squad consisting
of regulars along with some new faces.
In comes young Jack Wilshire of Arsenal along with his club teammate
Kieran Gibbs, as well as Ashley Young of Aston Villa. Pre-World Cup
fringe players—Phil Jagielka, Michael Dawson, Bobby Zamora, Theo
Walcott, Adam Johnson, Carlton Cole and Darren Bent of Sunderland—all
come in, as does Bolton defender Gary Cahill.
More interestingly, two senior players named in Wednesday’s squad
were quick to avoid any further part of ‘rolling out for England’ and
promptly retired. Wes Brown of Manchester United quit the England
set-up and was swiftly followed by flapping Blackburn keeper, Paul
Robinson. Bulky forward Emile Heskey also retired immediately after the
World Cup.
For those England fans in favor of blooding the kids, the news of
the retirements is welcome, but those two names are just not enough;
two more stand-out. One should not be selected based on his World Cup
performances (or lack of), and the other because he’s a disgraceful
twit who says he can’t stand England or it’s people!
If an overhaul is needed, then Steven Gerrard and Ashley Cole have
to go to also. Gerrard summed up the ‘big star’ attitude for England,
playing as a selfish individual who would rather aim for personal glory
with 30-yard shots than pass to his teammates.
Cole declared before the tournament that he hated his country and
the people in it. To select him again shows disrespect to any proud
English man, woman or child, especially those who spent their
hard-earned cash traveling to South Africa in June.
We asked for change, and we got it. All I ask for now is for common
sense to strike Gerrard and Cole, and for the pair to follow Brown,
Heskey and Robinson in doing the right thing.
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