The Three Lions Squad for the match against Paraguay  April 2002
Player	Birthdate	Age	Pos	Club	St	Sub	App	G	Capt
Bridge, Wayne M.	5 August 1980	21	D	Southampton FC	2	0	2	0	0	None
Butt, Nicholas	21 January 1975	27	M	Manchester United FC	9	8	17	0	0	None
Campbell, Sulzeer J.	18 September 1974	27	D	Arsenal FC	41	3	44	0	2	4
	Sol Campbell withdrew from the squad through an hamstring injury.
Carragher, James L.D.	28 January 1978	24	M	Liverpool FC	2	5	7	0	0	1
Cole, Joseph J.	8 November 1981	20	M	West Ham United FC	0	3	3	0	0	None
Dyer, Kieron C.	29 December 1978	23	M	Newcastle United FC	4	4	8	0	0	None
Ehiogu, Ugochuku	3 November 1972	29	D	Middlesbrough FC	0	4	4	1	0	None
	Ugo Ehiogu withdrew from the squad through an hamstring injury.
Fowler, Robert B.	9 April 1975	27	F	Leeds United AFC	11	12	23	6	0	1
Gerrard, Steven G.	30 May 1980	21	M	Liverpool FC	8	1	9	1	0	1
Hargreaves, Owen L.	20 January 1981 born in Canada	21	M	FC Bayern München, Germany	1	2	3	0	0	None
James, David B.	1 August 1970	31	G	West Ham United FC	3	4	7	3 GA	0	1
Jensen, Matthew B.	20 October 1977	24	F	Blackburn Rovers FC	0	0	0	0	0	none
	Matt Jansen withdrew from the squad because of a stomach upset.
Keown, Martin R.	24 July 1966	35	D	Arsenal FC	38	2	40	2	1	3
	Martin Keown is a late addition to the squad as a replacement for Sol Campbell and Ugo Ehiogu.
Lampard, Frank	20 June 1978	23	M	Chelsea FC	2	4	6	0	0	None
Martyn, A. Nigel	11 August 1966	35	G	Leeds United AFC	17	4	21	GA	0	None
Mills, Daniel R.	18 May 1977	24	D	Leeds United AFC	1	3	4	0	0	None
Murphy, Daniel B.	18 March 1977	25	M	Liverpool FC	0	2	2	0	0	None
Neville, Gary A.	18 February 1975	27	D	Manchester United FC	46	5	51	0	0	3
Neville, Philip A.	21 January 1977	25	D	Manchester United FC	25	11	36	0	0	1
Owen, Michael J.	14 December 1979	22	F	Liverpool FC	23	10	33	14	0	2
Scholes, Paul	16 November 1974	27	M	Manchester United FC	39	2	41	13	0	10 1
Seaman, David A.	19 September 1963	38	G	Arsenal FC	63	4	67	38 GA	1	1
Sheringham, Edward P.	2 April 1966	36	F	Tottenham Hotspur FC	30	14	44	11	0	3
Sinclair, Trevor L.	2 March 1973	29	M	West Ham United FC	2	0	2	0	0	None
Southgate, Gareth	3 September 1970	31	D	Middlesbrough FC	36	10	46	1	0	3
Vassell, Darius C.	13 June 1980	21	F	Aston Villa FC	1	1	2	1	0	None

All information is complete to and including England's last match, the seventh of the 2000-01 season, against Italy on 27 March 2002.

Diary

Wednesday, 10 April 2002 - With 51 days remaining until the 2002 World Cup begins, England are left with devestating news. David Beckham is scythed down by Pedro Duscher in the 16th minute of Manchester United's Champions League quarter-final clash with Deportivo La Coruña. He is stretchered off the pitch, complaining of tenderness on the top of his left foot. There is serious bruising and bleeding in his foot.

Thursday, 11 April 2002 - An X-Ray confirms that Beckham has broken his second metatarsal bone in his left foot. His foot is placed in plaster and he has been told that he will be out for between six to eight weeks, which rules him out for the season and puts his World Cup place in jeopardy.

Saturday, 13 April 2002 - Sven-Göran Eriksson has announced a 25-player squad for the friendly match against Paraguay. The only major surprise was the inclusion of Blackburn Rovers' uncapped forward Matt Jensen.  Unavailable for selection because of injuries were Rio Ferdinand, Ashley Cole, Emile Heskey and captain David Beckham.  Their absence has dashed Eriksson's hope of playing his first-choice eleven for at least the first half. There was speculation that Blackburn Rovers' Andrew Cole would earn a recall in view of Heskey's absence, but it was his teammate Jansen who benefitted.  The other possbilities, Leeds United's Alan Smith and West Ham United's Jermaine Defoe, uncapped at the senior level, were again chosen for the under-21 squad. West Ham United's young midfielder Joe Cole was selected despite an uneven performance against Italy last month, which saw him create Robbie Fowler's goal and then give the ball away in front of his own net, allowing Italy to score their opening goal.  He is probably the beneficiary of Beckham's absence.  His teammate Michael Carrick again joins the under-21 squad. As expected, Arsenal goalkeeper David Seaman won a recall following a period in which he was injured or rested.  His teammate Richard Wright was dropped. There were no recalls for veteran midfielders Darren Anderton of Tottenham Hotspurs or Steve McManaman of Real Madrid.  Their exclusion indicates their World Cup squad ambitions are over barring misfortune to others. 
Eriksson will name his stand-in captain Monday.  Ferdinand's injury leaves Campbell, Gary Neville and possibly Southgate as the candidates.  Campbell has led England twice before.  Seaman has also captained England, and Fowler took over the armband against Italy when Beckham was substituted.

Sunday, 14 April 2002 - The FA Cup semi-final between Arsenal and Middlesbrough results in hamstring injuries for Sol Campbell and Ugo Ehiogu.  They are forced to withdraw from the squad, with a resulting call-up for Martin Keown.

Tuesday, 16 April 2002 - Michael Owen has been appointed by Eriksson to deputise for the injured Beckham. Owen admits that his appointment as England captain for the friendly with Paraguay came as a "complete surprise". He said: "When the manager told me it was a complete surprise, but a pleasant one. I was straight on the phone to my mother and father, it was a very proud moment for my family." Owen becomes the second youngest England captain post-war after Bobby Moore, who led his nation at a slightly younger 22. Eriksson stressed that Beckham remains his number one choice and Owen is also aware that the likes of Rio Ferdinand and Sol Campbell - both ruled out of the Paraguay friendly - will have stronger claims.

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CG/PY