Carra going to the WC?

[Sir Tokyo Sexwale]

Fabio Capello will select Ledley King in his provisional 30-man squad for the World Cup finals after the Tottenham Hotspur defender's recent outstanding form convinced the England manager to gamble on his fitness.

 

King, capped 19 times, has not represented his country since appearing against Estonia in the summer of 2007 and his only previous call-up under Capello, for the friendly against Slovakia some 14 months ago, saw him assessed by the England medical staff and released some 24 hours later. He has managed only 18 Premier League starts this term, plagued as he is by a chronic knee complaint, but has displayed enough class in Spurs' recent surge into fourth place to win over the national coaching staff.

 

There have been only four club appearances since the end of February yet King's ability to play against Bolton last Saturday and then against Manchester City on Wednesday was deemed hugely encouraging. The 29-year-old had previously struggled to play twice in a week, with his knee swelling up after matches to restrict his training, yet successive performances for Spurs have seen him securely into the Italian's provisional party, to be named at Wembley next Tuesday.

 

Capello will take that squad to Austria for a training camp, at altitude, with friendlies against Mexico and Japan to come before he slims the group down to his 23 for the finals, to be named on 1 June. King's inclusion eases some of the national manager's concerns at centre-half, with Capello acutely aware of Rio Ferdinand's toils this season with back and related groin problems. Those have restricted England's recently appointed captain to only 11 Premier League starts all campaign, though he will be selected fitness permitting.

 

Neither Manchester City's Joleon Lescott, who has been troubled by a hamstring problem and has not played since mid-March, nor Wes Brown – absent from Manchester United's line-up for two months with a broken metatarsal – is expected to be included in the provisional squad, leaving Capello and the general manager, Franco Baldini, considering their available options ahead of next week's announcement.

 

They are aware of the form of the Tottenham centre-half Michael Dawson, who has yet to be capped, and Everton's Phil Jagielka, with Capello due to attend Arsenal's final league game of the season against Fulham on Sunday to witness Sol Campbell's late-season resurgence first-hand. The England coach will also consider contacting the Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher, 32, to determine whether he can yet be persuaded out of self-imposed international retirement to feature in South Africa.

 

Carragher won his 34th and final cap in the 1-1 friendly against Brazil in the summer of 2007 before quitting, but he has been a consistent performer for Liverpool and would offer Capello the option of featuring at full-back if required – a quality that would be of greater significance in Brown's anticipated absence.

 

The defender, like United's Paul Scholes, was sounded out by Baldini upon the current managerial team's appointment some 17 months ago and reiterated his unavailability at the time, though that resolve could now be tested again.

 

The England team doctor is currently in the process of assessing all those players who have been troubled by injury ahead of submitting a report to Capello after the weekend. There are concerns at present over Gareth Barry, who sprained his right ankle in City's defeat to Spurs on Wednesday and will visit a specialist today to determine the extent of the damage amid fears the midfielder could be absent for up to three weeks. Reports last night suggested that Barry could miss out on the World Cup finals after the England medical staff were alerted to the possibility that the injury could be worse than first feared. However, Barry will not know the extent on the problem until a full diagnosis is given today.

 

 

Go get em Carra

[johngibo YPC]

I think Carra would be too proud to go

He wouldn't want to miss all the qualifiers and then just wander into the squad

[Sir Tokyo Sexwale]

dunno, Cappello's a different kettle of fish. He's clearly an excellent manager & even at 32, Carra knows he can learn from him.

[johngibo YPC]

dunno, Cappello's a different kettle of fish. He's clearly an excellent manager & even at 32, Carra knows he can learn from him.

 

I'm sure he respects Capello plenty. I just think he is too proud to go to a World Cup he refused to help England qualify for

[baz2107]

Think Carra has already said no a couple of times and Capello respects his decision.

 

Only way I could see Carragher playing would be if Ferdinand and Terry were both out and Capello said something along the lines of "we need you and your experience you'll start every game at centre back and its just for this world cup"

 

Personally i think he'd struggle against international forwards anyway

[Montse]

Carra's working for Talk Shyte

[Sir Tokyo Sexwale]

Think Carra has already said no a couple of times and Capello respects his decision.

 

Only way I could see Carragher playing would be if Ferdinand and Terry were both out and Capello said something along the lines of "we need you and your experience you'll start every game at centre back and its just for this world cup"

 

Personally i think he'd struggle against international forwards anyway

or - if a game goes to pennos, you're on in the last min of ET

[lfc003]

I don't think Carra's been good enough to be selected in my opinion and i can't see him going to sit on the bench and collect the cones after training.

[ali]

Fabio Capello's World Cup call to Liverpool star Jamie Carragher... your country needs you!

 

By Matt Lawton Chief Football Correspondent

Last updated at 10:00 PM on 7th May 2010

 

Jamie Carragher is poised to make a sensational return to international football by answering a desperate World Cup plea from England manager Fabio Capello.

 

The Liverpool defender quit international football three years ago citing the fact that he was tired of being nothing more than a squad player and complaining that he was never given the chance to prove himself as a top-level centre half.

 

But amid serious concerns over the fitness of Rio Ferdinand, Wes Brown, Joleon Lescott and Ledley King, Capello has turned to Carragher and sources at Liverpool indicated he is ready to answer the call.

 

Conscious that he might be accused of hypocrisy and opportunism, Carragher, 32, has been agonising over the situation for some time after a series of discussions with Capello and his right-hand man, Franco Baldini.

 

But Carragher has already been assured that he would definitely be in Capello's final 23 for South Africa and could play a major part.

 

If Ferdinand continues to struggle with back and groin problems and Capello cannot be certain of having King available for every match, Carragher would be the obvious choice as partner to John Terry at the heart of his defence.

 

Capello wants to name the Liverpool defender in the provisional 30-man squad he will unveil on Tuesday and then take him to Austria for a pre-tournament training camp.

 

There Carragher would be able to see for himself if Ferdinand and King would be fit enough to keep him out of the team.

 

Once the final squad of 23 is named on June 1, any subsequent seriously injured players can be replaced up to 24 hours before England's World Cup opener against the USA on June 12. And, crucially, replacements do not have to have been in the original 30.

 

Carragher is a man of principle and only because England need him so much is he even prepared to consider a comeback. It is a selfless rather than selfish act and the answer to two problems currently troubling Capello.

 

As well as centre-half, Carragher would also provide an alternative to Wes Brown, only just back from a long absence with injury, as cover for Glen Johnson at right back.

 

On Friday, Capello also had other issues to deal with. While Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini said he thought Gareth Barry could be back in action in 'three or four weeks' after damaging ankle ligaments against Tottenham on Wednesday, the FA fear he could be sidelined for closer to two months.

 

That has forced them to consider another amazing comeback - that of Owen Hargreaves, who is only just back in Manchester United's squad after 19 months out with a serious knee problem.

 

Capello was not prepared to take a chance on Hargreaves, but he realises he might have to now.

 

If he has to look elsewhere for a specialist holding midfielder he would prefer Tom Huddlestone to Scott Parker, while Michael Carrick is also expected to secure a place in the original 30.

 

But Carragher was the main issue for the FA, and they worry that some of the statements he has made, since announcing his international retirement could be used against him.

 

He wrote in his autobiography: 'I confess: defeats wearing an England shirt never hurt me in the same way as losing with my club. I wasn't uncaring or indifferent, I simply didn't put England's fortunes at the top of my priority list. Losing felt like a disappointment rather than a calamity.'

 

In an impassioned radio interview in 2007, he said: 'I've never really played centre-half for England and, to be honest, I've never really played that well for England because I've played a lot of the time at full-back.

 

'If Steve McClaren's chosen people ahead of me then I don't think anyone can really complain if I would rather concentrate and save myself for Liverpool games.

 

'For me, now it's time to concentrate on my Liverpool career.

 

'If I'm not getting a game for England at 29 there's no chance of me getting a game at 32 in the next World Cup.'

 

But the situation has changed, and now England need Carragher so much he is prepared to change his stance.

 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/worldcup2010/article-1274920/Fabio-Capello-World-Cup-Liverpools-Jamie-Carragher.html?ITO=1490#ixzz0nHT25cVE

 

[Epic Swindle]

I don't think Carra's been good enough to be selected in my opinion and i can't see him going to sit on the bench and collect the cones after training.

 

I mostly agree with that, though his experience could be vital. I can't see him going there just to make up the numbers but you never know. He probably respects Cappello a lot more than he did Mclaren.

Edited May 7, 2010 by Hansen

[Maldini]

did not see that coming

[Duncan Disorderly]

Think Carra has already said no a couple of times and Capello respects his decision.

 

Only way I could see Carragher playing would be if Ferdinand and Terry were both out shyte and Capello said something along the lines of "we need you and your experience you'll start every game at centre back and its just for this world cup"

 

Personally i think he'd struggle against international forwards anyway

[muleskinner]

Think he will take Terry, Ferdinand, Upson, Dawson & King.

[redjersey]

Oliver Kay in the Times

 

Jamie Carragher is set to make an extraordinary England comeback at the World Cup finals after telling Fabio Capello he is ready to return from self-imposed international exile.

 

Carragher will be named on Tuesday in Capello's preliminary 30-man squad for the World Cup, having been talked out of retirement in a series of secret discussions with Franco Baldini, the England general manager and Capello's right-hand man.

 

Carragher, 32, had rejected several approaches from Capello and his predecessor, Steve McClaren, since announcing his retirement from international football in July 2007, but, against all expectations, the Liverpool defender has finally been persuaded to return to the squad.

 

The news comes as a shock, given Carragher's previous intransigence and some of the outspoken comments he made about England in his autobiography in 2008, but Capello and Baldini made a concerted bid to entice the Liverpool vice-captain back into the fold amid concerns about their defensive options for the tournament.

 

Carragher's versatility means he would travel in the final 23-man squad as understudy to Glen Johnson at right back and as cover in central defence. With Capello determined to take Rio Ferdinand and Ledley King, despite their injury problems, as well as John Terry, it leaves players such as Wes Brown, Phil Jagielka, Matthew Upson and Joleon Lescott in danger of missing out on the finals.

 

This would be some fecking u-turn by JC if it happens. Opportunistic and hypocritical too.

Edited May 8, 2010 by Redjersey

[Cobs]

well, if it keeps Gary Neville out of the squad i'm all for it

[Benzo-13]

Jagielka missing out is a bit mad.

He's versatile too but you can squeeze big game moments from Carra and King.

That's what a World Cup is about. Games should be treated in isolation not with continuity.

[Frosty Jack]

he should do it, he deserves a final world cup

[Falconhoof]

Panini need to issue an update. A carragher sticker that you can put over Beckham, and its ultra rare.

[Hodgson for Chelsea]

well, if it keeps Gary Neville out of the squad i'm all for it

 

Amen.

 

Made up for Carra, shrewd move from Capello looking at a player who can play in any position in the back four.

[muleskinner]

Oliver Kay in the Times

 

 

 

This would be some fecking u-turn by JC if it happens. Opportunistic and hypocritical too.

 

Opportunistic? He hasn't been whoring himself for a spot has he?

[JRC]

Talksport - to whom he is/was contracted as a WC pundit (from his bar!) are calling it as fact, confirmed by the FA; not just the 30, but the final 23, though I can't see how that can be guaranteed now.

[Tosh]

well he ain't gonna get injured in Hamburg, now is he? :angry:

[spacemonkey]

If he originally retired so that he could prolong his Liverpool career, well international football is now possibly the greater opportunity to test himself against the top world talent and it's not like it'll do too much harm to his position in the Liverpool starting eleven until we can actually afford to strengthen the squad.

[cymrococh]

Shop window.

[redjersey]

Opportunistic? He hasn't been whoring himself for a spot has he?

Taking advantage of an opportunity despite the principles he's previously expressed?

 

"I wasn't uncaring or indifferent, I simply didn't put England's fortunes at the top of my priority list."

 

Don't give a feck myself but are all the Ingurlund fans to believe he will now?