Fabio Capello says Ashley Cole is one of the world's best left-backs
England national team coach Fabio Capello has revealed his belief that Ashley Cole is one of the best left-backs in the world.
Cole is set to win his 86th when England take on Montenegro in a UEFA 2012 European Football Championship qualifying match on Tuesday. That will mean that he will equal Kenny Sansom’s record for the most
number of appearances for the national team for a full back, ninth on the all-time England list..
“Ashley Cole is one of the best left-backs in the world. The number of caps he has won is not a surprise to me. Ashley is good in so many ways. He's good when he has to defend. He's really good going forward.
He's intelligent and good with his movement. When he has the ball, no problems. He can move. He's good when he has to defend but also good when he gets to the box. He understands how to play a pass," said Capello.
He continued: "Other players don't know what to do when they get in that position. But Ashley is always dangerous with his passes. He is an important player."
Players missing in middle of defence
Meanwhile, in the middle of defence, Capello will have to field a patched-up pairing with Phil Jagielka — who has impressed in England’s last two qualifiers against Bulgaria and Switzerland — and John
Terry both missing out through injury. That means that Rio Ferdinand, who is playing for England for the first time since suffering an injury while preparing for the FIFA 2010 World Cup, will be partnered by Joleon Lescott.
Capello added that he would have preferred if Terry and Ferdinand were both ready to play, as they were his preferred choices for the central defensive berths.
He said that: "I hope they will be fit, because they have had some back problems. I hope they will be fit for the next games. If these two players are fit, they will play together in the future for England.
Lescott has played a lot of games at left-back but he did very well against Switzerland [at centre-back]. I am sure he will be fine."
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