International Preview: England vs Hungary
After a disappointing showing at the 2010 FIFA World Cup, England manager Fabio Capello is preparing his men for action in the national team’s first game since South Africa when they take on Hungary in a friendly.
Although there is nothing other than pride at stake in the match, Capello will be taking advantage of the chance to train with his squad ahead of England’s 2012 UEFA European Football Championship qualifying matches against Bulgaria at Wembley Stadium and Switzerland away next month.
The England manager has left out 13 of the 23 men he took to South Africa, with the likes of David James, Jermain Defoe, Peter Crouch and Joe Cole omitted from the squad for the friendly game. Rio Ferdinand is still injured and it has been reported that Michael Carrick is also struggling. Instead, Capello has called up several younger players including Theo Walcott – perhaps the biggest surprise omission from the World Cup squad – Ashley Young, Adam Johnson and Arsenal starlet Jack Wilshere. Meanwhile, 29-year-old Bobby Zamora could make his senior England debut after receiving his first call-up.
Joe Hart looks a certainty to start in goal after failing to feature in South Africa, while one of Michael Dawson or Phil Jagielka should be the odd-man-out with John Terry, Ashley Cole, Glen Johnson in a familiar-looking defensive line. England’s central spine of Steven Gerrard, Gareth Barry, Frank Lampard and Wayne Rooney will likely be flanked by two of the new faces.
Though Hungary finished fourth in their World Cup qualifying group behind Denmark, Portugal and Sweden and are ranked as the 62nd best team in the world by governing body FIFA, Capello’s men will have to be mindful of the skills of Fulham’s Zoltan Gera. The midfielder, who has been capped 63 times, has scored 18 international goals and was his Fulham’s player of the season after they reached the final of the UEFA Europa League. Having just come out of international retirement, the versatile Gera will be pestering England’s back four from the attacking midfield position or one of the flanks.
Youngster with experience
Though he is just 23, Tamás Priskin has a wealth of experience playing for Hungary, having claimed 26 caps. He has not got the best scoring record, having netted seven international goals, but grabbed a goal in Ipswich Town’s impressive 3-1 win over Middlesbrough in the first game of the Football League Championship season. Priskin will be looking to take that good start to the season to the international stage.
However, the young forward will have his work cut out for him against one of the strongest back-lines in world football. Terry has a wealth of experience for both Chelsea and England and while he is not the fastest defender in the world, his exceptional positional awareness means he is usually around to stuff out any opposition attacks. With regular Ferdinand out, Michael Dawson looks likely to start. The 26-year-old has not featured for England, but enjoyed a strong season with Tottenham Hotspur as he helped his club to a fourth-place finish in the UEFA Champions League. Hungary will also have to attempt to get past full-backs Cole and Johnson, both of whom are fast and can cause problems at both ends of the pitch.
In the middle of the pitch, England have an incredible talent in Gerrard, whose intelligent runs and passes combined with his eye for goal make him among the best anywhere, while Lampard is also a fine attacking midfielder. Further ahead, Rooney is a lethal striker capable of causing damage to any team.
Hungary will be heading to Wembley looking to pull off a shock result, but with vastly experienced campaigners and a wealth of young talent, England look to have too much in their locker for Hungary.
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