international friendly

England striker Wayne Rooney is hoping that the England fans will be behind John Terry on Wednesday night during the friendly against African Cup of Nations Champions, Egypt. Chelsea Captain Terry was roundly booed in his team’s defeat against Wayne Bridge’s Manchester City on Saturday, and this is the first time that he will pull on an England shirt since all of the media barrage he has faced. Terry was stripped of the England captaincy by manager Fabio Capello in light of all the media surrounding Terry, choosing to hand the armband to Manchester United’s Rio Ferdinand instead. Ferdinand will be missing from the match, as he was from the Carling Cup final because of injury.

The match against Egypt is just one of three that England have before the World Cup starts on June 11th, with the other two against Mexico and then Japan. Manchester United star, Rooney, was left on the bench for the start of Sunday’s Carling Cup triumph over Aston Villa, but that did not stop him making his mark again as he netted the winner with a header. There were worries that Rooney wouldn’t be fit for the friendly, and the last thing England want is to hear any news about injury their star player. England need him fit and healthy for the World Cup, and Capello has already alluded to the belief that he thinks the England star is being overworked by Alex Ferguson. The fears were over a niggling Rooney knee problem, but Rooney insists that it was because of a stomach virus, and Ferguson wanted an excuse to give him a rest. Thankfully he should be fit for Wednesday, but probably won’t play the whole match.

The race for Rooney’s strike partner hots up, with Carlton Cole and Theo Walcott being named in the squad. Walcott is a move towards getting him more experience, as he hasn’t been on top form this season, with injury problems. Spurs’ Aaron Lennon misses out through injury. While Rooney has urged England to show support for Terry, the vacant left back position, vacated by Terry’s team-mate Ashley Cole because of injury, and Wayne Bridge’s decision not to play for England, will draw the spotlight. Capello has drafted in Leighton Baines from Everton as expected, along with Aston Villa’s Stephen Warnock. These are two recognised left backs, but there is also speculation that Villa’s James Milner may fill in there, but his great form in attacking roles for Villa should warrant him being used further forward.

One surprise name in the England defensive corps, was that of Ryan Shawcross, from Stoke, who would be in line for his debut if he makes an appearance. His call up game just hours after a wayward tackle broke the ankle of Arsenal’s Aaron Ramsey, in Stoke’s first defeat of the year. It has been Stoke’s stubborn displays which has earned Shaw cross a call up to the senior squad. The left side of midfield will also be contested, as Chelsea’s Joe Cole, who had made the spot his own, hasn’t been selected for the squad, instead Stewart Downing makes a comeback to the England fold, after nearly a year on the sidelines. Birmingham keeper Joe Hart, after a string of impressive performances, is one of three keepers alongside David James and Robert Green.

This friendly match does have some importance, as it will be the final match before Capello names his provisional squad for the World Cup on May 12th, while the final squads have to be named for FIFA on June 1. It is a big opportunity for players to stake a claim for a World Cup spot, especially with the likes of Ashley Cole and Rio Ferdinand missing, it could also be a chance for one of the strikers to step forward, should the worst happen, and Rooney can’t start. Egypt should not be too much of a pushover, not on the back of their performances at the African Cup of Nations, where they successfully defended their title. They looked a confident passing side, with an eye for attack, and for goal. They missed out on the 2010 World Cup, after being eliminted by Algeria in qualification decider.

England v Egypt Stats: The two sides have only met twice, and only once in competition at Italia 90.
The first time was a friendly in 1986, in Cairo. England won 4-0 with goals from Trevor Steven, own goal, Danny Wallace and Gordon Cowans. The second meeting between the two teams was at the 1990 World Cup, in Cagliari, where England won 1-0 with a goal from Mark Wright (assisted by Paul Gascoigne).

Match Prices:
England to win: 4/11 at Bet365
Draw: 4/1 at SkyBet
Egypt to win: 8/1 at Paddy Power

England Squad v Egypt:
Keepers: David James, Rob Green, Joe Hart
Defenders: Wes Brown, John Terry,  Matthew Upson, Joleon Lescott, Ryan Shawcross, Leighton Baines, Stephen Warnock.
Midfielders: James Milner, David Beckham, Theo Walcott, Frank Lampard, Gareth Barry, Steven Gerrard, Michael Carrick, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Stewart Downing.
Forwards: Emile Heskey, Jermain Defoe, Wayne Rooney, Peter Crouch, Carlton Cole.

Brazil v England
Khalifa International Stadium, Doha, Qatar
Saturday, November 14
Kick-off: 5pm GMT

England head into their friendly against Brazil on Saturday, with an unfamiliar looking line-up. Because of all the injuries that have besieged the England camp ahead of the game, it will not be the game which Fabio Capello quite wanted. Capello wanted his best to face up against the best, but now with the treatment room full, there is going to be a very different England taking the field on Saturday evening. All throughout the team as England continue building for the World Cup 2010, there are absentees, with Capello struggling to find cover particularly at full-back.

Best Match Prices for Brazil v England
Brazil to win: 11/10 at Totesport
Draw: 5/2 at SkyBet
England: 14/5 at Blue Square

Let’s take a look at the England starting team that isn’t:

Goalkeeper:
David James: May not have started, but who knows. He’s been struggling to keep fitness up to make it through a game.

Defence:
Glen Johnson: Found himself as starting full back, but picked up a knock in Liverpool’s last Premier League fixture.
Rio Ferdinand: has only pulled on his boots a couple of times this season and there is no apparent improvement in his condition yet
John Terry: Will he or won’t he? The turf fouled captain Terry in training on Friday, as the Chelsea skipper was running by himself and twisted his ankle. May not be risked for the friendly.
Ashley Cole: played through the pain barrier to help Chelsea beat Manchester United last weekend. Out for at least a couple of weeks now though.

Midfield:
Aaron Lennon: Tottenham’s winger picked up an injury over a week ago, and has not travelled with the team.
Steven Gerrard: We all know of Gerrard and Liverpool’s woes at club level. The big man wasn’t selected for the squad, and won’t be until he is fully healed.
Frank Lampard: Out for three weeks now with a torn muscle in his thigh. He crocked himself during England training, and if Terry joins him, Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti is not going to be best pleased.
David Beckham: Hurt his back guiding LA Galaxy to the MLS Conference finals, but is still on duty for his club at the important juncture of their season.

Forwards:
Emile Heskey: Out of the squad because of injury.
Theo Walcott: Again, perhaps not a starter, but someone England hope will be fit for the World Cup.

Subs:
Joe Cole: Still playing his way back to full fitness for his club Chelsea.
Carlton Cole: Three Cole’s out of the match, as West Ham’s striker is injury. He is also being head-hunted by Manchester United apparently, for January’s transfer window.

If John Terry is not risked, then Gareth Barry and Wayne Rooney will be the only regular starters making the first eleven on Saturday. Rooney will be named as captain if the Chelsea man doesn’t make it. On the positive side of all the injuries, it will allow Capello to look at some youngsters, as injuries are bound to happen ahead of, and during World Cup 2010, and he will need to know that fringe players can step up to the plate. Sunderland’s Darren Bent is really knocking on the door of getting himself a starting place on Saturday, with his fine goal scoring form for his club. This is an ideal chance for him to stake a claim for himself, along with the likes of Wes Brown, James Milner, Stephen Warnock and Ashley Young.

With all of the injuries, the Qatari hosts probably won’t be very pleased that England’s B team will be taking the field. There has also been some furore that England were refused permission to land on a special runway at the airport, and England retaliated by saying they would withdraw from the game if they weren’t allowed to. It will not be the big superstar spectacle at the Khalifa Stadium, as the organisers would have hoped. The likes of Gerrard, Lampard and especially David Beckham would have drawn a lot of ticket sales. All of these injuries will have affected betting odds for an England win too, especially as Brazil are almost at full strength. Manchester City’s Robinho is with the squad, but City boss Mark Hughes insisted that the forward, who is only just returning from injury, does not partake. Ronaldinho is not playing in the match either, with gives Porto striker Hulk a first call up to the senior squad. They still have Kaka and Luis Fabiano though to cause more than enough damage to an inexperienced England squad. Maybe the injury list will help Capello narrow down his squad better by having a good look at players. This is the penultimate friendly before naming his World Cup squad.

Selection of Betting Coverage:
England Draw No Bet -13/8 at Bet365
Away Team (England) To Score=No – 24/13 at Expekt
Brazil to win by 2 goal margin – 6/1 at SkyBet
Correct score 1-1 draw – 6/1 at Bet365