Capello Turns to Youngsters as England Rebuilds

LONDON, KOMPAS.com — Fabio Capello has begun the process of rebuilding England following a woeful World Cup by casting aside more than half of the squad and calling up uncapped youngsters Jack Wilshere and Kieran Gibbs for Wednesday’s friendly against Hungary.  Even though he is 29, Bobby Zamora was the third player to be called into the England setup for the first time on Saturday.

England’s first match since exiting the World Cup in the second round with a 4-1 loss to Germany is the only chance Capello has to experiment with his lineup before qualifying begins next month for the 2012 European Championship.  Capello fears the team could be booed at Wembley Stadium — even though just 10 players from the 23-man South Africa squad have survived the cut.

Of the 13 dropped players, only Emile Heskey announced his international retirement after the tournament, while fellow striker Jermain Defoe and midfielder Michael Carrick are injured.

Two goalkeepers have been ditched — David James, who played in three of the four World Cup matches but is now 40, and Robert Green, whose blunder gifted the Americans an equalizer in the opening match.   Joe Hart, who was the third ’keeper in South Africa, is joined in this squad by Paul Robinson — first-choice at the 2006 World Cup — and Ben Foster, whose move from Manchester United to Birmingham should give him the match experience he needs.

While Gibbs, the 20-year-old Arsenal left back has been called up as a likely understudy to Ashley Cole, Matthew Upson, Jamie Carragher, Ledley King and Stephen Warnock have paid the price for England’s dismal World Cup.

“This a real boost for me as I spent over five months out through injury,” Gibbs said. “Naturally my top priority at this moment in time is to get back to the level I was at before my injury and get some games under my belt with Arsenal, but of course, I would love to cement a place in the England team in the future.”

Manchester United’s Wes Brown and Everton’s Phil Jagielka have been recalled, while Bolton’s Gary Cahill will be hoping to earn his first cap after failing to make the team when he was called up in 2009.  Adam Johnson and Theo Walcott are returning to the England setup after making the provisional 30-man squad for South Africa, taking the places of wingers Shaun Wright-Phillips and Aaron Lennon.

Aston Villa’s Ashley Young is also back in Capello’s plans. While Wilshere, Arsenal’s 18-year-old midfielder, could be in line for his debut, Joe Cole is a surprise omission after impressing on his Liverpool debut in the Europa League on Thursday.

“Being called up to the England squad is a proud moment,” Wilshere said. “But my first target is to break into the Arsenal team and play on a regular basis.”

Up front, there is no place for Peter Crouch, with Carlton Cole and Darren Bent returning alongside Zamora and Wayne Rooney, who failed to score at the World Cup.        ———         Squad:         Goalkeepers: Ben Foster (Birmingham), Joe Hart (Manchester City), Paul Robinson (Blackburn Rovers).

Defenders: Wes Brown (Manchester United), Gary Cahill (Bolton Wanderers), Ashley Cole (Chelsea), Michael Dawson (Tottenham), Kieran Gibbs (Arsenal), Phil Jagielka (Everton), Glen Johnson (Liverpool), John Terry (Chelsea).

Midfielders: Gareth Barry (Manchester City), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Adam Johnson (Manchester City), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), James Milner (Aston Villa), Ashley Young (Aston Villa), Theo Walcott (Arsenal), Jack Wilshere (Arsenal)        

Strikers: Darren Bent (Sunderland), Carlton Cole (West Ham United), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Bobby Zamora (Fulham).