Capello desperation over Crouch selection

By Gregg Davies
published

Just when England’s forwards need a confidence boost, Peter Crouch has received a less than glowing reference from his own manager, Fabio Capello. The England boss has been forced into drastic changes up front following a string of injuries to strikers Emile Heskey, Darren Bent and Carlton Cole.

“We have to play Crouch,” said Capello. “Because he’s now the best we have who can play.” It will be Crouch’s first start under the Italian.

“We have a virus with our strikers,” he added. “I hope this is the last time this happens because to lose three strikers is not easy.

“My first idea was one style and one particular forward, fast and with movement. Crouch has a different style. He is not Darren Bent and not Emile Heskey. He can’t do the same movement as Heskey and can’t press like Heskey.”

However, it wasn’t all doom and gloom from the Three Lions chief. “I’m sure  [Crouch] will play a good game,” he conceded. “He’s in good form. This is a big opportunity for him.”

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Gregg Davies
Gregg Davies

Gregg Davies is the Chief Sub Editor of FourFourTwo magazine, joining the team in January 2008 and spending seven years working on the website. He supports non-league behemoths Hereford and commentates on Bulls matches for Radio Hereford FC. His passions include chocolate hobnobs and attempting to shoehorn Ronnie Radford into any office conversation.