Wednesday, November 21, 2007

England Goes Green for its Final Euro Qualifier Today.


A few posts back, I mentioned Scott Carson's start today in goal for England opens Steve McClaren up for second guessing, even though it's probably the right move to banish Paul Robinson to the goalkeeping hinterlands.
But Shaun Wright Phillips? Starting in a midfield spot? In an elimination game? And David Beckham on the bench? OK, Becks isn't at national team form, but Wright-Phillips hasn't shown any reason why he should be in the Starting Eleven over anyone.
Gareth Barry takes Becks' spot in the midfield and is likely to take a defensive stance against Croatia. Owen Hargreaves is on the bench keeping Becks warm.
ESPN, meanwhile, is reporting that the pitch at Wembley hasn't recovered from the NFL trampling it a few weeks back. Steady rain lately in London isn't helping any either. A sloppy track, an inexperienced keeper, a shorthanded back line (no John Terry or Rio Ferdinand, remember?), and a young midfield: this isn't exactly a solid recipe for victory for England.

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