TONIGHT’S ENGLAND GAME is a World Cup warm-up game that’s made me realise I’m not warmed up for Germany 2006.
The match is at Anfield and we are playing Uruguay, a team knocked out of the World Cup by Australia in a play-off.
The two main things about this World Cup are that it’s in Europe and it’s at sea level. That means we can play a high-tempo game rather than a tactical, energy-saving game.
We have powerhouse athletes in Rooney and Gerrard, who can set the tone. We have huge experience in Gary Neville, Beckham, Owen and Rio Ferdinand.
TONIGHT’S TEAM IS Robinson; Neville Ferdinand Terry Bridge; Beckham Gerrard Carrick Joe Cole; Rooney, Darren Bent.
Ashley Cole and Owen are still out and Lampard has a hamstring injury.
We don’t expect much from Sven’s friendlies, of course. He will change the team at half-time and the result does not matter to him.
The main point of interest is Darren Bent, the Charlton striker who might displace Jermain Defoe from the 23 that get on that plane. Sven says 20 of his squad are nailed-on, if fit.
Playing in this team, Bent can expect service from Rooney, Beckham and Gerrard, and maybe from Carrick too. He will have chances tonight, so it’s a good moment to make his debut.
Although not a natural poacher like Defoe, Bent is bigger and has more pace over 50 yards, so if we play power football in Germany he may be more suited to that mission than Defoe.
Bent can do some of the things that Saha was doing against Wigan on Sunday.Saha is a better Man United partner for Rooney than van Nistelrooy, and Bent may be a better England partner for Rooney than Defoe. English football is about speed, presence, desire and determination.Rooney has power, vision and huge skill in both feet, but he needs fast players making runs for him.
Sven is basically a long-ball manager anyway, so he likes strikers like Bent who will chase long balls into the corners all night long.Bent is a better footballer than Heskey and I have a sneaking feeling that Sven might take him.But he will have to play well tonight.He will have passes. He will have chances. I’m hoping it will be Rooney to Bent… what a goal !!
MICHAEL CARRICK is a useful technical player, but not physical enough to play the anchor role in a World Cup.
That is a vital role, however, and a solid keep-ball player like Carrick might be invaluable against teams like Paraguay and Trinidad & Tobago, even if you would not play him against Italy, Germany or Brazil.
PARAGUAY are in Wales tonight. Results suggest they are better than Uruguay.
Last night England Under-21s beat Norway 3-1 with David Bentley scoring twice.
By April I will try to be warmed up for the World Cup. Today, on freezing March 1st, I’m only thinking: It’s Germany, it’s sea level, we can play Premiership power football there.Which we could not do in Korea-Japan 2002.
Since 2002, England have become more formidable.They have Rooney now and Joe Cole has improved under Mourinho. I fancy Joe to score tonight.
_____________________________________
Croatia play Argentina tonight on ITV4 if you want to see Messi.That is a 7.15 kick-off.
Robbie Keane captains the Irish against Sweden on Sky Sports 2
Wales play Paraguay on Sky Sports 1.
And at 10 pm on Bravo you can see Italy v Germany.