The Three Lions Squad for the match against Italy  November 2000 Peter Taylor's only squad
Player	Birthdate	Age	Pos	Club	St	Sub	App	G	Capt
Anderton, Darren R.	3 March 1972	28	M	Tottenham Hotspur FC	28	0	28	7	0	1
Ball, Michael J.	2 October 1979	21	D	Everton FC	0	0	0	0	0	None
Barmby, Nicholas J.	11 February 1974	26	M	Liverpool FC	8	9	17	3	0	None
Barry, Gareth	23 February 1981	19	D	Aston Villa FC	2	3	5	0	0	1
Beckham, David R.J.	2 May 1975	25	M	Manchester United FC	33	3	36	1	0	6 1
Brown, Wesley M.	13 October 1979	21	D	Manchester United FC	1	1	2	0	0	None
	Wes Brown withdrew injured from the squad on 11 November.
Butt, Nicholas	21 January 1975	25	M	Manchester United FC	4	4	8	0	0	None
Carragher, James L.D.	28 January 1978	22	M	Liverpool FC	0	1	1	0	0	None
Dyer, Kieron C.	29 December 1978	21	M	Newcastle United FC	3	4	7	0	0	None
Ferdinand, Rio G.	7 November 1978	22	D	West Ham United FC	4	5	9	0	0	None
Fowler, Robert B.	9 April 1975	25	F	Liverpool FC	7	7	14	3	0	1
Gerrard, Steven G.	30 May 1980	20	M	Liverpool FC	1	1	2	0	0	None
Heskey, Emile W.I.	11 January 1978	22	F	Liverpool FC	2	8	10	1	0	None
James, David B.	1 August 1970	30	G	Aston Villa FC	1	0	1	0 GA	0	None
Johnson, Seth A.M.	12 March 1979	21	D	Derby County FC	0	0	0	0	0	None
Lampard, Frank	20 June 1978	22	M	West Ham United FC	1	0	1	0	0	None
Neville, Gary A.	18 February 1975	25	D	Manchester United FC	37	3	40	0	0	2
Neville, Philip A.	21 January 1977	23	D	Manchester United FC	22	8	30	0	0	1
Owen, Michael J.	14 December 1979	20	F	Liverpool FC	15	9	24	8	0	2
	Michael Owen withdrew from the squad with a back injury on 13 November.
Parlour, Raymond	7 March 1973	27	M	Arsenal FC	2	7	9	0	0	None
Phillips, Kevin M.	25 July 1973	27	F	Sunderland AFC	3	2	5	0	0	None
Robinson, Paul W.	15 October 1979	21	G	Leeds United AFC	0	0	0	0 GA	0	None
Scholes, Paul	16 November 1974	25	M	Manchester United FC	28	2	30	10	0	8 1
	Paul Scholes withdrew from the squad with a thigh strain on 13 November.
Smith, Alan	28 October 1980	20	F	Leeds United AFC	0	0	0	0	0	None
	Alan Smith withdrew exhausted from the squad on 12 November.
Southgate, Gareth	3 September 1970	30	D	Aston Villa FC	33	7	40	1	0	3
Wright, Richard I.	5 November 1977	23	G	Ipswich Town FC	1	0	1	1 GA	0	None

All information is complete to and including England's last match, the third of the 2000-01 season, against Finland on 11 October 2000.

Diary

Friday, 13 October 2000 - The Football Association announce that they are taking steps to prevent any obscure pay TV channels from showing England games again.  Meanwhile, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger admits interest in the England job, but is not prepared to take the job until his present contract expires, in June 2002. This despite the FA handing Wenger a twelve-match touchline ban

Thursday, 19 October 2000 - A four-hour discussion ensues within the FA walls on likely contenders for the managerial position. The only thing that is certain is that neither Terry Venables or Howard Wilkinson will figure for the post.

Saturday, 21 October 2000 - The Directors at Newcastle United block an official approach by the Football Association to appoint Bobby Robson on a part-time basis. The FA want Robson for a seven-game period. "We wanted his experience and enthusiasm for a short period to be made available to the England team," said the FA's executive director David Davies.

Sunday, 22 October 2000 - Leicester City boss Peter Taylor is England's new caretaker manager replacing Howard Wilkinson, who ironically forced Taylor's departure from the under-21 set-up last year. Taylor will be assisted by Manchester United's assistant, Steve McClaren. Taylor will be in charge for the friendly next month against Italy. But Arsene Wenger, Sven-Göran Eriksson and Roy Hodgson make up the shortlist to eventually replace Kevin Keegan.

Tuesday, 24 October 2000 - Arsene Wenger again re-iterates the fact that he will not take the England post until after his contract at Arsenal expires, thus ruling him out of contention. FC Copenhagen admit that they will not block the Football Association if they were to approach their English manager, Roy Hodgson. Sven Goran Eriksson also rejects England's approach. "I have a contract with Lazio until June 2001 and I am not taking into consideration any offer that does not come from the Biancoceleste," said the Swede.

Friday, 27 October 2000 - SS Lazio assistant manager Tord Grip reveals that the Football Association have made an approach for their manager Eriksson.

Monday, 30 October 2000 - Highly regarded Sven-Göran Eriksson agrees to become England's new national coach, from 1 July 2001, when his current Lazio contract expires. "Sven-Göran Eriksson was the unanimous choice of our selection team. He is one of the best coaches in the world. At no stage did we approach any other manager. He was, and is, our number one choice," FA Chief Executive admitted Adam Crozier at a press conference this afternoon. The Sweden-born boss, who is 52 years old, becomes England's first foreign manager and has lifted sixteen Championships in Sweden, Portugal and Italy. He has signed a five year contract worth fifteen million pounds. However, the FA are hoping that Eriksson will take charge of the England team for World Cup qualifiers against Finland, Albania and Greece in March and June.

Thursday, 9 November 2000 - Acting England manager Peter Taylor announces a 26-man squad for the friendly match against Italy next week and announces that David Beckham will captain the side for the first time.

Saturday, 11 November 2000 - Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson has said defender Wes Brown will not report for England duty tomorrow night because of a knee injury he suffered in Saturday afternoon's match against Middlesbrough. The injury forced Brown to leave the match at half-time. Aston Villa defender Gareth Southgate, one of the few experienced players in the experimental squad, was also forced to leave the match against Tottenham Hotspur in the first half after suffering a head injury and is considered doubtful for the Italy match.

Sunday, 12 November 2000 - Leeds United manager David O'Leary has withdrawn forward Alan Smith from the squad after a telephone consultation with acting England manager Peter Taylor.  Smith picked up a minor ankle knock in Sunday 's match against Chelsea but did not leave the game. O'Leary said the main reason for the withdrawal is that the young striker is suffering from exhaustion because of the club's demanding fixture list and "the way he plays."

Monday, 13 November 2000 - Paul Scholes and Michael Owen withdrew from the squad after training this morning. Owen with a back injury and Scholes with a thigh strain.  The squad departed for Turin without four of the players that Peter Taylor named on Thursday. Gareth Southgate reported despite receiving stitches for the facial wound suffered on Saturday. Taylor has not named any replacements.

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CG/PY