All information is
complete to and including England's last match, the fourth of the 2005-6 season,
against Austria on 8 October 2005.
Diary
Friday, 5 December 2003 -
England were placed in a half-British group for
qualifying for the 2006 World Cup, which took place in Frankfurt this evening
and will involve the Three Lions playing home-and-away fixtures with five other
nations in total, beginning two months after the conclusion of Euro 2004. The
other countries are Northern Ireland, Wales, Poland, Austria and Azerbaijan.
Tuesday, 13 January 2004 -
Austria will provide the first opponents
for England as they begin the journey to the World Cup Finals in
Germany in 2006. England are in a group alongside Wales and Northern
Ireland as well as Austria, Poland and Azerbaijan.
Friday, 30 September 2005 -
Michael Owen limped out of Newcastle United training. He should be fit for
England's World Cup qualifiers.
Sunday, 2
October 2005 -
Sven-Göran Eriksson has recalled Alan
Smith and Sol Campbell to the 24-man
England squad for the forthcoming World Cup qualifiers. Smith, who has
been utilised as a midfielder at Old Trafford this season, played in both
England's matches in the summer Tour of the United States and last scored for the Three
Lions in a friendly against Portugal three years ago. For central defender
Campbell the call-up to the England squad comes on the back of an excellent run
of form following a return from long-term injury. England would seem to
have an embarrassment of riches at centre back as along with Campbell, Eriksson
can call on John Terry, Rio
Ferdinand, Ledley King and
Jamie Carragher. Charlton
Athletic duo Darren Bent
and Luke Young retain their
places in the squad. Bent has enjoyed an outstanding start to the season
whilst Young has the chance to add to his haul of caps after playing in four of
England's last five matches. Along with Bent there are four other strikers
in the squad, though Wayne Rooney
is suspended for the match against Austria. Those players unavailable for
selection due to injury include Gary Neville, Owen Hargreaves and
Michael Carrick.
Tuesday,
4 October 2005 -
Ashley Cole has withdrawn from
the England squad after suffering a stress fracture of his foot. Liverpool
left-back Stephen Warnock has
been called up in his place. David Beckham missed training on Tuesday to be with
his ill son Romeo but will join the squad on Wednesday.
Beckham stayed in Madrid on Tuesday as his son underwent
hospital tests. Striker Michael Owen was also absent as he recovers from
the dead leg that forced him to force Newcastle's game against Portsmouth on
Saturday - but he is expected to be fit to play. Eriksson said that the
loss of Cole was a blow but that he had plenty of alternatives. The last
time Cole was unavailable - against Sweden in a friendly in March last year -
Carragher played at left-back in a match England lost 1-0. Eriksson said
that he had already made up his mind who to play in the centre of defence - with
John Terry, Sol Campbell and Rio Ferdinand all in contention. Tuesday's
training session took place at Manchester United's Carrington training complex,
but several players who were in action on Sunday took part in a recovery session
rather than full training.
Thursday,
6 October 2005 -
David Beckham trained today after his delayed arrival. Michael Owen also completed the session to prove his fitness. The pair are
now set to take their places in the team for Saturday's World Cup qualifier
against Austria. It leaves boss
Eriksson with no injury worries is set to pick Rio Ferdinand
ahead of Sol Campbell, at least according to reports. Ferdinand is set to
partner John Terry at centre-half
- even though Ferdinand has spoken about his own poor form. Jamie Carragher is poised to
replace the injured Ashley Cole
at left-back. Striker Peter
Crouch is tipped to start alongside Michael Owen on Saturday in place of the
suspended Wayne Rooney.
Eriksson said earlier this week that he had already made up
his mind who to play in the centre of defence. And the England coach is
poised to revert to a 4-4-2 formation against Austria after his experiment with
playing 4-5-1 against Northern Ireland.
Friday,
7 October 2005 -
Eriksson admits it would be
"unacceptable" for England to fail to reach the 2006 World Cup in Germany. He said: "It is not acceptable not to qualify - you can't even think about
England not being at the World Cup. We are going to qualify and that's it.
It is dangerous to think 'if'. In my head that doesn't exist." He admitted
his players were still feeling the pain of the defeat at Windsor Park. "I
think it should hurt. It's one month since we played Northern Ireland and it's
been a very long month. It has been a long month, especially for me. I
didn't have any other games to be involved in. The players had matches. We
must win the match against Austria and then see what happens after that." And he insisted he still enjoys his job as England boss. He said: "I enjoy
it very much but enjoy it more when we win games and not lose football games.
It's the same when you are a club manager and you are criticised. It's only when
you are with England that it's like a new world war. My feelings are we
are going to have a good performance and qualify for the World Cup." Meanwhile, according to The Mirror newspaper, David Beckham has handed
the responsibility of taking penalties over to Frank Lampard. Eriksson is also set to prefer Sol Campbell to Rio
Ferdinand in defence against Austria. Ferdinand was tipped to start the
match after being paired with John Terry in training this week, but it is
understood that Campbell will be chosen. It would be the first time
Eriksson has ever dropped 26-year-old Ferdinand for a competitive fixture.
Saturday, 8 October 2005 -
England defeat Austria by a single Frank Lampard penalty. In the
process, England lose David Beckham to suspension after two cautionable offences
get him sent off, and Sol Campbell leaves the pitch due to an hamstring injury.
Sunday, 9 October 2005 -
Steven Gerrard will miss England's World Cup qualifier
against Poland on Wednesday after injuring his shin against Austria.
Defender Sol Campbell had already been ruled out because of a hamstring problem
and captain David Beckham is suspended following his sending off.
Liverpool have said that Gerrard may be sidelined for two to three weeks.
The Football Association is not planning to appeal
against the red card David Beckham received in the win over Austria. The
FA's director of football Trevor Brooking said: "It was a harsh decision.
But the regulations won't allow us an appeal - we'll have to take that one."
Monday, 10 October 2005 -
Paul Robinson and
Luke Young both sat out
training today as England began preparations for the final World Cup qualifier
with Poland. Robinson was suffering from a tight thigh muscle while Young
reported a dead leg to the England medical staff. Neither injury was
thought to be serious and both should be able to train on Tuesday ahead of the
game.
Tuesday, 11 October 2005 - Eriksson has hinted
Shaun Wright-Phillips, Ledley King,
Wayne Rooney and Rio Ferdinand
will all start against Poland. David Beckham (suspended),
Steven Gerrard, Sol Campbell
(both injured) and Peter Crouch
(dropped) will be the men to make way. Eriksson said: "Rooney is back,
which is positive, so he will play up front. Shaun is the natural
replacement for Beckham but we will do some tactical work and decide after that
100%."
Michael Owen will lead the side, having taken the captain's
armband when Beckham was sent off against Austria on Saturday. That red
card rules him out of Wednesday's game, but the Football Association has asked
Real Madrid if he can stay with the
squad anyway.