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| May 10, 2002 | Friday | Safar 26, 1423 |
England name injured Beckham
LONDON, May 9: Injured captain David Beckham and young midfielder Joe Cole were included in England’s squad for the World Cup on Thursday.
Coach Sven-Goran Eriksson has named a young squad for the finals in South Korea and Japan, including Bayern Munich’s midfielder Owen Hargreaves, central defender Wes Brown and Cole.
But there is experience in key positions with Arsenal central defender Martin Keown, 35, surprisingly winning a place ahead of Liverpool’s Jamie Carragher and 36-year-old forward Teddy Sheringham also named.
Defender Phil Neville misses out, a blow for the Neville family after regular right back Gary was sidelined for the finals with a broken foot. Beckham is also recovering from a broken foot.
Real Madrid midfielder Steve McManaman loses out to Newcastle United’s exciting Kieron Dyer for the problem area on the left side of midfield.
The pick broadly reflects the strength of England’s top three clubs with champions Arsenal and Manchester United supplying four players each and Liverpool three, including strikers Michael Owen and Emile Heskey.
However, Leeds United, despite a disappointing season, are providing four players.
Ten of the squad are survivors of England’s 1998 World Cup campaign in France.
There was no surprise between the posts where first-choice David Seaman is picked, along with David James and Nigel Martyn.
Ashley Cole and Wayne Bridge will handle the left side in defence, while Gary Neville’s absence has handed a place in the squad to combative Leeds United right-back Danny Mills.
SQUAD:
GOALKEEPERS: David Seaman (Arsenal), Nigel Martyn (Leeds United), David James (West Ham United).
DEFENDERS: Danny Mills, Rio Ferdinand (both Leeds United), Wes Brown (Manchester United), Sol Campbell, Ashley Cole (both Arsenal), Gareth Southgate (Middlesbrough), Wayne Bridge (Southampton), Martin Keown (Arsenal).
MIDFIELDERS: David Beckham, Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt (all Manchester United), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Kieron Dyer (Newcastle United), Owen Hargreaves (Bayern Munich), Joe Cole (West Ham United).
FORWARDS: Michael Owen, Emile Heskey (both Liverpool), Robbie Fowler (Leeds United), Darius Vassell (Aston Villa), Teddy Sheringham (Tottenham Hotspur).—Reuters
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