Soundoff: Who Should Start for England vs Egypt?

March 2nd, 2010 | by: Daryl |

14cap As Rob mentioned earlier, the England vs Egypt friendly is more important than your average friendly. It’s the first game since the John Terry fiasco for example, and we’ll all be watching to see how he performs sans elasticated armband. There’s the left back situation too. Ashley Cole is currently injured and Wayne Bridge has removed himself from the equation, so Everton’s Leighton Baines and Aston Villa’s Stephen Warnock both have a shot to booking themselves a World Cup ticket. Lats but not least, this is the final game before Capello must name his provisional World Cup squad. So it’s important for everyone.

Egypt might not be going to World Cup 2010, but three consecutive Africa Cup of Nations titles (included the 2010 triumph just over a month ago) prove they’re a serious team. Based on what I saw in Angola, they’ll play a very organized and efficient 3-5-2 with Mohamed Zidan being a major threat. Mohamed Aboutrika (or Abu Treka) is also back from injury, and more than capable of causing us some trouble. So this will be a proper test. (More about The Pharaohs on Hany’s Egypt blog).

Though in some ways we should start our strongest XI, I’d also like to see a few players with something to prove given a chance. For that reason, here’s the starting XI I’d like to see:

Hart
Milner – Terry – Upson – Baines
Walcott – Lampard – Barry – Gerrard
Rooney
C. Cole

It’s 4-5-1 or 4-2-3-1, depending on how deep you see Lampard and Barry sitting and how far forward you see Gerrard and Walcott.

Hart needs another cap in my opinion, but I’d be equally happy to see James make a return, or for Robert Greene to get another game’s worth of experience.

With Glen Johnson injured, James Milner could be the answer to our lack of depth at right back. Or if he’s not then it’s better to find out in North London than in South Africa. If Baines does start, then I’d like to see Warnock replace him at some point, or vice versa. Provided they both get a chance.

Theo Walcott needs games, so why not give him this one? It would also be quite exciting to see Milner and Walcott attacking down the same flank. Stewart Downing’s form for Villa suggests he deserves to come on for Gerrard at some point.

Up front, we all know about Rooney. Hopefully he’ll play at least a half or so. We know Heskey is Capello’s preferred target striker, and I fully agree with him, but would be nice for Carlton Cole to get one last chance to impress alongside Rooney.

So there you go, that’s my starting XI for England vs Egypt. Please let us know your starting XI in the comments.

UPDATE: Starting XI has been named.

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Thom

———–Hart———–

Brown Terry Shawcross Warnock

Milner Lampard Barry Gerrard

——Rooney Heskey——-

Milner is a MIDFIELDER playing him at full back in the long term is not fair to him.
http://www.worldcupblog.org Daryl

We just don’t have many other options in terms of fullbacks who can get forward as well as defend Thom.

Also, I genuinely suspect that this is what Capello is planning to do against Egypt, mostly because Milner was listed amongst the defenders when the FA released the squad:
http://thefa.com/England/MensSeniorTeam/MatchCentre/2010/EnglandEgypt/MatchPreviews/CapelloNamesSquad.aspx

Obviously his England future lies in midfield, but I see no harm in him filling in at fullback for a while.
http://www.egylovers.com/vb/showthread.php?t=32125 ahmed

egyption team is the best in africa
Dan

Hart
Brown Terry Upson Baines
Lennon Lampard Barry Gerrard
Rooney Cole
Abdul

Look forward to seeing Algeria play England. It’ll be an exciting match. Hope Algeria outperforms England both in play and score.
Hany

Nice Article Daryl. I’m really surprised no-one’s mentioned Lescott at left back at all. Lescott 2 seasons ago was arguably the best left back in England with Everton, I remember I had him all season long on my fantasy team and was almost the highest defender to score points. I think defensively he’s the only one that can stop Muhammadi’s pace and crosses. I don’t think either Warnock or Baines can stop our full back. I won’t lie I don’t see enough of Baines or Warnock with Everton and Villa but from what I hear they’re not too good. May the best team win tomorrow, I’ve done a preview myself if you’d like to check it out. Good Luck.
tom

[edited]

in what world does algeria outperform england im sorry but that just wont happen.

my team would be
HART
Milner Terry shawcross Warnock
walcott lampard barry downing
rooney crouch

this is not the best team i would choose its just some players need a chance and players like downing haven’t played in a while, i would love milner to play in centre mid and take barry’s place he;s so much better than barry there anyway and would love shawcross to get a chance i think he’s a quality young player and warnock is quality in that position and imo should be at least second choice left back and even though im a villa fan i think crouch is much more of an aerial threat and would help players around him more than heskey in the air and has the ability and is constantly scoring much more than heskey and obviously walcott playing well is just world class and because of his speed could tear teams apart, too bad he doesn’t have many good days
http://www.worldcupblog.org Daryl

Dan,

Lennon’s injured and so not in the squad. Did you mean Walcott on the right?
http://soccerlimeyinamerica.com SoccerLimey

Hart
Brown Terry Upson Baines

Walcott Gerrard Lampard Barry

Rooney Cole

I’d sub Milner on for Walcott, Carrick on for Lampard, and DEfoe on for Rooney at the half. I don’t see any point in playing anyone that won’t make the plane. He has to start gelling his squad now so Shawcross sits out.
Lorenzo

I’d rather see David James at right back instead of Milner. It’s not that I think Milner shouldn’t be in the team or anything, but I do think that somebody’s taking the mickey if they think firstly that Milner’s the best right back in the country (a position that he’s played, in total, this season for about 30 minutes), and secondly that there’s any attacking midfielder, Lampard and Gerard included, that’s been playing better than Milner over the last 6 months. It’s an insult to Milner and an insult to the selection policy of picking players on form and amount of games played rather than reputation that people think that Walcott can even be on the bench, yet alone playing ahead of him.
larks

Agree with Lorenzo our selection policy is a joke – Id play milner in the middle with gerrard – Both can get up and down the field well and would also alow gerrard a chance to attack more where he is best.. Wont happen but would be nice!
http://salsabeelq8.blogspot.com Manal

Looking forwad to watch the game

I’ll be on my way to The Webley stadium

)

good luck
http://Soundoff Emmanuel

I think rooney and heskey should start as forwards then defoe should coming during the break as for egypt they have no worries so i am expecting a tight game.
matt

hart
brown,lescott,shawcross,baines
wallcott,milner,carrick,downing
cole,defoe
id say that cus he is gonna take his top players so why not try an decide his reserves through a game like this if we are losing he will bring rooney and gerrard on to change the game
http://www.worldcupblog.org Daryl

Starting XI has been named:

http://england.worldcupblog.org/world-cup-2010/england-vs-egypt-open-thread.html

Please leave any match related comments on that post.
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