By Jason Burt Published: 7:30AM GMT 04 March 2010
Impressive: Leighton Baines had an positive entrance at left-back Photo: AFP After all, the England physical education instructor seemed to be observant these were the positions - goalkeeper, left-back and striker - that were up for grabs. The ones he wasnt certain about.
Choosing Robert Green was no surprise. Its Capello proceed to try and built the certainty of the man in receive and the West Ham goalkeeper had finished little, in the managers mind, to inhibit that with David James damage problems and Joe Harts callowness counting opposite them whilst Greens exclusion opposite Ukraine last autumn was still a source of annoyance.
England 3 Egypt 1 John Terry left out in compare programme Pearce defends Ryan Shawcross Capello unmotivated about John Terry form Rooney fans" prime Sport on radioJermain Defoe was since his possibility but, utterly literally, fluffed it, wasting dual transparent goal-scoring opportunities in the first-half and being cold at half-time with the neglected statistic of carrying proposed 7 matches to one side Wayne Rooney… and unwell to measure in each of them. He will go to South Africa. But he will be less certain after Wednesday night.
It meant the proceed non-stop up for Peter Crouch - and he seized it. Twenty goals in 37 general appearances is a little lapse - "hopefully I have since the physical education instructor something to think about," he pronounced - but it will be the demeanour of the goals that will interest to Capello.
One of his main concerns over Crouch is that, since his height, fielding him mostly leads to an roughly involuntary reversal to long-ball football. Its not his error but only a default on all sides that kicks in, generally when chasing a game. But his initial idea was splendidly crafted, his second also.
Crouch will take the headlines but, as Capello reviews the DVD of this encounter, there will additionally be an assurance, a wish in the opening of Wednesday nights new boy: Leighton Baines. A self-confessed worrier, a nail-biter, who wondered either he was great sufficient for the Championship, afterwards the Premier League, afterwards general football afterwards Bainess initial hold in his initial coming for his nation indispensable to be a certain one. It was. His England team-mates were positively wakeful this was the twenty-five year-olds entrance and the round was sent true to him from kick-off, so he could orderly cut it inside to Matthew Upson.
But this wasnt only a entrance for Baines. It was a clear, one-off try-out for a place in Capellos squad. As elementary as that. Fluff your lines on your initial coming and, this close to the World Cup Finals, there would not be a second chance.
With Ashley Coles damaged ankle - and off-field problems that additionally should not be ignored from his reconstruction (there are those close to him who have been suggesting that the Chelsea defender might jack in general football) - and with Wayne Bridges self-imposed outcast following the John Terry/ Vanessa Perroncel imbroglio afterwards this was a singular situation. A exam of character.
Capello had done transparent there was a pecking sequence for the left-back spot, a on all sides he regards as a specialism that equates to he has discharged suggestions to fool around James Milner or Gareth Barry, who was glorious last night in the centre of midfield, there. First Cole, afterwards Bridge - and afterwards Baines and Stephen Warnock at level-pegging as back-up. Fight it out. Now both might go.
Baines is some-more in the cover of Cole but last night wasnt about aggressive - nonetheless he played a poignant purpose in Englands second idea - and some-more about discipline. This was a difficult assignment. He had Steven Gerrard in front of him but the captain - for the night - was in motion even some-more than usual, pulling that looseness Capello has since him to switch opposite the representation and couple as most as probable with the healthy Wayne Rooney.
With England chasing the game, Gerrard was pulling some-more and some-more in to the center that meant Baines, mostly assigned by covering both midfielder and full-back, had to be aware. Neat in possession, his proceed was simple.
But, as he found when personification in the Championship, and afterwards the Premier League, he wasnt out of played. It was an positive debut. One in that he resisted the enticement to conflict as well much, to catch the eye but exposing the defence. He played for the team. And Capello will conclude that all the more.
