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Fabio Capello
England: Rock solid Capello gets it right again
Marc Fox
While Fabio Capello's counterparts were making those eleventh-hour decisions they all knew would bring contentious headlines and scathing debate, England's Italian manager was under almost the exact opposite pressure before naming his provisional World Cup 30 this week.
While Dunga was weighing up the claims of Ronaldinho, Raymond Domenech was mulling over the inclusion of Real Madrid forward Karim Benzema and Diego Maradona and Marcello Lippi were virtually decided on omitting Inter Milan midfielder Esteban Cambiasso and Juventus defender Nicola Legrottaglie, Capello's had less pressing concerns.
Many British newspaper headline writers went with the angle of Capello's Cup shocks, but the contrast with the absences of Paul Gascoigne in 1998 and Jermaine Defoe four years ago couldn't have been clearer.
Defoe was a shoo-in for a place upfront this time, with Carlton Cole dropped for Darren Bent and Capello overlooking the bold claims of Fulham's Bobby Zamora, who it appears would have gained a place in the provisional squad - at least - if it wasn't for an Achilles injury.
"Zamora was a really important player but we spoke with him and he has a big problem with his Achilles," the Italian confirmed. "He said he can't play because he can't train every day."
In contrast to the managers in charge of Brazil, France, Argentina and Italy, Capello and assistant Franco Baldini reportedly spent the most time wooing ex-internationals Jamie Carragher and Paul Scholes, successfully so in the former's case.
Scholes left his decision not to return to the international setup for the first time since Euro 2004 until just hours before Capello's announcement, but it's clear space for being made for the Manchester United midfielder, perhaps because of Gareth Barry's ankle injury.
Meanwhile, Carragher jumped at the chance of a return after Liverpool's poor season and the team's absence from the Champions League next year. With Wes Brown and Joleon Lescott ruled out through injury, it appears Carragher was Capello's preferred back-up option despite suffering personally during his side's terrible run.
"The FA got in touch a few weeks ago and asked if I would have a rethink, due to injury problems," the Liverpool defender said. "I said I would make myself available.
"The World Cup and Champions League are the highest levels of football. I'm not getting any younger, we have no Champions League football next season and I am keen to work under Fabio Capello."
Fabio's 30 is still to be whittled down to 23 after England play Mexico at Wembley on 24 May and Japan in Austria six days later as part of a pre-tournament training camp.
But few expect the Italian to shed any of his five designated strikers, especially given the past few months of injury conjecture over Wayne Rooney.
Of the quintet, Aston Villa's Emile Heskey might be the one sleeping least soundly, but given his service under Capello the bruising but goal-shy frontman has plenty of credit in the bank.
Capello's three first choice goalkeepers - Robert Green, David James and Joe Hart - will also all travel to South Africa. Hart's position was pencilled in for Manchester United reserve Ben Foster earlier in the domestic season until his fall from first team action. Green will be Capello's No.1 against the USA in the June 12 opener.
That leaves seven omissions from the 22 defenders and midfielders in camp.
Either Leighton Baines or Stephen Warnock will be left behind, as will one of Michael Dawson or Matthew Upson, probably the uncapped Dawson. Capello might even be prepared to lose both if Tom Huddlestone makes the 23-man squad with the Spurs midfielder able to play in central defence in an emergency.
Carragher offers cover in the middle and at right-back (just as Brown would have done) and wouldn't have been pursued so heartily to be lost in the final cut.
In midfield, James Milner's capacity to play on either flank as well as centrally as this season for Aston Villa might lead to a drastic cull of Capello's wide men. He certainly won't be taking Theo Walcott, Aaron Lennon and Shaun Wright-Phillips to South Africa and might only take the Arsenal man.
Likewise, one of Adam Johnson or Joe Cole - or potentially both - could be dropped along with Scott Parker.
© Marc Fox & Soccerphile.com
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