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Saturday 20 May 2006
England's strikers
Who should play upfront?


With the injuries to Wayne Rooney and Michael Owen who should play upfront?

True, Rooney could be fit but, if we are honest, he probably won't play in the first two matches if he is.

And whilst Owen is talking himself up - "I'm feeling fine - and I have been fine for quite a while now. I have been training since the season finished, I have been training with no problems for a while now and I am excited about the World Cup." - his lack of match time has got to be an issue.

Well, of the forwards that Sven Goran Eriksson is taking to Germany Peter Crouch is fit and has experience of playing first class football, or should I say, playing in first class football matches!

He may be 6ft 7inches tall and a very physical presence in the opposition's penalty area but his lack of goals this season has to be a worry - just 7 premiership goals for Liverpool.

Crouch's real gift to the England squad is his ability to hold the ball up and if he can knock it back to the likes of Gerrard and Frank Lampard then they can do the rest.

Steven Gerrard, however, might not find himself in the midfield. The Liverpool captain's recent performances have obviously pleased Sven:

"Steven Gerrard can play in a lot of positions and one is as a second striker. I'm sure he could play as first striker but a lot depends on Rooney."

Gerrard has scored 23 times for Liverpool this season including two absolute crackers in the FA Cup Final against West Ham, undoubtedly saving the game for Merseyside team.

And Joe Cole has thrown his hat into the ring as the man to fill Rooney's boots:

'We're in the dark about Wayne's injury a bit,' said Cole. 'It's bad luck because he is an important player for us but I would be honoured to step into Wayne's shoes. I would play anywhere the manager wants me to play.

'I have played in most positions before. When you play for England you cannot pick and choose.

'But if he wants me to play that role for England then I will do it. It is no problem.

Obviously, I am a different sort of player to Wayne. He is his own man and a great player, but I would give it a go and do my best for the team.'

Cole has notched up 10 goals for Chelsea this season, and has scored 5 for England during his international career.

Last but not least is Sven's biggest gamble to date - Theo Walcott. The 17 year old may have signed a £12 million deal with Arsenal but he is yet to have played a Premierhip game, and Sven has admitted to having never seen him play a match!

But Sven has been watching him training and is obviously impressed:

"He looks to be very bright. It's not easy for him, of course, to settle in with a lot of good football players. It's a gamble and I'm happy I did it.

"He seems very stable and is just a young boy and of course he is happy to be here."

And Arsene Wenger would not have spent that much cash on a 17 year old if he wasn't something very special.

Tord Grip has said that England need a Plan B to cope without Wayne Rooney, but it's looking like they have plenty of options.
Source of info is: Discussed down the pub
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football4real,Saturday 20 May 2006
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