Reuters Soccer Blog
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Should Capello bring Carragher out of England retirement?
Is Fabio Capello so short of defenders that he has to beg Jamie “I’d rather miss a penalty for England than Liverpool” Carragher to come out of retirement and represent his country at the World Cup?
Carragher walked out on England three years ago because he was unhappy at being in so many squads but so few teams, and when he was in he did not like being played at full-back when he wanted to play centre-back.
Capello names his provisional 30-man squad on Tuesday and the latest round of media speculation is that the 32-year old will be in it.
For those who feel playing for their country should be the ultimate honour, it will be tough to take. Carragher loves playing for Liverpool and wears his heart on his long red sleeve but he said himself via his autobiography that the passion dries up when he dons the white of England. After missing a penalty in the 2006 World Cup quarter-final against Portugal he said he did not share the emptiness of his team mates. “I confess, defeats wearing an England shirt never hurt me in the same way as losing with my club…I simply didn’t put England’s fortunes at the top of my priority list. You can’t make yourself feel more passionate if the feelings aren’t there.”
Hardly the words to pin on the dressing room wall as England prepare for their latest tournament tilt.
Recalling Carragher seems a slightly bizarre move for pure footballing reasons as well, given that most people seem to agree his form has been below his usually high standards of late. He wants to play centre-back but Capello has plenty of choice there with Rio Ferdinand, John Terry, Matthew Upson, Joleon Lescott, Ledley King, Phil Jagielka and Michael Dawson in contention as well as the Liverpool man.
King played his fourth successive match for Tottenham on Sunday seemingly in a bid to prove to Capello that his knees are up to the rigours of a tournament, but will that be enough to convince a manager who is on record as saying he will not take anyone who is not fit?
Liverpool have a lot to be concerned about
Last November Spurs beat Liverpool 2-1 at White Hart Lane just after Harry Redknapp took over a side that had slumped to the bottom of the table. Redknapp admitted after that game that Spurs had been lucky to win after being battered by Liverpool, who squandered an early lead and then hit the woodwork three times before losing.
Spurs beat Liverpool 2-1 at White Hart Lane again on Sunday and this time there was no doubting that Spurs deserved their victory.
On the evidence of Sunday’s match a lot has changed at the two clubs since last November.
Spurs have clearly improved but fans have witnessed so many false dawns in the last 10 years or so that no one will get carried away by an opening day win — even over last season’s runners-up.
Likewise, Liverpool will not descend into doom and gloom at one opening day defeat but what is undeniable — and this began to be obvious in their pre-season matches — is that Liverpool are badly missing their gifted Spanish midfielder Xabi Alonso, sold for 30 million pounds to Real Madrid.
Liverpool failed to get the ball to Steven Gerrard as often as often as they used to when Alonso was distributing the ball, after putting his foot on it and finding the perfect pass.
Up front Fernando Torres looked jaded – he has hardly had a break after playing for Spain in the Confederations Cup — and Liverpool rarely threatened Spurs with a decisive attack.
Agree that Pool have lots to be concerned. The whole balance of the midfield was not right. Alonso used to be the link between the back 5 (including Masch) and the front.
Now with Lucas, i am concerned as he clearly is not the man to replace Alonso.
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Reality to bite for Spurs again?
As a new Premier League season comes into focus and the skies of expectation position themselves above White Hart Lane, it’s nearly time for another thrilling adventure for Spurs fans.
The summer’s rebuilding is virtually complete and soon the manager and the team will have to start delivering. With the increased likelihood of Berbatov and Keane sailing off into the distance, it’s already a worrying time.
There will be no hiding place for Ramos this term, no more excuse that he inherited a team. It’s now his team, shaped and prepared by him, and fans will demand results.
A good start to the season will be vital, so wins against Middlesbrough and Sunderland are default requirements, before Ramos’s men face the far tougher challenge of Chelsea.
Winning the Carling Cup last season was something but Spurs need to build on that achievement. That means a decent European campaign and a real crack at fourth place or better (which is, of course, exactly what we said 12 months ago).
Will it be the same old story come the end of the season?
PHOTO: Tottenham Hotspur’s Dimitar Berbatov poses for the media after winning the Bulgarian Soccer Player of the Year award. REUTERS/Stoyan Nenov
how can they leave Dimitar Berbatov on the bench to rot when they have started so badly. I think they should cash in on the £25m and buy someone quick
http://www.carlingcupodds.co.uk
Inter Milan were crowned Italian champions for the fifth consecutive season on Sunday, but Jose Mourinho’s side had their nerves tested as Claudio Ranieri’s Roma pushed them all the way. WorldCupTV.org 10:28