England Squad Preview: Slovenia and Croatia Up Next at Wembley

Fabio Capello will name his England squad on Sunday evening for the two upcoming fixtures in September. The Three Lions play Slovenia at Wembley next Saturday in a friendly match before entertaining Croatia at the same venue on the following Wednesday in a World Cup qualifier.

The encounter with Slovenia will be the first ever between the two sides, in stark contrast to Croatia who England players and fans alike have become more than familiar with over the past three years having now been drawn together in the past two qualifying groups.

Croatia famously beat England 3-2 at Wembley back in November 2007 to deny Steve McClaren’s team a place at Euro 2008 but this time a win for England would see them qualifying for next year’s World Cup in South Africa with two games to spare.

Fabio Capello will hope to be able to recall David James to his squad but will wait to see how the goalkeeper comes through Portsmouth’s game with Manchester City on Sunday afternoon first.

James started all of Capello’s first thirteen games in charge as he quickly established himself as the Italian’s first choice in goal, but injuries at the end of last and the beginning of this season have seen the 39-year-old miss out on the last three games.

Rob Green has benefited and performed well in his three games but will come under increased pressure this time around, not only from the expected return of James but also Ben Foster as well.

The Manchester United ‘keeper has also missed the last three internationals through injury and will surely give Capello food for thought after getting a decent run of games at Old Trafford, thanks to Edwin van der Saar’s finger injury, for the first time in his career.

James was substituted towards the end of Portsmouth’s game at Arsenal last weekend and should he not prove his fitness his place will go to Joe Hart who has impressed in conceding just one goal in his first three games on loan at Birmingham.

Rio Ferdinand has already been ruled out of these two games and his place will most likely go to Gary Cahill who earned his first call-up to the national squad as a replacement for Ferdinand for last June’s World Cup qualifiers.

With Phil Jagielka still recovering from his cruciate ligament injury there has also been rumours of Capello again turning to Tottenham’s injury-plagued centre-back Ledley King in place of Ferdinand.

King was selected by Capello last March for the games against Slovakia and Ukraine but left the England camp the very next day as he is unable to train due to his long-term knee problems.

Capello is a known admirer of the Tottenham defender but it remains unclear exactly what the player has to offer at international level when he cannot train or play in more than one game a week. King’s club manager Harry Redknapp would no doubt be outspoken on the subject once more if King were to be selected again.

Ferdinand’s absence will leave Matt Upson and Joleon Lescott battling to partner John Terry at the heart of the defence.

Capello didn’t select a back-up right-back to Glen Johnson last month but this time might turn to one of returning Manchester United pair Gary Neville or Wes Brown, with city rival Micah Richards another option albeit perhaps a more unlikely one given the Italian’s preference for him to stay with the under-21 squad.

In midfield, Theo Walcott looks set to miss out having yet to feature for Arsenal this season.  Tottenham’s Aaron Lennon looks set to take his place in the squad.

If Capello limits himself to his usual 23-man selection then club team-mates James Milner and Ashley Young might find themselves competing for a wide space in the squad.

Stewart Downing and Joe Cole are still out with long term injuries whilst David Beckham is expected to keep his place in the squad despite Capello’s preference for him to play his club football in Europe.

Up front Capello is likely to stick with the same four strikers he called upon for the Holland game earlier this month—Carlton Cole, Jermain Defoe, Emile Heskey, and Wayne Rooney.

Peter Crouch has so far been limited to substitute and Carling Cup appearances since his move back to Tottenham and will most likely miss out.

Despite netting his first goal for Manchester United last weekend there is unlikely to be a recall for Michael Owen.