Germany v. England: Capello Prepares to Name Squad

England will play their last match of 2008 next Wednesday, taking on old rivals Germany in a friendly international held at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin. 

The Three Lions will be keen to extend their current run of good form, having won their first four World Cup Qualifiers, a feat they have never previously managed, and will also be eager for a modicum of revenge for Germany’s win at Wembley in August 2007.

But what will Capello be looking to get out of this game exactly?

Falling between two rounds of Premiership games and seeming rather squeezed into the calendar he could well find himself under pressure when it comes to the availability of his star names. In which case it will be interesting to note anybody dropping out of the squad come Sunday evening—with places well and truly up for grabs under the Italian it will surely test the club vs country argument once again. 

One only need note Gerrard’s absence for the win in Zagreb meaning that it could be a long time before he again fills that central attacking midfield role for his country. 

So who exactly will Capello pick and to what extent will he experiment with younger players?  He has a few injury concerns so some names in the squad will change and a few players will be anxious come the time Capello names his squad on Saturday evening/Sunday.

Goalkeepers:

Paul Robinson was unavailable due to injury for the last qualifiers so it will be interesting to see if he comes back into the reckoning this time, and if so at whose expense.  Scott Carson and Rob Green were included in the previous selection and the latter looks most likely to miss out, his form falling a way short of what it was last season. 

Joe Hart could push but is likely to remain with the U-21s for the foreseeable future.  Chris Kirkland’s chances don’t look bright for now.

Defence:

Injuries have kept Capello’s first choice fullbacks out for the last few weeks so expect Wes Brown and Ashley Cole to continue their respective recoveries with their clubs.  This will force Capello to shake things up a little so it will interesting to see if he sticks with Joleen Lescott as cover for the leftback position with Wayne Bridge rather than call up the likes of Stephen Warnock or Nicky Shorey. 

Of the two, Warnock had a brief run out under Capello against Trinidad and Tobago and is in better form so is better positioned to step in again. 

Glen Johnson should have the chance to make a play for the right-back berth with Brown having been out for the last few weeks and much will be written as to whether the England manager issues a recall for Micah Richards.

The Man City defender was named in Capello’s first ever squad and made the bench for the game against Switzerland but has since found all his international playing time restricted to the U-21s. 

However, he has been struggling with his form of late and has played the last few games at centre-back flattering to deceive so he might not want to hold his breath for a recall. 

The only thing that may work in his favour is the other options available to Capello, or moreover the lack of them—Gary Neville is still working his way back to full fitness and still looks a long way short of that given his performance at the Emirates, leaving only Luke Young as another possible call-up. 

David Wheater was a late addition to the squad for the Belarus game (after he fulfilled his U-21 duties the night before), but the fact that his club manager dropped him from Middlesbrough’s last game could well count against him.

Jonathan Woodgate could push Matt Upson for a place but it’s unlikely, as are Phil Jagielka’s prospects of a recall.

Midfield:

David Beckham is unlikely to be included after his MLS season finished prematurely, so David Bentley will seek an immediate recall having rediscovered his form since Juande Ramos’ departure. 

Joe Cole is just coming back from injury so may not be risked—but if Capello wants to use him then he surely will and may regain his place at the expense of Shaun Wright-Phillips, who has failed to maintain his excellent early form after this return to Eastlands.   

Ashley Young could also push and will undoubtedly be watched again at the Emirates on Saturday afternoon.

Jermaine Jenas missed a few games before coming back against Man City so could struggle to keep his place, especially with Michael Carrick now back from injury. Capello will be very disappointed at the news of Owen Hargreaves missing the rest of the season after knee surgery—Gareth Barry might well think differently! 

Roy Keane has been championing the hopes of Kieran Richardson and he could push Stewart Downing out of the picture but it is unlikely. Bullard seems a long shot after his call up earlier in the season and he now seems very low down the pecking order. 

Huddlestone and Lennon will most likely stay with the U-21s despite the former's impressive upturn in form under Harry Redknapp.

Forwards:

England’s new hero Emile Heskey missed Wigan’s Carling Cup defeat to Arsenal and remains doubtful for his side's weekend clash at Newcastle and therefore could also miss out for this country.

Rooney and Defoe will definitely keep their places but Peter Crouch could find his under threat, but will most likely make the cut, especially if Heskey is missing. 

Up to now unconvinced by Michael Owen, Fabio is unlikely to be suddenly won round by a couple of substitute appearances and even if Owen starts at the weekend he will still not earn the recall he craves.

Roy Hodgson has been talking up Andy Johnson’s hopes of a first selection in over a year but this is a very long shot.  Any new call up will almost definitely be Gabriel Agbonlahor from the U-21s or the newly in-form Darren Bent and could be decided by how they get on in this weekend’s games.

Who do you think Capello will include?  Who do you think Capello should include?  Let us all know below.