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Greece is the word Striker troubles should not deflect England in key qualifier
Updated: Monday October 01, 2001 6:52 PM
LONDON (Reuters) -- Michael Owen's injury absence and the subsequent call-up for Teddy Sheringham have sparked wide speculation about England's strike force for Saturday's final World Cup qualifier against Greece, but the evidence says any lineup Sven Goran Eriksson chooses should prove strong enough. England struggled to break down Albania before finally securing a 2-0 win last month, bringing them very much down to earth after the 5-1 victory in Germany. And Eriksson, who did his best to keep the nation's feet on the ground following the Munich success, has again warned against complacency. "I'm sure a large number of people think we've qualified already and that is a very dangerous mistake, bearing in mind that we struggled at times against Albania as well as away in Greece," he said. "This match will be difficult and we will have to have our focus correct." But this Greek team, which only occasionally threatened in the 2-0 defeat in Athens in June, looks ill-equipped to challenge an England side otherwise at virtual full strength. Manager Vassilios Danill resigned soon after the Athens defeat but new German boss Otto Rehhagel started with a 5-1 defeat in Finland on Sept. 5. Home soilEngland, on home soil at Manchester United's Old Trafford, should easily chalk up the victory they need to take them to the finals in Japan and South Korea. Germany could still top the group if they beat Finland by six goals more than England beat Greece but the Finns have proved a good team this year while the Greeks have not. Eriksson's decision to recall Sheringham signals a necessary change in approach for Saturday's game as the Tottenham Hotspur man could not be more different to Owen. While Owen's game is based on pace and finishing, the 35-year-old Sheringham cleverly creates space for others, as well as drifting almost casually into the danger areas to contribute his own share of goals. His partner must therefore be a man who can anticipate his thoughtful passes, leaving his former Manchester United teammate Andy Cole as the favorite to get the nod ahead of Liverpool's Robbie Fowler. Faith in ColeEriksson showed huge faith in Cole in his first few games but after suspension kept him out of the Athens match he has been unable to displace Owen or Emile Heskey. However, Heskey has been by no means outstanding and looks set to be shunted back into the left midfield role he filled against Greece in Athens or return to the bench. Whatever the makeup of the strike force, however, England look strong enough elsewhere to avoid a calamitous slip. Captain David Beckham, fresh from scoring Manchester United's fifth goal in the incredible 5-3 comeback win over Spurs on Saturday, is fit and ready to rip into the Greeks from the right flank. Just as important these days for England is Steven Gerrard, who fortunately for his country sat out Liverpool's 2-0 Sunday win over Newcastle United through suspension and so can report fit for duty in the center of midfield. Paul Scholes completes a formidable trio with Nick Barmby pushing Heskey for the left midfield spot if Eriksson feels he needs a little more solidity. Sol Campbell is injured but Arsenal's Martin Keown is an able replacement to partner Rio Ferdinand in the center of defense. Gary Neville and Ashley Cole should start at fullback with David Seaman expected to recover from a shoulder injury to start in goal. Rehhagel is hoping to draw on the performances of Panathinaikos in the Champions League for inspiration as his team plays only for pride. The Athens side are top of a tough group after wins against Mallorca, Schalke 04 and, last week, Arsenal. "We have learned from that 5-1 defeat [to Finland] and I will tell everybody that they have a unique opportunity to make headlines in Europe," Rehhagel said. "Panathinaikos showed with their 1-0 win over Arsenal what Greek football is capable of. The national team are also capable of such a great victory." Sheringham wants recall to lastWith Michael Owen out with an injury, Teddy Sheringham is back on the England squad this week. He hopes he'll be there next year, too. The Spurs striker was recalled along with former Manchester United teammate Andy Cole as cover for Owen, who aggravated a hamstring injury a week ago. Trevor Sinclair, Martin Keown and Ugo Ehiogu were also recalled to the England squad. "Even at 35, the chance to play for England means the same to me as it ever did," Sheringham told the Evening Standard newspaper Monday. "I would love to be involved in the finals should we get through. As a footballer, you should want to be there. You don't get many chances to play in a competition as big as that. "It is my ambition to be there as long as my legs keep going - and they feel fine at the moment. If it didn't think I could handle it, I wouldn't want to be there." Sheringham last played for England in a friendly against Mexico in May, scoring as a substitute. But under Eriksson, his last competitive match was a six-minute appearance off the bench in Albania in March. In 41 appearances for England, Sheringham has scored 10 goals. England has injury doubts over veteran goalkeeper David Seaman, 38, and midfielder Nicky Butt, who will both undergo fitness tests. Rio Ferdinand was said to be fine despite limping at the end of Leeds' game at Ipswich on Sunday. Butt was not named in the squad, but could be recalled if the rib injury he sustained in United's come-from-behind 5-3 win over Tottenham on Saturday is not as serious as first thought. Seaman, who missed Arsenal's game at Derby on Saturday after aggravating a recurring shoulder injury, hopes to start against Greece. Leeds' Nigel Martyn or Arsenal's Richard Wright could start in Seaman's absence. Butt would be an asset on the bench -- particularly after Frank Lampard was dropped as a result of his drunken antics. Lampard was fined for getting drunk with three Chelsea teammates and allegedly insulting grieving Americans a day after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in the United States. Michael Carrick, who was named in the England Under-21 squad along with Bayern Munich midfielder Owen Hargreaves, may be promoted back to the senior squad if Butt is ruled out. Hargreaves, who was used as a substitute in England's 5-1 over Germany and on the bench during the 2-0 win over Albania, has withdrawn from the Under 21 game with injury. The England squad begins training from its base at a Manchester hotel from Tuesday. Germany shouldn't rely on Greece, says coach RehhagelBERLIN -- Otto Rehhagel, the German coach of the Greek national team, said on Monday that Greece were out to restore their national pride in their final World Cup qualifier against England on Saturday but warned Germany not to rely on him for any favors. England will just about make certain of qualifying should they win but Germany, who play Finland in Gelsenkirchen on Saturday, will be waiting to take full advantage should the Greeks pull off a surprise result at Old Trafford. If England do not win and the Germans do then it will be England heading for the playoffs and Germany automatically through. Rehhagel has said his new team will be giving their all to restore some pride after a poor campaign but warned his compatriots against relying on his help. "The German team has to look after themselves first and foremost. That will not be easy. Germany better be careful," said the 63-year-old former Bayern Munich and Kaiserslautern coach in an interview with Kicker magazine. Greece can no longer qualify for next year's tournament after being thrashed 5-1 by Finland earlier this month, Rehhagel's first game in charge. The German said he and his players had learned a lesson from that game but admitted his inability to speak Greek had made the early months of his job quite difficult. "The language barrier is a big problem that I underestimated," he said. "We are looking for a tutor who is also a bit football-crazy." Voeller hopeful of key players returnBERLIN -- Germany coach Rudi Voeller is hopeful that a number of key players will return from injury in time for Saturday's World Cup qualifying match against Finland in Gelsenkirchen. "The situation is not all that dramatic, I hope that we will get the affected players fit in time for Saturday," Voeller said on Monday. Two players currently doubtful are Bayern Munich striker Carsten Jancker and Kaiserslautern's Miroslav Klose. However, Klose's foot is not as badly injured as previously thought, his club said on Monday, and he should be fit by Saturday. "I am relying on our medics and will not panic," Voeller said. Sebastian Kehl from SC Freiburg will also travel to the group's training ground, while Voeller still has three strikers to choose from in Bayer Leverkusen's Oliver Neuville, Werder Bremen's Marco Bode and Oliver Bierhoff of AS Monaco. England lead second-placed Germany in group nine on goal difference after beating the three times world champions 5-1 on September 1 in Munich -- Germany's worst defeat in 70 years. England play Greece on the same day, and a win should secure them first place and an automatic place in the finals. If England do not beat Greece and Germany beat Finland in Gelsenkirchen, then England will finish second and face a playoff. Finland names experienced squad for clash with GermansHELSINKI -- Coach Antti Muurinen on Monday announced an experienced squad for Finland's final World Cup qualifying match against Germany in Gelsenkirchen on Saturday but the Finns have some injury worries. Key players recovering from recent knocks include defender Janne Saarinen, midfielder Joonas Kolkka and striker Mikael Forssell, who is nursing an ankle injury. Germany, second behind England on goal difference in European group nine, need to win to keep alive their hopes of winning the group and securing an automatic place at next year's finals. Finland's side is built around Liverpool's defender Sami Hyypia and striker Jari Litmanen. Muurinen has also named Bolton's in-form goalkeeper Juusi Jaaskelainen to back up mainstay Antti Niemi. Squad: Goalkeepers: Antti Niemi (Hearts), Jussi Jaaskelainen (Bolton). Defenders: Sami Hyypia (Liverpool), Jari Ilola (HJK Helsinki), Toni Kuivasto (Viking Stavanger), Juha Reini (Genk), Janne Saarinen (Rosenborg), Hannu Tihinen (Viking Stavanger) Midfielders: Petri Helin (Stockport), Joonas Kolkka (Panathinaikos), Mika Nurmela (Heerenveen), Aki Riihilahti (Crystal Palace), Teemu Tainio (Auxerre), Jarkko Wiss (Stockport) Forwards: Mikael Forssell (Chelsea), Jonatan Johansson (Charlton), Jari Litmanen (Liverpool), Shefki Kuqi (Stockport)
The Associated Press contributed to this report. |
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