Sunday, August 28, 2005

James dropped for World Cup qualifiers

David James has been left out of the England set up for the crucial World Cup qualifiers against Wales and Northern Ireland. The Manchester City goalkeeper pays the price for his poor display in England's 4-1 friendly defeat by Denmark and is replaced by West Brom's Chris Kirkland. Glen Johnson of Chelsea and Alan Smith of Man United are also left out while Liverpool full back Stephen Warnock is given his first international call-up. Darren Bent keeps his place and Crystal Palace's Andy Johnson is recalled.



England squad in full: Robinson (Tottenham), Green (Norwich), Kirkland (Liverpool); Young (Charlton), Warnock (Liverpool), P Neville (Everton), A Cole (Arsenal), Carragher(Liverpool), Ferdinand (Man Utd), Terry (Chelsea), Upson (Birmingham), Beckham (Real Madrid), Gerrard (Liverpool), Lampard (Chelsea), J Cole (Chelsea), Hargreaves (Bayern Munich), Wright-Phillips (Chelsea), Jenas (Newcastle), Carrick (Tottenham), Richardson (Man Utd); Owen* (Real Madrid), Rooney (Man Utd), Defoe (Tottenham), A Johnson (Crystal Palace), Bent (Charlton)
*suspended for Wales game

I don't really think James is any good for England but for Man City he is a great keeper. I don't think Man City will be to bothered about this because they now have James fresh and ready for the Manchester Derby which is on the 10th of September. It looks like a pretty strong side and it is good to see John Terry and Steven Gerrard are in the side because they were doubts.