Monday, September 5, 2011

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06.09. (Tue) 20:45 England - Wales

PROBABLE LINEUPS

ENGLAND
Hart
Smalling, Terry, Cahill, Cole
Parker, Barry
Walcott, Young, Downing
Rooney


WALES
Hennessey
Gunter, Williams, J Collins, Taylor
Bale, Collison, Ramsey, Ledley
Earnshaw, Morison

England have suffered two withdrawals from their squad due to injury with Micah Richards and Darren Bent being sent back to their clubs, however, neither featured at all against Bulgaria and should not be a big miss.

Frank Lampard has been told this week by boss Fabio Capello that he needs to improve his club form to get back into the starting XI and thus is unlikely to trouble Scott Parker or Gareth Barry for a place in central midfield.

Wales will have to cope without the suspended Craig Bellamy and David Vaughan after the pair picked up bookings in the victory over Montenegro.

They can be heartened, however, by the return of experienced defender James Collins and are hopeful that West Ham midfielder Jack Collison will recover from the illness that kept him out on Friday in order to take his place in the team.

DID YOU KNOW?

England have yet to lose a fixture in group G but have been held to draws twice against Switzerland and Montenegro, with both coming at Wembley.

Fabio Capello has only ever lost two competitive fixtures as England manager, a qualifying tie against Ukraine after England’s qualification had been secured, and the World Cup exit at the hands of Germany.

Capello’s win ratio as England manager stands at 66 per cent.

The first meeting betweent the two sides in this Euro 2012 qualifying group ended 2-0 to England . Frank Lampard and Darren Bent were the goalscorers though neither is expected to start this game.

Wales’ victory over Montenegro signified the first points they have gained in Group G having lost all four of their previous qualifying fixtures.

Gary Speed lost his first four fixtures as Wales manager but has picked up two wins in his last two games, giving him a win percentage of 33% – the same ratio he maintained in an ill-fated spell at Sheffield United.

Aaron Ramsey is the youngest man to ever captain the Wales national team.

The last time Wales managed a victory over England on English soil was as far back as 1977.

Prediction
Wales were irrepressible against Montenegro last week but it is a far bigger task that awaits them in front of a partisan crowd at Wembley.

Their young hopes in Bale, Ramsey and Joe Ledley must show their composure in attack without the guidance of Craig Bellamy, in order to threaten the hosts.

England will be full of confidence given the form of their attacking options, particularly Downing, Young and Rooney, who have all had flying starts to the season.

The home crowd will certainly give them a further boost and, given their recent form, they should prove too much for this young Welsh outfit.
Editor's Prediction
England 2-0 Wales