England vs. Wales: 5 Players Who Will Star in This Euro 2012 Qualifier

The important Euro 2012 qualifier between England and Wales will see a number of players vying to keep their starting positions and others keen to impress on this rare occasion to turn out for their national side.

The 5 players who will star tonight will be well versed in the rigors of this familiar tie and will be key factors in their side’s aim to take all the points.

Frank Lampard

After being omitted from the starting XI last Friday against Bulgaria, Frank Lampard will be looking to make an immediate impact against Wales tonight.

It appears the Chelsea midfielder and regular starter for England is surplus to Fabio Capello’s new system of two holding-midfielders and three pushed further up the field to support the lone striker.

But with a little bit of the pressure taken off for this home game, Lampard will slot in alongside Gareth Barry to provide late surges into the box and a creative outlet for those in more advanced positions.

His work rate can never be questioned. He came on with 10 minutes to go against Bulgaria and was immediately looking to create more with the game already won.

With competition from Scott Parker and the currently injured Steven Gerrard and Jack Wilshere, Lampard will want to be one of the standout figures for England tonight if he wants to keep his place in the first XI.

Gary Cahill

Expect Cahill to pick up where he left off in his last game, scoring England’s opening goal and putting in a tidy and composed shift alongside John Terry.

Again, with a number of players injured, Cahill will want to keep the form that brought him into the first XI ahead of Phil Jones.

He provides leadership and composure to a back four consisting of a young player very much out of position, but confident in his approach all the same in Chris Smalling.

Ashley Young

The former Aston Villa winger has been aided in his attempt to secure a starting spot for England through his move to Manchester United. A number of impressive performances for club and country will surely see Young shine again tonight and continue the scintillating partnership he has formed with Wayne Rooney.

Fabio Capello will look to exploit the Welsh flanks by deploying Young in a wide role this time around, and surely the instruction will be to get crosses into the box for the striker and midfielders arriving late.

Expect another assured performance from a player in a rich vein of form.

Aaron Ramsey

The Arsenal midfielder and Wales captain will want to take this chance to not only help his side pick up a result at Wembley, but also to cement his position in Arsene Wenger’s team.

Ramsey is still very much on the come-back path to reproducing the form he was in before his injury two seasons ago, but he is still an extremely able and creatively influential player for Wales.

Another who scored this past weekend, Ramsey will look to add to his goal tally but more importantly try to retain possession against a superior England side.

Wayne Rooney

Most likely the first name on the team-sheet, Rooney will once again be looking to lead England to another comfortable victory. Two goals in the last England international and a further two in his last game for Manchester United, the in-form Rooney will no doubt be grabbing the headlines in this game.

His link up play, as mentioned, has been sensational with Ashley Young, and the two will form a deadly partnership against opponents often faced domestically.

Everything will go through Rooney as he’ll look to take on a number of roles tonight: dropping deeper as a “No. 10” and leading the line as a more traditional striker.

Expect goals aplenty if Rooney is in the mood tonight.