Wednesday 16th May, 1:00pm, Wembley, The FA announce the 23 man England squad for this summer’s European Championships. The feeling that these 23 will get from making this squad and being given the chance to help their nation on the path to glory must be phenomenal, probably only winning the tournament itself could feel better.
For better or worse these 23 Englishmen will make headlines over the coming weeks as their every move in Poland and the Ukraine (on and off the pitch) will be scrutinized.
The inclusion of two uncapped players in Paul Ruddy and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is the big news story, but what about those who have missed out? For every man who made the England squad there is another who is left dejected. Some counting down the days until the World Cup in 2014, others knowing that their England days are probably now behind them.
One of those who has potentially pulled on an England shirt for the last time is Manchester United’s Rio Ferdinand. Probably the most notable absentee from this squad, Ferdinand has made 81 appearances for his country and finished the season strongly for his club.
But with speculation rife that new manager Roy Hodgson could not take Rio and John Terry (with Terry’s impending court case for allegedly racially abusing Rio’s brother Anton still hanging overhead) it seemed that one of England’s two most experienced centre backs would not be on the plane to Eastern Europe. Rio is that man.
His fitness had been called into question after a number of injuries and it was plausible that he couldn’t handle the rigours of two games in four days. This made Hodgson’s decision to essentially end the international career of one of England’s most reliable servants a little easier. The younger legs of Gary Cahill, Joleon Lescott and Phil Jones preferred.
Fitness was also an issue for Darren Bent and Kyle Walker. Bent failed to return to the Aston Villa team before the end of the season, while Tottenham’s Walker is all but ruled out with a foot injury. With a squad that already includes a fitness doubt in the form of midfielder Scott Parker, and a striker in Wayne Rooney who is suspended for the first two games, no more gambles could afford to be taken. Bent and Walker miss out, one would presume they’ll be knocking on the door again in two years’ time.
Of course yesterday’s squad announcement isn’t necessarily the end of the Euro’s for everybody. The only people in the country (perhaps) crossing their fingers and hoping for an injury within the squad, are our back-up players. Ready to be called upon should the worst happen.
Young Birmingham ‘keeper Jack Butland, Phil Jagielka, Adam Johnson, Jordan Henderson and Daniel Sturridge will all be hoping for a last minute call up. Just as Michael Dawson received at the last World Cup. There’s hope yet.
However, the manager clearly can’t pick everyone and there are still players all over the country who could honestly stake a claim.
This season Michael Carrick played 37 times for a side who so very nearly won the Premier League. As a central midfielder much of his competition, such as Jack Wilshire and Tom Huddlestone, have missed the entire season yet Carrick is still not even held back in reserve. What more could he have done?
As it turns out, Carrick didn't wish to be on the back-up list. A cause for a future debate- he took the stance that if he wouldn't be pushing for a starting role, sitting on the bench isn't an option he'd appreciate.
Still, the back-up option could then be argued for Swansea City’s Leon Britton, whose stats have shown him to be one of the most accurate passers of the ball in European football this season.
There are plenty of other experienced internationals in the same position. Aaron Lennon and Peter Crouch have both had respectable campaigns for their clubs, each finishing the season strongly. Even so, they both seemingly came closer to making the squad than England’s true ‘Forgotten Man’.
Scrolling through numerous articles online and watching extensive TV coverage I saw Crouch and Lennon mentioned, as well as the likes of Rio, Grant Holt, Micah Richards and numerous others who didn’t quite make the cut. Nowhere have I seen the name Joe Cole mentioned.
A rejuvenated Cole has received many plaudits for his performances this season. He already has 56 international appearances behind him and at only 30 years of age is still capable of adding that little creative spark to England’s midfield.
Unfortunately his excellent season has happened as far afield as France (essentially just a train ride away) for Ligue 1 club Lille. Not far then, but certainly outside the gaze of the England hierarchy. Could England be the only nation at the Euro’s to have 100% of their squad come from their own domestic league? I’d imagine so.
It’s a shame for Joe Cole. Out of sight, out of mind, I guess. The same probably goes for Scott Carson of Bursaspor, when an admittedly impressive yet ultimately untested goalkeeper is drafted up in his place.
The Micah Richard’s, Aaron Lennon’s and Michael Carrick’s of this world will certainly feel the benefit of a summer off and a full pre-season behind them. But that will ultimately be of little consolation to them when they watch their team-mates on TV this summer, thinking about what might have been.