‘Sorry’ Fabio Capello rings the changes for England, but Paul Robinson calls it quits
It was welcome – if six weeks overdue – but Fabio Capello’s act of finally saying sorry to the English nation for his team’s abject failure at the summer’s World Cup has fallen on at least one set of deaf ears.
Paul Robinson, still angry at being overlooked for the tournament in South Africa, has requested that his name be removed from the 23-man list Capello submitted last night ahead of Wednesday night’s friendly international against Hungary at Wembley, and the Blackburn Rovers goalkeeper does not want to be considered for selection again.
As headlines go, it was not really what Capello needed after his act of contrition, and his final damning indictment of the summer – selecting just 10 players who were part of the World Cup squad for this friendly, which could see the Three Lions thrown to the lions at a hostile – if barely full – Wembley Stadium.
Last night it was the selections of uncapped trio Jack Wilshere, Kieran Gibbs and Bobby Zamora that were making all the news.
The potential of Arsenal pair Wilshere, 18, and Gibbs, 20, has been clear for all to see, and both are tipped to play key roles for Arsène Wenger’s side this season, after midfielder Wilshere spent the second half of the 2009/10 season furthering his development on loan at Bolton Wanderers, and left back Gibbs has fully recovered from the broken foot he sustained last November.
Zamora, 29, shone for Roy Hodgson’s Fulham side last season, scoring 21 goals as the west Londoners reached the Europa League final. He had been tipped by many to make it into the World Cup squad, but had to rule himself out of contention due to injury.
Elsewhere, there are recalls for Theo Walcott, Adam Johnson, Phil Jagielka and Gary Cahill, as Capello overhauls the squad that flopped in South Africa.
Shaun Wright-Phillips – the highest scoring England midfielder in the summer according to the “Capello Index” – Joe Cole, Jermain Defoe and Peter Crouch have all been left out, with Ashley Young, Darren Bent and Carlton Cole coming in, while there is a recall for Ben Foster, with calamity World Cup ‘keeper Robert Green and new Bristol City signing David James both overlooked. Jamie Carragher and Emile Heskey retired from international football after their stints in South Africa.
Capello will now attempt to create a new, fresher atmosphere around the squad, but he could have done without Robinson’s refusal to be picked making the headlines.
“Only now have I been able to make this decision as previously I haven't been in contention for selection,” said Robinson, who won 41 caps.
“I don't see myself as a number three or four keeper and find that role very frustrating. I haven't had the opportunity of anything other than [not being first choice] in recent years therefore I feel it is in the best interest of myself and my club Blackburn Rovers that I concentrate solely on my club football.”
It is unclear whether Robinson would have played on Wednesday, with Capello set to hand a start to Joe Hart – who ironically isn’t the first choice goalkeeper at his club, Manchester City – but the Italian would have been embarrassed by the Blackburn man’s decision, which came just hours after the apology that all England followers had been waiting for.
“I say sorry to the fans that joined us in South Africa,” said Capello last night.
“I'm really sorry, but we have to look forward now for the European qualification matches. I want to go forward and to improve and to play the Euros because for me they will be very important.
“I understand the supporters. I think on Wednesday sometimes they may boo but we need the support of the fans. It is very important but I possibly expect them to boo because they had a lot of confidence in the team going into the World Cup and the results were not so good.”
Those “not so good” results led to many calling for the removal of the Italian, and Capello admits that he considered his future.
“The day after the Germany game, I spoke with Club England chairman Sir Dave Richards in South Africa,” he said.
“I told him what I think and said 'you have to decide [on my future]'. I thought a lot about the situation but I'm a fighter and I've never quit in my career. I always look forward. I thought about different solutions and, after I spoke with Sir Dave, I decided to stay here.”
Whether or not that will prove to be the correct decision for him and for England remains to be seen, but as Capello attempts to make a fresh start with the freshest of squads, he certainly could have done without Robinson’s refusal to be a part of it for fear of going stale.
England squad to face Hungary:
Goalkeepers: Ben Foster (Birmingham), Joe Hart (Manchester City)
Defenders: Wes Brown (Manchester United), Gary Cahill (Bolton), Ashley Cole (Chelsea), Michael Dawson (Tottenham Hotspur), Kieran Gibbs (Arsenal), Phil Jagielka (Everton), Glen Johnson (Liverpool), John Terry (Chelsea)
Midfielders: Gareth Barry (Manchester City), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Adam Johnson (Manchester City), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), James Milner (Aston Villa), Ashley Young (Aston Villa), Theo Walcott (Arsenal), Jack Wilshere (Arsenal)
Forwards: Darren Bent (Sunderland), Carlton Cole (West Ham United), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Bobby Zamora (Fulham)
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