England v Estonia - European Qualifying - Oct 13

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European Championship Qualifying - Saturday, 13 October 2007

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England v Estonia

STAR Sports Channel 24 - 10.00pm (Live)

England: Paul Robinson, Scott Carson, David James, Sol Campbell, Joleon Lescott, Nicky Shorey, Micah Richards, Ashley Cole, Rio Ferdinand, John Terry, Wes Brown, Phil Neville, Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard, Gareth Barry, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Joe Cole, David Bentley, Stewart Downing, Ashley Young, Wayne Rooney, Michael Owen, Alan Smith, Peter Crouch, Jermain Defoe.

Estonia: Mart Poom, Sergei Pareiko, Mihkel Aksalu, Raio Piiroja, Ragnar Klavan, Alo Barengrub, Dmitri Kruglov, Andrei Stepanov, Teet Allas, Urmas Rooba, Martin Reim, Sergei Terehhov, Joel Lindpere, Aivar Anniste, Taavi Rahn, Aleksandr Dmitrijev, Enar Jaager, Oliver Konsa, Tarmo Kink, Kristen Viikmae, Kaimar Saag.

Other European Championship Qualifying Matches

Armenia v Serbia
Azerbaijan v Portugal
Belarus v Luxembourg
Belgium v Finland
Croatia v Israel
Cyprus v Wales
Denmark v Spain
Faroe Islands v France
Greece v Bosnia-Herzegovina
Hungary v Malta
Iceland v Latvia
Italy v Georgia
Liechtenstein v Sweden
Moldova v Turkey
Poland v Kazakhstan
Rep of Ireland v Germany
Romania v Holland
Scotland v Ukraine
Slovakia v San Marino
Slovenia v Albania

zocoss SG

McClaren set to stand by Barry and make Lampard wait

Frank Lampard's hopes of an immediate return to the England line-up, against Estonia on Saturday, are fading. It is thought Steve McClaren will stand by the midfield that developed when the Chelsea player was injured, keeping Gareth Barry in the centre with Steven Gerrard.

Lampard is likely to be reinstated in Moscow four days later, however, as England switch from 4-4-2 to 4-3-3 and he takes a place beside Barry and Gerrard. The formation would allow McClaren to get 10 men behind the ball when necessary.

The manager is still considering leaving out certain defenders on Saturday so that they do not risk incurring a second booking of the campaign that would stop them facing Russia. Sol Campbell and Nicky Shorey spent part of yesterday's training match in the stronger line-up instead of the captain, John Terry, and Ashley Cole.

Michael Owen is insistent on playing a full part a mere fortnight after surgery for a double hernia. Some questioned his fitness or motives. "That's why I am in an aggressive mood," the Newcastle United striker said. He will be in the starting line-up at Wembley on Saturday.

Owen scored the decisive goal as a substitute in the 3-2 victory over Everton last weekend. The Newcastle manager, Sam Allardyce, has been concerned about a heavy workload being imposed too soon but both men deny any conflict. "It's just people trying to get between myself and Michael," said Allardyce.

zocoss SG

Barry bubbling as England wake up to the talent of Villa's inspiration

Gareth Barry is emerging from the obscurity of captaining Aston Villa. It is remarkable that for all the experience of his 298 Premier League appearances, gained in 11 seasons at Villa Park, the 26-year-old feels it is only now that he is receiving the respect he craves.

But far from Barry saying Villa are nothing, he is saying - unlike Newcastle United's Joey Barton - that playing for England is everything. "England's a massive thing. It's fanatically supported all over the country and the recognition comes with it," he said. "In terms of things being written about me and on the radio, you're always going to have this debate because England is so big. That's nice for my name to be mentioned in a positive way."

After winning his first England cap aged 19, Barry has collected only 11 more in the intervening years. That has not stopped him dutifully attending squads when the call has come, although he has often done so feeling disappointment was inevitable. Indeed, having been used only twice by Sven-Goran Eriksson - as a substitute at the fag end of friendly matches when the Swede used a roulette of replacements in 2003 - he thought the opportunity to have an England career had passed him by.

"Sometimes it's hard when you're in squad after squad and you're not really being talked about playing," he said. "You go away from England, you get your head down and you try to play as well as you can for your club. You wait for your chance. But I felt that with a new management coming in my chance would come again and eventually it did. The last two games my chance came and you put your name forward. It's patience and it comes with football, especially here with so many good players."

Barry put in what were as good as man-of-the-match performances against Israel and Russia last month and no one - except perhaps Frank Lampard, the man he replaced - would begrudge him his time in the limelight. But he insists that despite his competition with the fit-again Chelsea midfielder there is no boiling tension about whom Steve McClaren will entrust to start Saturday's match against Estonia alongside Steven Gerrard.

gunner77 SG

why is england badge bigger than estonia ?

looking down ? Evil or Very Mad

omgukilledkenny SG

If McClaren plays Lampard instead of Barry, and gets a bad result, he’s surely gonna get blasted by the fans and media.

zocoss SG

Barry and Gerrard impressed hugely against Israel and Russia

Barry deserves spot, says Gerrard

England captain Steven Gerrard says Gareth Barry does not deserve to be dropped for their Euro 2008 qualifier against Estonia at Wembley on Saturday. Boss Steve McClaren must decide whether to stick with Barry or recall Frank Lampard alongside Gerrard in midfield.

Gerrard, who skippers the side in the absence of the injured John Terry, said: "They are both great midfielders. "Gareth was probably man of the match in the last two games and he might feel hard done by if he was dropped."

Barry produced two terrific performances in central midfield against Israel and Russia last month as England got their Euro 2008 qualifying campaign back on track with two 3-0 wins. The Aston Villa star was given the nod after injuries to Lampard and Owen Hargreaves and complemented Gerrard perfectly as England dominated both games.

Lampard and Gerrard have struggled to form a partnership when they have played together, but Gerrard says he is happy to play with either man. He added: "It doesn't matter to me who plays - I played well with Gareth in the last games but I've played well alongside Frank too, I wouldn't say Gareth got the best out of me.

"I might have to change my game slightly to play with both of them but that is something I feel I can do at this level and I am comfortable playing with both." McClaren has admitted he faces a difficult decision, as Lampard has not been left out of a competitive international when fit since October 2003 when England drew 0-0 in Istanbul.

The England coach said: "The Barry and Lampard decision is a massive one, but it is a good position to be in. "They are two players who have performed well - Frank consistently over two or three years, Gareth in the last two games. "The team is the most important thing, not individuals and I think all the players understand that.

a-Lost-9uY SG

y always fav. team to win = bigger logo Question Laughing

anhydrouscoppersulphate SG

Liverpool ace Steven Gerrard will captain England against Estonia in John Terry's absence.

With usual captain Terry out of Saturday's Euro 2008 qualifier, head coach Steve McClaren has asked Gerrard to take the armband.

Gerrard is hopeful Terry will be fit enough to return against Russia on Wednesday, but is happy to be captain in his absence.

"I think JT's got a bit of a knee problem. Hopefully he'll be able to play on Wednesday," he said live on Sky Sports News.

"The manager has told me I'm skipper. To be captain at the new Wembley will be a special day for myself."

Kuali Baba SG

EESTI! EESTI!

stellazio SG

why does he want to change to a 4-3-3 against russia..

never change a winning team.. Neutral Rolling Eyes

omgukilledkenny SG

England: Robinson, Richards, Campbell, Ferdinand, Ashley Cole, Wright-Phillips, Gerrard, Barry, Joe Cole, Rooney, Owen

Subs: James, Lescott, Neville, Lampard, Bentley, Crouch, Defoe

Nadare SG

they should win tonite..

omgukilledkenny SG

The own goal by Estonia was a very good header sia. Shocked

TrixCereals SG

Estonia should deserve at least a goal or two for their effort imo.

brokenluv SG

lots of possesion but never looked very threatening in front of goal. i think heskey is missed. 2nd half was shit but nice work from joe cole.

TrixCereals SG

Crouch looked kinda fustrated. Sad

freedom4ever SG

3-0. 2nd half kinda boring.

Nadare SG

cleared handicap

798 SG

even though terry nvr play today, he shown wat a capt should be by showing care for his fellow player, cashley cole, who was injured. Very Happy

Kuali Baba SG

First goal was the result of a sloppy mistake by Kruglov. The other 2 (deflections of Piiroja and Rähn) were unfortunate. But the Estonians improved and created some chances in the second half, though the Brits at the pub dismissed it as England dropping a gear. I’m still proud of them.