Should Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Scott Parker be captain? Should Arsenal winger Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain go to Euro 2012? Read on…
Jake’s Take: Columnist Jake Lane gives his thoughts on England’s plans for Euro 2012.
In 2006, Sven Goran Eriksson shocked the football world by selecting a 17-year-old Theo Walcott for the World Cup in Germany. Without a Premier League appearance to his name, Walcott’s selection was one many branded Eriksson “mad” for making.
This feeling was then justified when Sven decided not to play the teenage sensation during England’s run to the Quarter Finals.
Against Portugal in the Quarter Final, with England down to ten men after Rooney, Ronaldo and the infamous “winking gate”, Sven had nothing to lose and should have thrown young Walcott into the fray – if he came on and did nothing, then at least Sven would have had given him a go.
But if he had come on and set up or even scored the winner then he would have been a hero and Sven Goran Eriksson would have always been remembered for a gamble that paid off, like Sir Bobby Robson was for picking Gazza in 1990.
Instead, he brought on Jamie Carragher…
Fabio Capello faces a similar dilemma now with another speedy Arsenal youngster, Alex Oxlade Chamberlain.
Unlike Walcott in 2006, Chamberlain has featured for Arsenal in the Premier League but whether or not he would be ready to compete in the Euros this summer remains up for debate.
There is still a good three months of the season left yet so AOC could well prove himself before Mr Capello makes his decision but all I will say is this; if the Italian does see fit to give the former Southampton starlet a ticket on the plane then he must make it a worthwhile pick and play him in Poland and Ukraine.
Captain Parker
Scott Parker should be the next England Captain. He has always shown consistency over the years, recently settling into the Tottenham team as if he has been there forever.
In my opinion he should be a mainstay in the England line-up if we’re to have any chance of winning the European Championships in Poland and Ukraine in the summer.
Many people’s favourite for the role, Steven Gerrard, is as we all know, prone to injury so giving the armband to Parker would be the way forward –starting with the friendly against Holland later this month.
Scott Parker (unlike John Terry) would be a great example to kids and younger players learning their trade; have you ever heard of anything untoward Parker’s been up to in his social life? Didn’t think so.
Guilty or not, John Terry should not be on the plane come June – he has been and will be disruptive plus with the likes of Cahill, Jones and Smalling, we have enough class without him and to be honest, better players.
Follow Jake on Twitter @jakeey8
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