Post by Salem6 on May 28, 2004 9:29:06 GMT
England enjoying the Sardinian sun and, Vassell aside, Sven's squad is looking in good shape!
By Dave Smith
ENGLAND EURO 2004 COUNTDOWN
The same six England players who sat out yesterday's session at the national team's training camp in sun-drenched Sardinia were also afforded another day of relative rest as the remainder of Sven Goran Eriksson's squad prepared for next week's Summer Tournament in Manchester and, of course, the Euro finals in Portugal - and that crucial opening game against France.
Manchester United's FA Cup Final quartet of Paul Scholes, Gary Neville, Phil Neville and Nicky Butt, together with England captain David Beckham, recovering from a hectic and ultimately disappointing first season in Spain, and Owen Hargreaves have yet to be put through their paces, but injury doubt Darius Vassell is back in 'light training' as he bids to shake off a hamstring injury.
Apart from the fitness of Villa striker Vassell, who will be replaced by Tottenham's Jermain Defoe if he fails to convince Eriksson his hamstring can stand up to the rigours of a massive tournament, the England coach's biggest concern ahead of the French clash surrounds his back four, which has been decimated by the Rio Ferdinand suspension and injuries to Jonathan Woodgate and Gareth Southgate.
Eriksson will almost certainly start, further injuries permitting, with Sol Campbell and John Terry at the heart of his defence - no mean partnership in itself - but Ledley King, a relative newcomer to the England set-up but already with an international goal to his name is ready, willing and eager to step in, if and when required.
Ledley King: "We stand a great chance in the tournament, with the players we've got. There's no reason why we can't go there and win it if we perform to our potential." (©GettyImages)
King is one of the most recent additions to Eriksson's squad, having only made his full debut in February's friendly in Portugal, and he will provide the back-up to Campbell and Terry, along with Liverpool's play-anywhere defender Jamie Carragher. King is looking forward to the experience and reckons England can go all the way.
"It's quite a young squad and has bonded very well. We stand a great chance in the tournament, with the players we've got. There's no reason why we can't go there and win it if we perform to our potential," declared the Tottenham defender who has been a close friend of Arsenal full back Ashley Cole since they played in the same London youth side, Tower Hamlets.
"I used to play for the England youth team before Ashley, but he got into the senior squad earlier than me and I've had to follow in his footsteps," King recalled. "He's a very good friend and hasn't rubbed Arsenal's success this season in too much!" There's going to be plenty of time for that over the next few weeks Ledley, don't worry about that!
On a more serious note, the question marks over the fitness of Vassell will no doubt continue until he gets 90 minutes, or at least an hour, of match action under his belt. Vassell has been suffering from the recurrence of a hamstring injury which forced him to miss Villa's final game of the season against Manchester United, but he remains hopeful of winning the race against time and should figure in next week's summer tournament before Sven makes his final squad announcement on June 2.
England play Japan next Tuesday (8pm kick off) and then Iceland the following Sunday (3.30pm kick off) at the City of Manchester Stadium before they jet off to Portugal for the serious stuff - namely preparation for a huge opening clash against the French on June 13th. Hopefully, it will prove lucky for Sven and England.
It's a game double Footballer of the Year (again) Thierry Henry, for one, is looking forward to immensely and he says: "You have some good players and a great squad so you have nothing to be scared of. It will be a great game and, if we don't win the European Championships, I would like England to do it as I have some friends there.
"Even if you are a World Cup winner, then you still have to show to the English people that you can do it. That's the way it should be. I love that."
www.givemefootball.com/display.cfm?article=4440&type=1
By Dave Smith
ENGLAND EURO 2004 COUNTDOWN
The same six England players who sat out yesterday's session at the national team's training camp in sun-drenched Sardinia were also afforded another day of relative rest as the remainder of Sven Goran Eriksson's squad prepared for next week's Summer Tournament in Manchester and, of course, the Euro finals in Portugal - and that crucial opening game against France.
Manchester United's FA Cup Final quartet of Paul Scholes, Gary Neville, Phil Neville and Nicky Butt, together with England captain David Beckham, recovering from a hectic and ultimately disappointing first season in Spain, and Owen Hargreaves have yet to be put through their paces, but injury doubt Darius Vassell is back in 'light training' as he bids to shake off a hamstring injury.
Apart from the fitness of Villa striker Vassell, who will be replaced by Tottenham's Jermain Defoe if he fails to convince Eriksson his hamstring can stand up to the rigours of a massive tournament, the England coach's biggest concern ahead of the French clash surrounds his back four, which has been decimated by the Rio Ferdinand suspension and injuries to Jonathan Woodgate and Gareth Southgate.
Eriksson will almost certainly start, further injuries permitting, with Sol Campbell and John Terry at the heart of his defence - no mean partnership in itself - but Ledley King, a relative newcomer to the England set-up but already with an international goal to his name is ready, willing and eager to step in, if and when required.
Ledley King: "We stand a great chance in the tournament, with the players we've got. There's no reason why we can't go there and win it if we perform to our potential." (©GettyImages)
King is one of the most recent additions to Eriksson's squad, having only made his full debut in February's friendly in Portugal, and he will provide the back-up to Campbell and Terry, along with Liverpool's play-anywhere defender Jamie Carragher. King is looking forward to the experience and reckons England can go all the way.
"It's quite a young squad and has bonded very well. We stand a great chance in the tournament, with the players we've got. There's no reason why we can't go there and win it if we perform to our potential," declared the Tottenham defender who has been a close friend of Arsenal full back Ashley Cole since they played in the same London youth side, Tower Hamlets.
"I used to play for the England youth team before Ashley, but he got into the senior squad earlier than me and I've had to follow in his footsteps," King recalled. "He's a very good friend and hasn't rubbed Arsenal's success this season in too much!" There's going to be plenty of time for that over the next few weeks Ledley, don't worry about that!
On a more serious note, the question marks over the fitness of Vassell will no doubt continue until he gets 90 minutes, or at least an hour, of match action under his belt. Vassell has been suffering from the recurrence of a hamstring injury which forced him to miss Villa's final game of the season against Manchester United, but he remains hopeful of winning the race against time and should figure in next week's summer tournament before Sven makes his final squad announcement on June 2.
England play Japan next Tuesday (8pm kick off) and then Iceland the following Sunday (3.30pm kick off) at the City of Manchester Stadium before they jet off to Portugal for the serious stuff - namely preparation for a huge opening clash against the French on June 13th. Hopefully, it will prove lucky for Sven and England.
It's a game double Footballer of the Year (again) Thierry Henry, for one, is looking forward to immensely and he says: "You have some good players and a great squad so you have nothing to be scared of. It will be a great game and, if we don't win the European Championships, I would like England to do it as I have some friends there.
"Even if you are a World Cup winner, then you still have to show to the English people that you can do it. That's the way it should be. I love that."
www.givemefootball.com/display.cfm?article=4440&type=1