England squad to face Czech Republic on Wednesday at Wembley Stadium:
Goalkeepers: David James (Portsmouth), Paul Robinson (Blackburn Rovers), Joe Hart (Manchester City)
Defenders: Wayne Bridge (Chelsea), Wes Brown (Manchester United), Ashley Cole (Chelsea), Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United), Glen Johnson (Portsmouth), John Terry (Chelsea), Matthew Upson (West Ham United), Jonathan Woodgate (Tottenham Hotspur)
Midfielders: Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Gareth Barry (Aston Villa), Joe Cole (Chelsea), David Bentley (Tottenham Hotspur), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), David Beckham (LA Galaxy), Stewart Downing (Middlesbrough), Jermaine Jenas (Tottenham).
Forwards: Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Jermain Defoe(Portsmouth), Theo Walcott (Arsenal), Emile Heskey (Wigan Athletic)
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Re: England vs Czech Republic (Wembley, 200808) « Reply #1 on Aug 20, 2008, 3:57pm »
Woodgate misses England training
Tottenham's Jonathan Woodgate was the only England player to miss training on Monday as the squad prepared for the friendly against the Czech Republic.
The 28-year-old defender was excused a session at Arsenal's London Colney facilities because of his history of fitness problems.
But he will be fit to play on Wednesday and all the other players trained as normal for England coach Fabio Capello.
Jermaine Jenas, a replacement for the injured Michael Carrick, took part.
Carrick was forced to pull out of the squad on Sunday after suffering an ankle injury while on duty with Manchester United in the Premier League.
The playmaker had to be substituted during United's draw with Newcastle and is expected to be out for two to three weeks.
Wigan striker Emile Heskey was the surprise inclusion in the initial squad for the Wembley encounter.
The 30-year-old, who has scored five international goals in 45 games, last played for England in September against Russia and replaces Portsmouth forward Peter Crouch, who was expected to be involved.
Tottenham's Darren Bent, who had been widely tipped to earn a place in the squad following a superb pre-season, was also omitted, with Capello opting for Wayne Rooney, Jermain Defoe, Theo Walcott and Heskey as his forwards.
The Italian was at Upton Park on Saturday to watch Dean Ashton score twice against Wigan but the striker had to come off in the second half because of a calf problem and is unavailable for Wednesday.
As Capello reshuffled his striking pack, he called on the rest of his players to weigh in with goals to take the pressure off the forwards.
"You have to play in a different style - the other players they have to score more goals," he said.
"You have to come in front of the goal with a lot of players. It's a problem everywhere - Italy are so-so in attack, Germany so-so. Only Spain's Fernando Torres is a big striker in this moment in the world.
"Portugal, no. Also the French, you didn't see anything at Euro 2008. It's a big problem now because the teams defend very well."
Capello named 23 players in total for the friendly, including both Rooney and Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard, who have been been struggling with thigh injuries, while goalkeeper Paul Robinson has been selected to return to the international fold.
As expected, David Beckham will make the trip from Los Angeles for the match before flying on to Beijing to take part in the closing ceremony of the Olympic Games as an ambassador for London 2012.
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Re: England vs Czech Republic (Wembley, 200808) « Reply #2 on Aug 20, 2008, 4:00pm »
Terry appointed England captain
England coach Fabio Capello has named Chelsea's John Terry as his captain.
Defender Terry, 27, who succeeded David Beckham as skipper after the 2006 World Cup, was given the nod ahead of Manchester United's Rio Ferdinand.
The Chelsea skipper, who has won 44 England caps, begins his second stint as captain in Wednesday's friendly against the Czech Republic at Wembley.
"I think everybody realises it means the world to me to retain the armband," said Terry.
"To get the armband back is a huge achievement for me.
"I heard about an hour before the news conference, just after training. The manager called the whole squad together and told us as a whole.
"For me to get it above the likes of Rio Ferdinand and the other players in the squad is a great honour."
Terry admitted he was a little surprised when Capello selected him ahead of Ferdinand.
"I'd never given up on the armband and never will do," he stated.
"I'd heard the whispers that Rio had got the armband so I was a little bit shocked but I've got to make the most of it."
Terry added: "My target now is to qualify for the World Cup and that's the aim going forward."
Capello revealed Terry's "big personality" was the deciding factor.
"Rio, when he was captain, played very well - the same level as John," said the Italian.
"It was not easy for me to choose because they are very good players.
"The big personality of John was the reason I chose John but Rio is very important to the team."
Ferdinand has been named as vice-captain of the national team.
England's World Cup qualifying campaign begins in September, with ties against Andorra in Barcelona and Croatia in Zagreb.
Terry was the captain under former coach Steve McClaren as England failed to qualify for Euro 2008.
The centre-half was an inspirational figure for Chelsea during the 2007-08 campaign, although the season ended in disappointment.
Chelsea finished as runners-up in the battle for the Premier League title and Terry agonisingly missed a penalty in May's Champions League final shoot-out that would have given the Blues the trophy at the expense of eventual winners Manchester United.
Capello has taken his time to choose who will wear the armband on a permanent basis, the decision coming eight months after he was appointed as McClaren's replacement.
Liverpool's Steven Gerrard captained the side in Capello's first friendly against Switzerland, Ferdinand for the defeat in France, Terry for the 2-0 win over the United States and David Beckham for the game against Trinidad and Tobago in June.
The Italian said all along he was trying out the players in the role and would make a permanent choice in time for the World Cup qualifiers.
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Re: England vs Czech Republic (Wembley, 200808) « Reply #4 on Aug 21, 2008, 4:19pm »
England 2-2 Czech Republic
By Mandeep Sanghera
England rescued a fortunate draw against Czech Republic but were poor in their last game before the start of the 2010 World Cup qualifiers.
Milan Baros turned England skipper John Terry and had his shot deflected in off Ashley Cole to put the Czechs ahead.
England equalised with a powerful Wes Brown header but were out-classed and outplayed by the visitors.
Marek Jankulovski restored the Czech lead with a superb free-kick before Joe Cole scrambled home in injury time.
Cole's goal was more than England deserved and did not fool part of a home crowd who booed off England and had earlier given Frank Lampard the same treatment when he was substituted.
England's performance will also have given boss Fabio Capello plenty to think about before the qualifying campaign for the next World Cup starts against Andorra on 6 September and against Croatia four days later.
The Italian has made it clear he wants his side playing as a unit and the players mirroring their club form for their country.
There was scant sign of those qualities during the game and, although Capello is aware of the problem, he has yet to find a way of solving it.
England had shown some brief promise at the start but it proved a false dawn as the visitors had the best of the early chances.
Some quick, intricate passing exposed England right-back Brown and Radek Sirl's cross was deflected before Stanislav Vlcek mistimed a shot just wide at the far post.
Steven Gerrard delivered an immediate riposte for England when he cut in from his role on the left of midfield and drove a shot which keeper Petr Cech scrambled wide.
But the Czechs were the more assured and imaginative as they got into their stride and a snapshot from Baros on the half-volley after a ball over the top brought a smart save from David James.
The warning signs from the Czechs were clear and they took the lead when they again worked Sirl into space down the right of England's defence.
Sirl crossed low for Baros and, with his back to goal, he turned marker Terry and saw his goalbound shot go in off Ashley Cole.
Defoe had a shot saved, while Gerrard and Rooney each tried their luck from long range without success as England lacked the incisive edge of their opponents.
Capello was probably preparing some strong words for his players at half-time but his mood will have been calmed by Brown's equaliser.
The defender made amends for his role in the Czech goal by beating Tomas Ujfalusi to David Beckham's cross and powering in a header just before the interval.
Defoe paid the price for England's lack of attacking threat at the break when he was hauled off for the more physical Emile Heskey.
But England did not look secure defensively and fell behind again when Jankulovski curled in an immaculate free-kick on 48 minutes.
Keeper James gave an even shakier look to England's defence when he ran out of his goal and was beaten to the ball by Vaclav Sverkos.
Sverkos could have left James red-faced but put his effort wide for a Czech side who had little trouble keeping an unbalanced England at arm's length.
That was until they failed to clear a corner and Joe Cole squeezed a shot home among a melee of players.
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