Fabio Capello labels Andy Carroll as future of England after loss to France
England national team coach Fabio Capello has opted not to dwell on his side's 2-1 friendly loss to France at Wembley on Wednesday 17 November, instead choosing to look toward a future with Andy Carroll as the country's next big thing.
Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema put the visitors ahead after just 16 minutes, when he exchanged a quick one-two with Chelsea winger Florent Malouda and broke into the England box to put a low shot past Ben Foster.
The lead was doubled when Mathieu Valbuena volleyed in from a Bacary Sagna cross in the 55th minute. The home fans were offered some hope of a comeback when Peter Crouch came off the bench to score in the 86th minute, but England could not find an equaliser.
Even though England lost their first game since the 4-1 thumping at the hands of Germany at the 2010 FIFA World Cup, Capello chose to focus on the positives after handing three players — Newcastle United striker Carroll, Sunderland midfielder Jordan Henderson
and Cardiff City forward Jay Boothroyd — their full international debuts.
The Italian claimed that friendlies were crucial in bringing through new international players, while he singled out Carroll as the future of the England team.
He told the BBC that: “This is the best England team I could select at the moment. I think it was important for the future to note the value of the young players. Only in matches like this can you assess them, to see what they can do. It is important to note
the value of the new players for the future. I monitor them during the Premier League (season). Every time I read the newspapers, they say 'pick the young players, pick the young players'. Well today I did and now you want to talk about the result.
“The first half we didn't play (well) because we ran around and couldn't win back the ball. In the second half our reaction wasn't so bad. I'm happy for Carroll because I understand that he is a very good player and the future of England.”
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