Friendly: England v Germany

[kyan]

McClaren ponders Bentley call-up

England coach Steve McClaren will speak to David Bentley before deciding whether to name the Blackburn winger in his squad on Friday.

Bentley, 22, controversially turned down a place in the England Under-21 squad over the summer, citing fatigue.

McClaren said: "I'll speak to him. We look at every individual and whether he has the character to play for England."

The squad for Wednesday's friendly against Germany is set to include David Beckham, Michael Owen and John Terry.

Steven Gerrard may also be named, but Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has warned McClaren it would be a risk for the midfielder to play against Germany because of his toe fracture.

Gerrard is set to lead Liverpool against Chelsea on Sunday when Blues skipper Terry could make his comeback after a quicker-than-expected recovery from a knee ligament injury.

Owen has shaken off a thigh injury and could play for Newcastle this weekend while Beckham has been struggling with an ankle problem.

Beckham did manage to make his first start for new club LA Galaxy on Wednesday, but had his ankle iced and strapped after being substituted on 63 minutes.

McClaren says he is keen to name as strong a squad as possible, even if some players are not fit enough to play at Wembley on Wednesday.

"I would like to name everybody in the squad and get them together," said the England coach, who is also planning for the Euro 2008 qualifiers against Israel and Russia in September.

"It's important we get together before the double-header because I want to clear up the three performances we had in the summer, especially Brazil and Estonia.

"I want to talk about where we are going, and what we need to do."

There are not expected to be too many surprises in McClaren's squad, although Portsmouth pair Sol Campbell and David James could be recalled.

Newcastle defender Steven Taylor had been tipped for a call-up but he has been now been named in the Under-21 squad to face Romania on Tuesday.

One name that will definitely be missing is Wayne Rooney, who is recovering from a broken foot.

That means Owen, Darren Bent, Andrew Johnson, Jermain Defoe, Alan Smith and Peter Crouch - who is suspended for the Israel game - will battle it out for the strikers' places.

"I feel we have got people who can put the ball in the net," said McClaren.

"Johnson can, Crouch has never let us down, Smith is breaking back in, Bent has always been a top goalscorer in the Premier League and Defoe always scores goals.

"The challenge is there - they have to go out and prove it."

BBC SPORT | Football | Internationals | McClaren ponders Bentley call-up

Good, he definitely deserves it. He's been producing more consistently for Blackburn than Lennon has at Spurs and Bentley's crossing is better. Lennon's consistent injuries could ruin his future unfortunately because he still has so much potential but Bentley deserves a call-up.

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Gerrard is a doubt.I don't think he will play this match.He need rest to recover from injury. He should not play against Chelsea either.I don't like to risk him so he can be out for several weeks or months...

[kyan]

Bentley hasn't been picked.

Sparky says McClaren says part of the reason is that "Bentley has to pay for his U21 withdrawal".

McClaren is such a petty fucker.

Instead he picks Gerrard with a broken toe!?!?!

What a fucking muppet, y does no young English talent get a chance in the NT just because they don't play for the top 5 clubs??

[kyan]

England recall Campbell and James

Portsmouth veterans Sol Campbell and David James have been included in the 28-man England squad for the friendly against Germany next Wednesday.

Goalkeeper James, 37, and centre-back Campbell, 32, have not been selected in any of Steve McClaren's squads since he took charge after the 2006 World Cup.

Newcastle's Steven Taylor is in the senior squad for the first time.

Liverpool's Steven Gerrard is also included even though he will not play after injuring his toe in Toulouse.

McClaren has also named John Terry, Owen Hargreaves, Michael Owen and David Beckham in the squad despite questions over their fitness.

But Blackburn's David Bentley has paid for his refusal to play for the England Under-21s at this summer's European Championship, by being excluded from the squad.

There is also no room for Tottenham midfielder Jermaine Jenas and Portsmouth striker David Nugent.

McClaren explained the combination of good form and experience led to the recall of Portsmouth team-mates Campbell and James.

Campbell last appeared for England in the World Cup against Sweden, while James last wore the Three Lions against Jamaica last June.

"Sol is a player with vast experience at international level. He had a very strong season at Portsmouth last year," added McClaren.

"I always maintained that I wasn't closing the door on Sol. I know he won't let England down and I'm very pleased to welcome him back into the squad."

He continued: "David showed excellent and consistent form for Portsmouth last season, that's why he is back in the squad.

"His attitude and professionalism has been first-class throughout this period. I also watched him in action this week against Manchester United, he is a top-class goalkeeper and deserves his recall."

Regarding Taylor, McClaren believes the 21-year-old deserves an opportunity to prove himself at senior level.

"Steven has been playing very well for Newcastle and was outstanding during the Under-21s tournament in Holland," said the former Middlesbrough boss.

"He was with us for the B game against Albania at the end of last season and I was hugely impressed with his attitude and ability."

Germany will be without their captain, Chelsea midfielder Michael Ballack for the Wembley encounter.

Ballack is still suffering from an ankle injury and joins a lengthy injury list which includes German Footballer of the Year Mario Gomez, Torsten Frings, Tim Borowski, and Lukas Podolski.

Uncapped Stuttgart midfielder Sami Khedira, 20, is called up as Ballack's replacement, while Serdar Tasci is also named in a national squad for the first time.

England squad to play Germany:

Robinson (Tottenham), James (Portsmouth), Carson (Liverpool, on loan at Aston Villa), Richards (Manchester City), Brown (Manchester United), Ferdinand (Manchester United), Terry (Chelsea), Ashley Cole (Chelsea), Campbell (Portsmouth), Taylor (Newcastle), Neville (Everton), Shorey (Reading), Beckham (LA Galaxy), Gerrard (Liverpool), Lampard (Chelsea), Joe Cole (Chelsea), Wright-Phillips (Chelsea), Carrick (Manchester United), Barry (Aston Villa), Downing (Middlesbrough), Dyer (West Ham), Hargreaves (Manchester United), Smith (Newcastle), Owen (Newcastle), Crouch (Liverpool), Bent (Tottenham), Johnson (Everton), Defoe (Tottenham).

BBC SPORT | Football | Internationals | England recall Campbell and James

I'm still pissed off he didn't pick Bentley...

The team I predict:

-------------------James---------------
Richards--Ferdinand--Terry*--A.Cole
SWP----Lampard----Carrick----J.Cole
---------------Bent--Johnson-----------

But McClaren's in charge so we'll have to wait and see.

*Campbell in for Terry if he can't make it.

Also if everyone picked is fit the best team is probably:

-------------------James--------------
Richards--Ferdinand--Terry--A.Cole
Gerrard--Lampard--Carrick--J.Cole
------------Owen--Johnson-----------

[Podolski]

Originally Posted by kyan

Sparky says McClaren says part of the reason is that "Bentley has to pay for his U21 withdrawal".

stupid reason.

[russe||]

Originally Posted by kyan

Bentley hasn't been picked.

Sparky says McClaren says part of the reason is that "Bentley has to pay for his U21 withdrawal".

McClaren is such a petty fucker.

Instead he picks Gerrard with a broken toe!?!?!

What a fucking muppet, y does no young English talent get a chance in the NT just because they don't play for the top 5 clubs??

I don't see the problem. Bentley deserves to be snubbed by England after his antis in the summer.

Fair enough if he had said he didn't want to play in the U-21 World Cup before the tournament but he waited until the squad had been submitted meaning England couldn't replace him and had to play the whole tournament with a man short.

If you show contempt and disrespect the national team why the fuck should you be picked to play for the NT?


Oh and Bentley spoke to McClaren before he pulled out of the U-21 WC and McClaren warned him then that there would be repercussions if he pulled out the squad.

[kyan]

That was a youth tournament, and no-one had really paid attention to it before until this summer...

What he did was wrong, and OK he should have done it earlier, but he clearly wants to play for the senior team and he has the ability to.

Plus with so many midfielders and RWs especially injured, I don't think pettiness should get in the way....

And how long is this exclusion going to last?

There wouldn't be repercussions if this was a higher-profile England player...

[Sven]

I hoenstly don't care about result, I only want to see what SWP deserve, starting spot.

[russe||]

Originally Posted by kyan

That was a youth tournament, and no-one had really paid attention to it before until this summer...

What he did was wrong, and OK he should have done it earlier, but he clearly wants to play for the senior team and he has the ability to.

Plus with so many midfielders and RWs especially injured, I don't think pettiness should get in the way....

And how long is this exclusion going to last?

There wouldn't be repercussions if this was a higher-profile England player...

It's only a friendly. He was warned. He deserves is punishment.

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Quartet pull out of squad

Darren Bent, Sol Campbell, Steven Gerrard and Owen Hargreaves have been ruled out of England's friendly against Germany.

All four players have been forced out of the Wembley international because of injury.

Liverpool skipper Gerrard has a broken toe and played against Chelsea with a pain-killing injection.

After the game Gerrard admitted he was unlikely to make the game against Germany as he needs to rest the injury.

Knee problem

Hargreaves also complained of knee problems following Manchester United's derby defeat to Manchester City with Sir Alex Ferguson suggesting the midfielder would not be joining up with the England squad.

Tottenham striker Bent has been forced to withdraw from the squad after picking up a thigh problem in Saturday's 4-0 win over Derby.

The trio join Campbell in pulling out of the squad after the Portsmouth defender had already been ruled out over the weekend because of a groin injury.

The news is a blow for Steve McClaren as he prepares for his first game of the new season.

~Skysports

[kyan]

The injured players can't be replaced right?

Looks like Owen and Johnson up front then.

Micah Richards will probably start at CB if Terry isn't fit.

[Sven]

I think Terry will play as he needs match practice and is cpt,

I think Richards will play at rb.

[Sami_Khedira]

Its not we got better times boys..we miss a whole team actually:

List of injuries:
Klose
Ballack
Khedira
Frings
Borowski
Podolski
Schlaudraff
Fritz
Jansen
Gomez

Or frankly said:

-----------------GK------------------
-Fritz------CB-------CB--------Jansen
--------Ballack--------Frings------
Borowski-------------------Khedira-
---------Klose-------Podolski------

Any question left ?

[Werdna]

jawohl!

Khedira
Borowski
Podolski
Schlaudraff
Fritz
Jansen
Gomez


Like any of them have really made a name for themselves at national levels...except Podolski in parts.