Who Will be in and Out of Capello’s 23 Man World Cup Squad?

With qualification secured early to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, Fabio Capello’s mind may have started to wander a little towards his final 23 man squad for the tournament next June and July.
From the last squad, picked to play against Ukraine and Belarus, sixteen are already pencilled in to make the trip to South Africa. So that leaves just eight spots up for grabs. Here, I shall take a look at the possible and probable candidates.

Already assured of a ticket on the plane are goalkeepers Rob Green and David James. 
Two left backs in Wayne Bridge and Ashley Cole. Rightback Glen Johnson and centre backs John Terry, Matthew Upson and Rio Ferdinand are certain to feature
In midfield Gareth Barry, David Beckham, Michael Carrick, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard are shoe-ins ,whilst up front , Jermaine Defoe, Emile Heskey, Wayne Rooney are definite members of the group.

So, who will take those final eight berths? Let’s start with the keepers. I think that Rob Green is certainly number one. David James will be a brilliant number two, who can step in at a moment’s notice, as he did against Ukraine. The third goalkeeper is a tough one. Joe Hart and Ben Foster are certainly going to feature heavily in the future, but I believe that Mr Capello will go with the experience of Paul Robinson.

In defence, Ashley Cole and Wayne Bridge nail down the left side, but Glen Johnson is the only right back of any real quality. To cover this position, I would use Owen Hargreaves. Obviously, all my selections are in the ideal world-i.e no injuries! Hargreaves can play right back very well, and can also offer cover in midfield. The fourth centre back would be Joleon Lescott. He can also provide left back cover, should disaster strike. Wes Brown and Jagielka could come into the frame should injuries occur.

Midfield, as always, provides much debate.
In addition to Barry, Beckham, Carrick, Gerrard and Lampard I would add Walcott, Lennon and Joe Cole. Cole is the one player who can do the unpredictable. Walcott and Lennon can be very good impact players, but I would expect Joe Cole to start games, along with Barry, Gerrard and Lampard. James Milner , Ashley Young, Scott Parker and Shaun Wright-Phillips will be unlucky this time around.

In attack, Rooney is a certain starter, barring suspension! I am not a fan of Heskey at all. In fact, I would not have him in at all. However, I concede that Mr Capello likes him, so he will probably start each game. Defoe and Crouch are impact players who provide something different. Walcott can also score goals, as he showed by scoring a hat-trick in Croatia.
Darren Bent, Gabby Agbonlahor and Carlton Cole will miss out, although Carlton Cole is, in my opinion, a better player than Heskey.

So, my final 23 for South Africa 2010 is ;

Keepers Green James Robinson
Defenders A. Cole Bridge Johnson Hargreaves Terry Ferdinand Upson Lescott
Midfield Barry Beckham Carrick Gerrard Lampard Walcott J. Cole Lennon
Forwards Rooney Heskey Defoe Crouch