All information is
complete to and including England's last match, the eighth of the 2008-09 season,
against Slovakia on 28 March 2009.
Diary
Sunday,
25 November 2007 - England will meet Croatia
again after the European Qualification Draw for the 2010 World Cup was made
today in Durban, South Africa. The Three Lions were also drawn with Ukraine,
Belarus, Andorra and Kazakhstan.
Wednesday, 14 January
2008 - In Zagreb, Croatia, the fixture
list is finalised for the UEFA Qualification Group Six.
Friday, 20
March
2009 - Local newspapers from the Lancashire area announce
that Capello has named a 30-man provisional squad that includes Everton's
Leighton Baines, Phil Jagielka and Joleon Lescott. But no official list is
released.
Saturday, 21
March
2009 - Fabio Capello says Manchester United's third-choice goalkeeper
Ben Foster will be in the England squad. Capello does not pick players who
are not club regulars, but Foster's Carling Cup final display earned him a spot
in the squad to be announced on Sunday. "I watched him on TV and then he
played in the Carling Cup Final and I saw him there," said the England coach. "I
will check him in training and then decide if he is going to play."
Sunday, 22
March
2009 - Fabio Capello has named a 24-man squad for the upcoming
double-header that sees England take on Slovakia in a friendly before facing
game five of their World Cup qualification against Ukraine. Tottenham
Hotspur captain Ledley King is recalled while Leighton Baines and Ben Foster are
included along with West Ham United forward Carlton Cole who made his England
debut last month in Sevilla.
Wayne Rooney and Steven Gerrard return to the squad having missed the first
match of 2009 through injury, while Aaron Lennon moves from the Under-21s into
the Seniors for the first time under Capello.
Tuesday, 24 March
2009 - Ledley King has left England's training camp and will not feature
in Saturday's friendly against Slovakia or the World Cup qualifier with Ukraine
on 1 April. The Tottenham defender was called up despite a chronic knee
injury that restricts his ability to train. The Football Association
confirmed he had been assessed by England's medics. After a near two-year
absence from international football King, 28, joined up with the England squad
on Monday. The Spurs club captain arrived with Fabio Capello's party at
Arsenal's London Colney training facility on Tuesday but did not train and
returned to the England hotel and then to his club.
Portsmouth striker Peter Crouch is also a doubt for the
game against Slovakia after he left training to go for a precautionary scan on a
calf injury. Crouch was forced to miss training on Tuesday along with
Manchester City winger Shaun Wright-Phillips who sat out with a sore back,
although it is not thought to be serious.
Wednesday, 25 March
2009 - Peter Crouch and Shaun Wright-Phillips missed England training
for the second day running. Crouch (calf) and Wright-Phillips (ankle) will
both be examined early on Thursday to decide whether they are fit to take part
in the day's training.
Friday, 27 March
2009 - Shaun Wright-Phillips looks set to miss Saturday's friendly
against Slovakia after once again sitting out training on Friday.
Wright-Phillips is unlikely to recover in time. With Wright-Phillips
sidelined, Capello will start with either David Beckham or Tottenham's Aaron
Lennon on the right wing. Peter Crouch was able to join in with his
team-mates after missing training earlier in the week.
Saturday, 28 March
2009 - England defeat Slovakia 4-0 in a match marred by injuries.
Rio Ferdinand is ruled out before the match. Emile Heskey, Carlton Cole
and Peter Crouch all receive on-the-pitch injuries. Darren Bent is
called-up as a replacement. Crouch is likely to be fit for the game
against Ukraine but Cole is definitely out with a thigh problem while Heskey
requires a scan on a calf injury.
Sunday, 29 March
2009 - Emile Heskey has been ruled out of England's match against
Ukraine on Wednesday after withdrawing from the squad because of a hamstring
injury.
Tuesday, 31 March
2009 - Gabriel Agbonlahor has been called up after striker Darren Bent
limped out of training. Bent, 25, who came in for the injured Emile
Heskey, has a knee problem, said England boss Fabio Capello.
Peter Crouch is set to partner Wayne Rooney in attack
on Wednesday after recovering from a dead leg suffered in Saturday's 4-0 victory
over Slovakia. Rio Ferdinand is expected to be fit to partner John Terry
in defence. Ferdinand could have played against Slovakia but England coach
Fabio Capello decided not to risk the Manchester United defender, while Shaun
Wright-Phillips is also available after a minor ankle knock. Crouch may
start against Ukraine, but Capello may opt to play Rooney as a lone forward,
with Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard in close support.
8
2