http://www.football.co.uk/england/lineker_makes_case_for_crouch_rss2232690.shtml Peter Crouch has received the Euro 2012 backing of former England sharp-shooter Gary Lineker. New boss Roy Hodgson is due to unveil his 23-man England squad on Wednesday afternoon and is facing a number of selection dilemmas. Choosing his strikers could be particularly difficult given that obvious first choice Wayne Rooney is suspended for the opening two Group D matches against France and Sweden. Stoke forward Crouch is the man Lineker would like to see involved. The former Everton and Tottenham striker said: "I would be surprised if Crouch is not in the squad. He is a proven goalscorer at international level, especially against weaker teams, and there are a couple of those in our group." He added: "He can keep the ball and gives you a different option. With Crouch there is a tendency to want to hit long balls, which doesn't really work at that level. "But it is only because he is so big. Technically, he is a decent footballer. I don't know what Capello's thinking was but I would definitely consider him." Rooney's Manchester United team-mate Danny Welbeck is strongly fancied to make the cut despite missing his club's final two games with an ankle injury. Darren Bent would have been a certainty too had it not been for the ankle injury that has kept him sidelined since February. The Aston Villa man has confirmed he will be fully fit before the finals begin in Poland and Ukraine on June 8. But after such a long time out, Hodgson would be taking a major risk considering there are just two friendlies - against Norway and Belgium - before the France encounter in Donetsk on June 11. Andy Carroll has made a late surge with his recent form for Liverpool and Chelsea's Daniel Sturridge has performed well in patches. Hodgson has offered few clues to his eventual selection. On two separate occasions though, most recently on Monday evening, the 64-year-old has said he needed to pay considerable attention to the players responsible for getting England to the European Championship.
Waddo Just nipped out for 10mins and the wife tells me, SS New's are saying Crouch is unlikely too get into the squad?? Might just be that Woy is keeping his cards close until Wednesday! Only thing I did hear Ferdinand will not be going.
Potts I think you are correct mate just seen this - http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/may/15/rio-ferdinand-roy-hodgson-england-euro-2012 Euro 2012: Rio Ferdinand dropped from England squad • Roy Hodgson visits Chelsea to talk to John Terry • Micah Richards and Peter Crouch also omitted Rio Ferdinand has suffered from recurrent back and calf injuries over the past three seasons but he has played all of Manchester United's last 12 matches. Photograph: John Peters/Man Utd via Getty Images Rio Ferdinand's broken relationship with John Terry may have ended his England career after Roy Hodgson decided to sacrifice the Manchester United defender from his Euro 2012 plans. Hodgson contacted Ferdinand on Tuesday to inform him that he would not be including him in his squad for the tournament in Poland and Ukraine next month. The England manager then travelled to Chelsea's training ground where he met Terry for the first time since taking the job and spoke at length to him and the club's other England internationals about his plans for the competition. Hodgson also rang Peter Crouch, the Stoke City striker, and perhaps most surprisingly Micah Richards, the Manchester City right-back, to let them know that they were also being left out. By that stage Hodgson had learned that Kyle Walker, the Tottenham Hotspur defender, will miss the tournament because of a broken toe. The Professional Footballers' Association's young player of the year suffered the injury during the game at Bolton Wanderers on 2 April and was assessed on Monday night. The 21-year-old would have been Hodgson's first-choice at right‑back and his absence makes it a particular surprise that Richards is being omitted. However, Hodgson does have alternatives for the position in the form of Phil Jones and Glen Johnson. Ferdinand's own disappointment is tinged by a sense of bitterness as he reflects on the end of a 14-year international career, encompassing 82 caps and three World Cups. The official line Hodgson will use is that it is purely because Ferdinand is now 33 and has suffered from recurrent back and calf injuries over the past three seasons. However, a dismayed Ferdinand is convinced it is directly linked to his issues with Terry and the potential divisions that might have been caused if the two centre-backs were both involved. Hodgson, who has also cancelled a training camp in Spain next week, is acutely aware of the bad feeling that exists since Terry was accused of racially abusing Anton Ferdinand, Rio's younger brother, during Chelsea's match at Queens Park Rangers in October. Terry denies the charge, to be heard at Westminster magistrates' court on 9 July, and Hodgson's early inquiries have revealed that the case has already caused divisions in the England squad. The fear uppermost in Hodgson's mind was that those issues would intensify during a month away when all the feedback he has received has indicated that there is no hope of an end to impasse in the relations. In the end, he has concluded that it is unworkable. Ferdinand's dismay is not eased by the fact Jones, almost guaranteed to get a place in the squad, is one of his understudies at club level, while Hodgson also planned to select Chris Smalling, another of the players behind him in the pecking order at Old Trafford. Smalling's groin injury had opened another place but Hodgson has decided Ferdinand's vast tournament experience is not needed when there are younger candidates such as Joleon Lescott and Gary Cahill. Hodgson is also aware Jones can play at right-back or in the centre and that versatility could be particularly useful now Walker is out of the competition. In total, England now have five players ruled out through injury, with Jack Wilshere, Michael Dawson, Tom Huddlestone and Jack Rodwell also not in contention. Darren Bent, battling to prove his fitness after an ankle operation, may be a sixth. Meanwhile, Steven Gerrard, the first senior England player Hodgson contacted after becoming manager, is favourite to be made captain. Ferdinand's own injury issues have played a part in Hodgson's thinking. The manager tried to ease the disappointment by ringing Ferdinand to break the news himself and he is entitled to point out it would have been a gamble relying on his fitness when England have three games in a week. Ferdinand, however, has not missed a game through injury since January. He has played all of United's last 12 games and will know, almost certainly, that he will not get another chance at this level.
Thanks Waddo... Funny though how the PRESS know all this info BEFORE it's made OFFICIAL.. i.e. The England squad will be announced on Wednesday.
A lot of specualtion Potts but sometimes they have people on the inside hence why our Tone likes to drive everywhere himself
No mention of Crouch here either - http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com//15052012/58/euro-2012-eurospot-picking-england-23.html
Waddo It looks like Rooney, Carroll, Zamora, Wellbeck.. so basically on form TWO of those we're shafted. Not that we would have won it anyway.
Well Crouch didn't make it and I cant say I am suprised. Not that i think he is not good enough, but really the squad has to be built for the future and at Crouchey's age he will not compete in another tournament. Sahem, but I think its the right decession.
You have to pick players on performance not age mate, Crouch should have walked into that side especially ahead of the donkey that is Andy Carroll. His international goal record is second to none and has played well all season, Andy Carroll has been awful. I cant find one reason for the decision that Hodgson has made!!! Utter utter disgrace!!!
Just read Mersons thoughts and he made a very good point re Carroll. In short, he's abit of a brute and at international level, the defenders will have the experience to win FK's. I know Crouchy sometimes struggles with this at international level, but not to the same extent. Merson also pointed to the number of chances Carroll needs to hit the target and how in general he has struggled, something that has not affected Crouch. I 100% agree that on form and record he should of gone instead of Carroll, but if I was picking the squad I would have gone young and pacey across the whole squad.
