assault Force England

Super sub Peter Crouch has given England owner Fabio Capello something to think about with his two goals against a good Egyptian side. Crouch has now scored twenty International goals in thirty seven appearances, an perfect return considering that he has came off the bench twenty times.

With only four months to go until the start of the World Cup Finals in South Africa does Capello know his best send partnership? In the past England have been blessed with an amazing array of striking talent but can we say the same today? Lets take a closer look at this years hopefuls.

Wayne Rooney
The youngest player to ever represent England, a world class talent who is the countries most prominent attacking player, a clear starter. Caps: 58. Goals: 25.

Peter Crouch
A proven goalscorer at International level, Crouch as well as being able to find the net, he offers something separate with his presence. Although he may need to play more games for his club in the next few months to challenge for an England beginning role. Caps: 37. Goals: 20.

Jermain Defoe
Playing well for club and country this season, the Spurs man is a genuine contender for a World Cup beginning berth. Full of pace, direct with an eye for goal. Caps: 39. Goals: 11

Emile Heskey
High level of International experience, having made his international debut against Hungary in 1999. Hasn't featured as much as he would have liked for Villa this season nor is he the most prolific striker in contention but he is a favourite of Capello. Caps: 57. Goals: 7

Gabriel Agbonlahor
A regular upfront for Aston Villa with a decent goal tally and pace to burn, maybe to fresh for a beginning slot. Caps: 3. Goals: 0

Possible other hopefuls who could force their way into the managers plans might be Darren Bent, Carlton Cole or would it be fantasy football if I gave a mention for a clear Michael Owen Caps: 89. Goals: 40.

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England Can Afford To Do Without Lampard

Frank Lampard or Steven Gerrard? Who is the best player?

This deliberate upon has been taking place over the last consolidate of seasons, especially before the many Liverpool-Chelsea matches. With the World Cup just around the corner, reports about these two players have reemerged, saying that the two of them just cannot play alongside one another.

True, they are both the playmakers and the driving soldiery of their respective clubs. If both of them join every attack, England are going to be left vulnerable at the back. Unless one can be disciplined adequate to stay back while the other one attacks, there are bound to be undesired effects, especially against top opposition.

The solution? Go ahead and play both of them, but also adapt a defensive midfielder in the team by whether playing a 4-5-1 or a 4-4-1-1 with Steven Gerrard playing in the hole behind Michael Owen in attack. This way, neither Lampard nor Gerrard would be restricted and the benefits and the advantages the two of them bring to the team will not be limited. However, this style of play cannot be constantly deployed, as once Wayne Rooney recovers, there is no way he is going to stay out of the starting line-up.

For the time being, this seems like a good clarification for England, though there could be a best one. How can we keep Peter Crouch out of the team when he is in this sort of form? The striker 'who cannot score' has just gotten his first hat-trick for his country. He looked good upfront alongside Owen in the 6-0 demolition of Jamaica. Therefore, it would not be a wise decision to drop him, neither would it be to drop Owen for all the goals he brings to the team. This means that England should literally deploy the traditional 4-4-2. But why not drop whether Gerrard or Lampard for a more balanced team?

This brings us back to the question: Who is better, Gerrard or Lampard? Who brings greater benefits to the team? Whose proximity can England afford to do without?

According to many, Lampard is the best player. After all, he scores more goals, doesn't he?

However, I think that Gerrard would be the best option. I feel that he is an all-round best player than his Chelsea counterpart. He brings so much more to the team. He possesses the leadership qualities which Lampard does not have in so much abundance. He probably plays with more passion, more hunger and more desire than any other member of the England squad.

After all, Lampard has come under criticism for his new form for England. Other than his goal against Jamaica, he did not make any other needful contribution in that match. Gerrard ended the season on much best form than Lampard did. Who can forget that injury time attack against West Ham?

Surely, Gerrard has done adequate to claim that midfield spot over Lampard. Sven, give Gerrard the place in the starting Xi at the World Cup, especially while the latter stages. Drop Lampard, for the good of the team. Give Carrick, or even Carragher, the nod to hold the midfield.

The time has come for Stevie G to take the world stage by storm!

England Can Afford To Do Without Lampard

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England? You Must Be Kidding

In the days that followed England's qualification for Germany 2006, Sven Goran- Eriksson, Wayne Rooney and Michael Owen all said that they think England can win the World Cup. But, in my humble understanding yet again, although they have some extremely talented and gifted players, I doubt they have a good sufficient team to do it. Look back at England 's farranging performances throughout the 2006 World Cup qualifying campaign and you can see just what the team lacks, and why England will not win the World Cup next year. A great team is built not just with technical potential (of which England have literally loads), fame and fortune but also passion, teamwork, commitment, tactics and personality, (all of which England desperately lacks).

You look back at the England cricket team's success in the summer and you see all of those factors mentioned above. I may not be the most ardent follower of the sport but I think I'm right in saying England literally only have a merge of player in the world rankings for batting and bowling, however as a team they are formidable. Michael Vaughan's intelligence, calm head and Quiet but productive leadership and Andrew Flintoff's inspiration are the keys. But you can look nearby at the raw passion of Simon Jones, flamboyance of Kevin Pietersen, honest workmanship of Ashley Giles and you see the way the team is built.

They played with so much strength oh character. Every time they fell behind or lost wickets determined players would step up for their team and do something special, which could be whatever at distinct times. Look straight through the England football team and you'll find arrogant, self-interested individuals with all the personality of a wet fish practically to a man. These guys don't look like they're playing for England for love or passion of the game or their country. They seem to be playing for their profile as footballers, and the next big sponsorship deal. Passion isn't about spitting anger and diving in for tackles the way Rooney and David Beckham respectively tend to do. It isn't about getting sent off as it lets your team mates and your country down.

No, passion is about running so hard, you are playing as both full-back and wide midfielder the way Cafu and Roberto Carlos did when their star player was sent off in 2002 against England. I can photograph it if Sven's lot were to win the World Cup. I see Beckham astonishing a pose with the trophy, sticking out his chest and allowing a lock of his hair to fall over his face, Frank Lampard and John Terry grinning behind him, Ashley Cole and Rio Ferdinand in the background on their mobiles to their agents demanding pay-rises com-mensurate with winning the tournament. To cut a long story short, if England wins the 2006 World Cup, I'll run semi-nude nearby the Merdeka quadrilateral on the next rainy day after the tournament, if, the authorities allow it of course.

England? You Must Be Kidding

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Fifa World Cup 2006 England Glory - 1966 / 2006

It categorically has a nice ring to it and would be a dream come true for the plethora of England fans who have never yet witnessed the originator of 'the gorgeous game' bring home the goods.

Although England have a pretty favourable group, with Paraguay, Trinidad & Tobago, and the dreaded Sweden; they will come through the group stages to the finals and then, with a bit of luck, stomp all over the opposition with verve and tenacity; if Wayne Rooney keeps his head that is.

As well as being a serious contender for the coveted Golden Boot Award, if England do categorically progress, Wayne Rooney is the key to England's success in World Cup 2006 and the rest of the team and world know it. The guy is a physiological freak in terms of the sheer power and depth of strike in his ownership and will naturally rip through the best defences that any of the world's toughest may throw his way. He already proved this in Euro 2004, Portugal, where he was a constant worry for the opposition and, of course, does so every week at Old Trafford.

Wayne Rooney is naturally one man, though, and cannot do the job alone; he will need pace man magician Michael Owen at his very best, Beckham curling em in sweetly from the right, Frank Lampard bulldozing through the middle and Mr Sven Goran Eriksson not doing his usual trick of messing with formations and pulling off players at the wrong moment. In fact, England hasn't had such a great compilation of players in years; it's either they can gel at the right time and do what the England rugby lads did in 2003.

One thing is determined though and possibly will never change; whatever and everybody faced with England, ups their game rate by a noticeable margin. It seems that everybody wants to beat the 'Auld Enemy'; hardly surprising beings as the country with the once largest of empires has, at one time or another, trounced on or been instrumental in shaping the modern world as we know it. It seems logical that someone would want to get their own back by beating the national football team.

Many of the England naysayers believe that the England team lacks the personality and passion to bring home the cup. Although a personality is great for the cameras, the one ingredient that is categorically more important is playing the game of football and scoring goals, and with the current England line up we have the best opportunity since 1966. Roll on World Cup 2006...

Fifa World Cup 2006 England Glory - 1966 / 2006

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Why Liverpool Coach Benitez Should Bite the Bullet For the Good of Liverpool, Spain and England

Key to Liverpool's woes has in recent weeks has been the injuries to star men Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres. Both have been troubled with injuries in the groin area. Gerrard with an adductor injury and Torres with a hernia and while both problems are reportedly 'manageable' straight through a mixture of training and rest, one wonders about the long term viability of this as a clarification to the pairs injury problems.

It is clear to understand Benitez reluctance to sanction operations on two of his key men at such a time. Even if Liverpool had been unbeaten at this stage of the season, Benitez would be hard pressed to do without the pair. The fact that they are struggling and looking devoid of inspiration should both Torres and Gerrard be absent must be a huge worry and while this remains the case, Benitez will wrap his prime assets in cotton wool between games in the hope they can contribute.

Michael Owen stated in his autobiography how he coped with the litany of injuries he suffered. Playing on when hurt and in doing so, over-compensating for his injury by using someone else leg, or changing how he ran for the ball etc. All that happened was that Owen started to pick up other niggling injuries in the muscles, bones and ligaments that were being pushed to the limit over-compensating for the other injuries he had. I feel that for Benitez to do this, with his clubs two many assets, is asking for trouble.

The danger is that Torres, who, like Owen, relies on his explosive pace, is going to pick up other injuries, if he doesn't exacerbate his current injury in the meantime. The same can be said for Gerrard, whose box to box, all action, creative role will push his injury to the limit. I've no idea how long they would be out if injured in this way compared to surgery, but I'd guess it would be longer.

With a World Cup Finals coming up at the end of the season, I think Benitez is being a minuscule selfish to assume that both Gerrard and Torres will complete this season without surgical operation and still be in perfect shape to play for their countries at the World Cup finals. My fear, is that Benitez hopes that both Gerrard and Torres will make it straight through the season, so he can then send them for operations as soon as it is over, thus ruining their chances of taking part in the World Cup finals. No doubt die hard Liverpool fans who have no interest in Spain or England, would prefer this, but for me personally, I'd think Spain and England's chances would be greatly lessened, and the World Cup far less of an event, if whether were to miss out. I'd also venture that neither player would be too impressed at missing out either.

Benitez should bite the bullet and get their injuries sorted properly sooner rather than later. If his squad is not strong enough to cope without the pair, then that is down to one man and one man alone. Perhaps Benitez realises that Liverpool's shambolic failings when they are without their talismanic duo, are in fact a palpable demonstration of his failings as a manager, that of his inability to build a squad that can cope with their absence.

Why Liverpool Coach Benitez Should Bite the Bullet For the Good of Liverpool, Spain and England

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