Capello wants to emulate Germany

Fabio Capello calls for patience as he emulates Germany in preparing a team of youngsters for the next European Championship.

Although Joachim Low's men only finished third in South Africa, they captured the imagination with a succession of devastating performances, one of which ended England's hopes of lifting the World Cup.

That they did so largely with a group of unknown youngsters made their feat even more remarkable.

Yet tonight against France at Wembley, Capello hopes to extend his own revolution by handing debuts to Andy Carroll and Jordan Henderson.

But the Italian is warning the transition might not always be smooth.

"Germany built their team step by step. If we want to do the same, we have to put these players in the team two or three at a time, not five or six," said Capello.

"They need time to improve, to play with confidence and without fear.

"When I have done this with my club team some played very well immediately, others needed more time. But the value of these players is really big and we have to help them."

Arsenal's Kieran Gibbs will also start, as will Micah Richards if Phil Jagielka does not recover from the virus that prevented him from training on Tuesday.

Jack Wilshere would have been involved too had the 18-year-old not been forced to head back to Arsenal for treatment on an injury he picked up in Sunday's win at Everton.

"I hope the performance of these young players will be really good, but the fans have to understand that we could burn these players if it is not," said Capello.

"We have to help them. When they play in front of 90,000 people at Wembley, it is not the same as playing with the under-21s.

"The value of this game is different."

Capello has already finalised his line-up, save for the Jagielka situation and that of Joe Hart, who does not appear likely to play after injuring his back in training.

Ben Foster stands by to start his first international for 12 months, although it is not the Birmingham goalkeeper who will be under closest scrutiny.

It will be Carroll and Henderson, whose own monk-like approach to life contrasts sharply with that of his fellow debutant.

"He brings something new," said Capello.

"He runs a lot. He is fast. When he receives the ball he plays one-touch, two touches maximum.

"His vision is really good all the time."

Scotland duo set for debuts

Danny Wilson and Barry Bannan will make their Scotland debuts against the Faroe Islands at Pittodrie.

The pair have been named in Craig Levein's makeshift starting line-up for the friendly.

Blackpool left-back Stephen Crainey has also been selected for his first international appearance for more than six years.

Wilson lines up in central defence alongside Steven Caldwell, who was called into the squad after brother and Wigan team-mate Gary pulled out with a thigh problem.

Sunderland's Phil Bardsley keeps his place at right-back after winning his first cap in the 3-2 Euro 2012 qualifying defeat by Spain, while Crainey wins his seventh cap.

Goalkeeper Craig Gordon, with more than twice as many caps as the back four put together, returns after missing the first four European qualifiers with a broken arm.

Darren Fletcher skippers the side in a relatively experienced central midfield.

Shaun Maloney, who was called up after playing 90 minutes for Celtic in their 1-0 win over St Mirren on Sunday, is included alongside Blackpool playmaker Charlie Adam.

Aston Villa's Bannan and Derby winger Kris Commons are likely to play out wide to support QPR striker Jamie Mackie, who gets his first shift in his preferred centre-forward position on his third appearance.

Wilson and Bannan were among three players in the original squad who had been called up for the first time, alongside Dundee United forward David Goodwillie.

Wilson, 18, has played just one first-team game for Liverpool since his multi-million pound summer move from Rangers and is not included in Roy Hodgson's 25-man Barclays Premier League squad.

But he has Champions League experience with Rangers and Levein was keen to see him in action as he looks for a successor to David Weir, who will be 41 when Scotland play their next Euro 2012 qualifier.

Bannan was a Scotland Under-21 team-mate of Wilson's until last month and has earned promotion to the full squad after forcing his way into the Villa first team this season.

There could be many more debuts on Tuesday night with a total of nine uncapped players in the squad following as many withdrawals.

Only Levein's starting line-up was listed by the Scottish Football Association tonight so Kilmarnock pair Cammy Bell and Craig Bryson, Motherwell defender Steven Saunders, Wigan midfielder James McArthur, St Johnstone's Murray Davidson, Swindon full-back Paul Caddis and Goodwillie could all win first caps at some stage.

Scotland team to face the Faroe Islands in a friendly at Pittodrie on Tuesday night: Gordon, Bardsley, Caldwell, Wilson, Crainey, Commons, Maloney, Fletcher, Adam, Bannan, Mackie.

McQuoid buzzing after international call

Bournemouth striker Josh McQuoid is "buzzing" with excitement after receiving an international call by Northern Ireland.

The 20-year-old has scored hat-tricks in his last two games for the npower League One club and received a surprise call-up by his country for Wednesday's friendly with Morocco in Belfast.

McQuoid is one of a number of players manager Nigel Worthington has turned to for the Windsor Park clash after being hit by a raft of withdrawals.

Worthington has lost 11 players from his original squad but in McQuoid looks to have found a promising youngster in a rich vein of form.

The Southampton-born under-21 international told BBC Radio Solent: "It's been a whirlwind week for me, also getting called up for Northern Ireland.

"It's a great honour and I didn't expect it.

"There were a couple of injuries and Nigel Worthington rang me.

"It was a bit of a shock but it is a great honour and I am buzzing to go away with them."

McQuoid started the season in blistering fashion with five goals in as many games but then went nine matches without scoring.

He ended his drought in spectacular fashion with trebles in an FA Cup first-round win over Tranmere and Saturday's league success against Walsall.

With Northern Ireland's all-time leading scorer David Healy surprisingly omitted from the squad - and not even summoned after all the withdrawals - McQuoid is poised to get a chance.

Worthington's revised squad have just two international goals between them and only four players - Aaron Hughes, Jonny Evans, Chris Brunt and Ryan McGivern - have a double-figure number of caps.

McQuoid at least is not lacking confidence and added: "It's great to be scoring again.

"I've been working hard in training, being more instinctive, following things up, getting in the right positions. It's paying off."

Warren Feeney, Gareth McAuley, Maik Taylor, Chris Baird, Corry Evans, Sammy Clingan, Grant McCann, Stephen Craigan, Steven Davis, Kyle Lafferty and George McCartney are the players who have forced Worthington to change his plans by pulling out.

Hughes, Jonny Evans and Niall McGinn are the only players remaining from the side that laboured to a Euro 2012 qualifying draw in the Faroe Islands last month.

Inverness keeper Jonny Tuffey is likely to play in the absence of veteran Taylor while Preston midfielder Adam Barton will probably start.

Barton, linked with Liverpool last week, recently turned down a competitive call-up in order to keep open the option of playing for England.

However, as playing in a friendly will not preclude Barton changing his allegiance to England at a later date, the 19-year-old has answered Worthington's call.

The latest addition to the squad is Crusaders defender Colin Coates, who was summoned by Worthington yesterday.

Capello pleads for Wembley support

England manager Fabio Capello has pleaded for the Wembley crowd to stop his young players getting "burnt" on Wednesday night.

The Italian has confirmed that Newcastle striker Andy Carroll and Sunderland midfielder Jordan Henderson will make their debuts against France, with Arsenal full-back Kieran Gibbs set for his second appearance after his international bow against Hungary in August.

Micah Richards stands by to win his first cap under Capello if Phil Jagielka fails to recover from a virus, while Theo Walcott and James Milner are still relatively young even if age belies experience.

Chris Smalling and Jay Bothroyd will both sit on the bench hoping for their first experience of international combat too.

It is a delicate time for all these players, and victory against a French team that has started to improve under Laurent Blanc since their shambolic World Cup experience cannot be guaranteed.

Which is why Capello is so keen to stress the need for patience and understanding from fans who were so badly let down at the World Cup in South Africa in the summer and whose last experience of the national side was that drab goalless draw with Montenegro in a Euro 2012 qualifier.

"I hope the performance of these young players will be really good, but the fans have to understand that we could burn these players if it is not," said Capello.

"We have to help them. When they play in front of 90,000 people at Wembley, it is not the same as playing with the under-21s.

"The value of this game is different."

It is Capello's aim to make the match a seminal one in England's history.

He can hardly have forgotten how easily his team were dismantled by Germany in Bloemfontein in June, or the vitality of opponents who hit England hard at the start, rode their luck when Frank Lampard's 'equaliser' was disallowed and then struck with impressive power and speed to clinch a quarter-final berth that eventually turned into a third-place finish.

"Germany built the team step by step. If we want to do the same, we have to put these players in the team two or three at a time, not five or six," said Capello.

"They need time to improve, to play with confidence and without fear.

"When I have done this with my club team some played very well immediately, others needed more time. But the value of these players is really big and we have to help them."

Capello recalled his time at Roma to back up the point.

"I picked Alberto Aquilani because he was better than Daniele De Rossi," he said.

"But at half-time I asked him why he was playing so many short passes and without confidence?

"I wanted him to play like he did in training but for the first 10 minutes of the second half he was exactly the same, so I made a change.

"De Rossi came on, did exactly what he did in training and played in the first XI from then on.

"Since I have been with England, some players have played with fear. I don't tell you the names but they have not played with the same confidence."

Capello would have had an even greater contingent of young players had Jack Wilshere not pulled out with an injury he suffered in Sunday's win at Everton.

The 18-year-old has been an impressive performer for the Gunners this term and is clearly a player Capello has identified for the future.

The same is not true of Kevin Davies, who at 33 does not have time on his side.

Still, his omission from this squad was a surprise after the two displays Capello has seen him produce since making him England's oldest debutant in half a century last month, and the fact Cardiff's Jay Bothroyd and Carlton Cole have received surprise call-ups.

"The scouts monitored Bothroyd because we are looking at all the Championship teams and the under-21s," revealed Capello.

"I wanted to see him in training and know him better.

"I know the value of Davies. He played with me.

"If we need him, I will select him another time, but I wanted to know someone new."

Republic of Ireland pair ruled out

Republic of Ireland were dealt a blow when Sean St Ledger and Paul Green were both ruled out of Wednesday's friendly against Norway.

The Preston defender and the Derby midfielder both had scans on knee injuries and will not be involved in the game at the Aviva Stadium.

That means eight of the original squad of 27, as well as Aston Villa defender Ciaran Clark, who was called up on Friday, are now unavailable.

It will be Carroll and Henderson, whose own monk-like approach to life contrasts sharply with that of his fellow debutant.

What a tactful way of calling Carroll a tosspot.

Slightly gutted at the timing of the Pires signing. Had it all happened just a couple of weeks earlier, I might've had the chance to see an old favourite player of mine in action at the SoL. So how do you think he'll get on, Fred?

Mildly amusing - a t'rrific Ronaldo goal for Portugal in midweek chalked off for Nani's goalhanging.

My only concern is injury. As someone who has mustered up virtually no words of enthusiasm for opposition players over the years - a policy I shall probably maintain - I can reveal that Bobby P. has always been a notable exception. Obviously there was no cooing about Arsenal and all that Invincible stuff, but I did like the lad with the big sideburns who breezed past defenders most effortlessly. Except against ours. Anyway, at worst, he gets crocked straight away and the six months evaporate into thin air; at best he scores the winner in the League Cup final against Manchester City, hilariously out 'sprinting' Barry despite being much, much older.

Thought Bobby looked alright yesterday, although it probably goes without saying that he can't run any more. Without making a significant impact, he used the ball quite cleverly and it looks as if he'll have something to offer in the coming months. Nice to see - as odd as it might sound to label a Bosman signing as a waste of money, countless other freebies this year have proved to be just that.

Paul McCartney once said Give Ireland Back to the Irish. Well as far as I'm concerned, Give Ireland Back to the Man City Reserve Bench!

The Ireland I remember used to run the show for Man City. He always looked super fit and his workrate and tackling were as impressive as his attacking flair. But on the two occasions I've seen him play for Villa this season, he's looked the complete opposite - totally ineffective, weak in the tackle, and at times downright disinterested. Where did it all go wrong?

The Ireland I remember used to run the show for Man City. He always looked super fit and his workrate and tackling were as impressive as his attacking flair. But on the two occasions I've seen him play for Villa this season, he's looked the complete opposite - totally ineffective, weak in the tackle, and at times downright disinterested. Where did it all go wrong?

Wow. Just wow.

A satirical, conceptual photoshoot in which Mr and Mrs Ireland warn against the dangers of having too much, too young or a kidnapping case where Stockholm syndrome has long since set in? I'm having trouble making my mind up.

Something tells me that a bite from Suarez could be fatal.

Spanish La Liga Weekend Preview

All eyes fall on the Nou Camp as heavyweights Barcelona and Real Madrid go toe-to-toe.

Although it is still early days in the season, the title race in Spain yet again looks like being between the two arch rivals with a seven-point gap already separating second-placed Barca from third-placed Villarreal.

Therefore, the outcome of the two 'Clasico' showdowns could go a long way to determining where the championship will end up this season.

Barca have held the upper hand in recent years, doing the double over the capital club in each of the last two campaigns en route to being crowned champions ahead of runners-up Madrid.

However, the first 'Clasico' of this campaign looks impossible to call, with both teams in red-hot form.

Deportivo La Coruna's veteran coach Miguel Angel Lotina said: "For me the two teams have never gone into the Clasico so strong."

Pacesetters Madrid, who boast a one-point lead over Barca heading into Monday's game, are still unbeaten in all competitions under Jose Mourinho with 15 wins from 19 games, while they have won seven on the trot in La Liga.

They also have the tightest defence in the division with only six goals conceded and the joint-leading attack along with Barca, both teams having scored 33 times.

Fourteen of those Madrid goals have been netted by Cristiano Ronaldo, leaving him one ahead of Barca superstar Lionel Messi at the top of the Primera Division scoring charts.

Ronaldo, who has scored a phenomenal 51 times in just 54 appearances for Madrid since his record-breaking move from Manchester United, is in understandably confident mood ahead of the trip to the Nou Camp.

He warned Barca: "This Madrid is completely different to last season and we haven't lost a game yet. It will be a very exciting match and, as we are in great form, I think we'll win there.

"We are playing well. As well as that, the team has matured so I don't think there's a better time to visit the Nou Camp.

"We know it will not be easy because Barca are a fantastic team with great players and a good coach, but I'm sure that it will be a very interesting duel."

While the new-look Madrid have been blazing a trail across Spain and Europe, Barca are not far behind them and they go into Monday's encounter with 10 wins in their last 11 competitive games, drawing the other.

Last weekend they thumped Almeria 8-0 - equalling the club's best-ever away win - while in midweek they defeated Panathinaikos 3-0 to join Madrid in the last 16 of the Champions League.

Messi netted his 150th official goal for Barca in Greece, and took his tally to 16 goals in his last 11 appearances for the club.

Speaking after the win, a wary Guardiola said: "We are going into the Clasico in good form, but that's no guarantee of anything. Every game is a test."

Away from the Nou Camp, Villarreal will hope to consolidate third spot on Saturday when they travel to bottom club Real Zaragoza, for whom new coach Javier Aguirre will be making his home debut.

Villarreal midfielder Cani said: "I would sign off right now to finish third. We would all be very happy with that at the end of the season, which is when it counts."

Also on Saturday, Sevilla are at home to Getafe and surprise package Espanyol travel to Atletico Madrid.

Espanyol are fourth in the standings, although they have picked up just four points and one goal in six games away from home, where they boast a 100% record.

The remaining games are played on Sunday, when new Almeria coach Jose Luis Oltra makes his debut against home-town club Valencia at the Mestalla, while third-bottom Malaga go to Real Mallorca and fourth-bottom Sporting Gijon host Real Sociedad.

Also, Hercules meet fellow promoted side Levante, Racing Santander take on Depor, and Athletic Bilbao welcome Osasuna to San Mames.

* Home

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repeat after me: it’s just three points

November 28, 2010

tags: cristiano

by unamadridista

Cristiano was given the task of speaking to the press two days before the derby, and I liked some of what he said, especially about how this is one more game, and that it’s not just Cristiano vs. Messi.

On whether the derby is Cristiano Ronaldo vs. Leo Messi: Son tonterías. It’s a battle between probably the two best teams in Spain. We’re 11 against 11. Messi will do his best to help his team win, like I will.

On the game: It’s an important game, but others are as well. This game is worth three points, not six; it’s the same as a game against Getafe or Valencia.

On his “jogo bonito”: I like spectacular football and I like to play it. Whoever likes it will like it. And whoever doesn’t can close their eyes or turn off the television.

On how much he wants to score his first goal against Barcelona: What’s important is not whether I score, but whether the team wins. I am not obsessed with scoring. I want to score against everyone, not just Barça. Is it special? Yes, but the desire is always the same.

On whether he has more responsibilities as a reference point for Madrid: No. I’m one more player on this team. Things are going well for me and for the team, but I don’t believe there is more pressure on me than on anyone else. We all have responsibilities. I always want more, but my teammates also want to do their best, like me.

On Piqué: We get along well. We know each other from Manchester. There are no problems between us.

On what Madrid’s strategy for the game – to attack or defend – is: the míster will be talking to you all tomorrow, no? Ask him.

* Home

* A Stalker’s Guide to Real Madrid

* Iker & his jerseys

repeat after me: it’s just three points

November 28, 2010

tags: cristiano

by unamadridista

Cristiano was given the task of speaking to the press two days before the derby, and I liked some of what he said, especially about how this is one more game, and that it’s not just Cristiano vs. Messi.

On whether the derby is Cristiano Ronaldo vs. Leo Messi: Son tonterías. It’s a battle between probably the two best teams in Spain. We’re 11 against 11. Messi will do his best to help his team win, like I will.

On the game: It’s an important game, but others are as well. This game is worth three points, not six; it’s the same as a game against Getafe or Valencia.

On his “jogo bonito”: I like spectacular football and I like to play it. Whoever likes it will like it. And whoever doesn’t can close their eyes or turn off the television.

On how much he wants to score his first goal against Barcelona: What’s important is not whether I score, but whether the team wins. I am not obsessed with scoring. I want to score against everyone, not just Barça. Is it special? Yes, but the desire is always the same.

On whether he has more responsibilities as a reference point for Madrid: No. I’m one more player on this team. Things are going well for me and for the team, but I don’t believe there is more pressure on me than on anyone else. We all have responsibilities. I always want more, but my teammates also want to do their best, like me.

On Piqué: We get along well. We know each other from Manchester. There are no problems between us.

On what Madrid’s strategy for the game – to attack or defend – is: the míster will be talking to you all tomorrow, no? Ask him.