Capello: No guarantees for Carra
FABIO CAPELLO told of his delight at luring Jamie Carragher out of international retirement – yet he still refuses to guarantee him a place in his World Cup squad.
The 32-year-old turned his back on England in July 2007, citing a lack of first-team opportunities.
But despite being tempted back by Capello and recalled to the 30-man provisional squad yesterday, the Liverpool defender has still been made no guarantees of a regular start.
“He is one of the 30 players,” Capello said. “During the training camp I will evaluate the performance of each player, after that I will decide.”
Explaining how Carragher’s inclusion came about, he added: “We started two months ago, we spoke with him, [assistant] Franco Baldini met him two weeks ago and he was happy to stay with us and we decided to select him. I selected him because he is a really, really good player.”
Capello confirmed, however, that he failed to lure Manchester United veteran Paul Scholes out of retirement also. Asked if he had tried, Capello admitted: “Yes, but it was up to him. He said no, he preferred to stay with the family. But I tried, yes.”
Carragher got the nod alongside Tottenham’s in-form centre-back partnership of Ledley King and Michael Dawson, with Wes Brown and Joleon Lescott out through injury.
Dawson is one of two uncapped players selected, along with Man City winger Adam Johnson, while West Ham’s Scott Parker, Tottenham’s Tom Huddlestone and Sunderland’s 24-goal striker Darren Bent were also named.
ENGLAND’S 30-MAN PROVISIONAL SQUAD FOR THE WORLD CUP FINALS
THE GOALKEEPERS
Robert Green
Age: 30
Club: West Ham
Caps: 9
David James
Age: 39
Club: Portsmouth
Caps: 49
Joe Hart
Age: 23
Club: Man City
Caps: 1
THE DEFENDERS
Leighton Baines
Age: 25
Club: Everton
Caps: 1
Jamie Carragher
Age: 32
Club: Liverpool
Caps: 34
Ashley Cole
Age: 29
Club: Chelsea
Caps: 77
Michael Dawson
Age: 26
Club: Tottenham
Caps: 0
Rio Ferdinand
Age: 31
Club: Man Utd
Caps/Gls: 76/3
Glen Johnson
Age: 25
Club: Liverpool
Caps: 20
Ledley King
Age: 29
Club: Tottenham
Caps/Gls: 19/1
John Terry
Age: 29
Club: Chelsea
Caps/Gls: 59/6
Matthew Upson
Age: 31
Club: West Ham
Caps/Gls: 19/1
Stephen Warnock
Age: 28
Club: Aston Villa
Caps: 1
THE MIDFIELDERS
Gareth Barry
Age: 29
Club: Man City
Caps/Gls: 36/2
Michael Carrick
Age: 28
Club: Man Utd
Caps: 21
Joe Cole
Age: 28
Club: Chelsea
Caps/Gls: 53/10
Steven Gerrard
Age: 29
Club: Liverpool
Caps/Gls: 78/16
Tom Huddlestone
Age: 23
Club: Tottenham
Caps: 1
Adam Johnson
Age: 22
Club: Man City
Caps: 0
Frank Lampard
Age: 31
Club: Chelsea
Caps/Gls: 77/20
Aaron Lennon
Age: 23
Club: Tottenham
Caps: 0
James Milner
Age: 24
Club: Aston Villa
Caps: 7
Scott Parker
Age: 29
Club: West Ham
Caps: 3
Theo Walcott
Age: 21
Club: Arsenal
Caps/Gls: 9/3
S.Wright-Phillips
Age: 28
Club: Man City
Caps/Gls: 30/6
THE FORWARDS
Darren Bent
Age: 26
Club: Sunderland
Caps: 5
Peter Crouch
Age: 29
Club: Tottenham
Caps/Gls: 37/20
Jermain Defoe
Age: 27
Club: Tottenham
Caps/Gls: 39/11
Emile Heskey
Age: 32
Club: Aston Villa
Caps/Gls: 57/7
Wayne Rooney
Age: 24
Club: Man Utd
Caps/Gls: 58/25