Euro 2012 - Pearce names Campbell for England

Thu, 23 Feb 11:18:00 2012

Stuart Pearce has named his England squad for next week's game with the Netherlands at Wembley with striker Fraizer Campbell a shock call-up.

Fraizer Campbell England - 0

Pearce, acting as caretaker manager for this match, picked the in-form Sunderland forward whose first senior inclusion caps a remarkable turnaround following a spate of injuries.

The former Manchester United man now joins Wayne Rooney, Darren Bent, Danny Welbeck and Daniel Sturridge as the strikers in a youthful 25-man squad that also includes Manchester City full-back Micah Richards.

On Campbell's inclusion, Pearce said: "I think he is an exciting young talent and I think he will thrive."

Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard is back in the squad for the first time since the match with France in November 2010, while Tom Cleverley will be looking to pick up his first cap at senior level. Goalkeeper Robert Green is also recalled to the squad.

The continued exclusion of Richards throughout his four-year tenure was one of the more remarkable aspects of Fabio Capello's reign, but Pearce has wasted no time in bringing the City man back into the fold.

Neither Rio Ferdinand nor Frank Lampard have been selected, although the presence of Gerrard suggests the Liverpool skipper will regain the captain's armband, sensationally stripped from John Terry earlier this month.

Pearce said on the captaincy issue: "I'm only in charge for one game. The exposure has been a little too excessive. I will look at the dynamism of the group and pick a player who I and the group respect.

"I know Frank (Lampard), John Terry, Rio Ferdinand, but there are others who we will need to look at. I don't think I would learn anything watching them play next Wednesday.

"It would be too easy and too foolish to put a totally inexperienced side out. You need some experience to guide the youngsters."

Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp is the bookmakers' favourite to replace Capello for the Euros in Poland and Ukraine, which start on June 8, but former England left back Pearce would be happy to stay in charge for the tournament.

"If they need me to take the squad in the summer I will do that with pleasure," he said, despite having the Olympics in London a month later and previously saying he lacked enough experience.

England squad:

Goalkeepers: Scott Carson (Bursaspor), Joe Hart (Manchester City), Robert Green (West Ham United).

Defenders: Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Ashley Cole (Chelsea), Leighton Baines (Everton), Glen Johnson (Liverpool), Phil Jones (Manchester United), Micah Richards (Manchester City), Chris Smalling (Manchester United), Kyle Walker (Tottenham Hotspur).

Midfielders: Gareth Barry (Manchester City), Tom Cleverley (Manchester United), Stewart Downing (Liverpool), Adam Johnson (Manchester City), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), James Milner (Manchester City), Scott Parker (Tottenham Hotspur), Ashley Young (Manchester United), Theo Walcott (Arsenal).

Forwards: Darren Bent (Aston Villa), Fraizer Campbell (Sunderland), Daniel Sturridge (Chelsea), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Danny Welbeck (Manchester United).

Eurosport

Comment 177 - 196 of 196

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  1. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    So what ! Yet another boring football story !

    From Luke, on Fri 24 Feb 18:59

  2. well...we all know what we're gonna get from Wayne­ Rooney (and others) in an international game. Egos too­ big to be lead. Try something new...why not? The bench­ mark's not that high is it?

    From mikey, on Fri 24 Feb 18:16

  3. I despair,cannot believe John Ruddy has not got the nod­ above Green or Carson.

    From MAL, on Fri 24 Feb 17:05

  4. with a name like that i wonder the jocks didn't try­ and get him

    From dennyr33, on Fri 24 Feb 16:53

  5. Brave selection! Whatever squad SP would have picked,­ people would still have a lot of negativity about it.­ Campbell is an excellent player who i have seen play­ all through the England & Man Utd ranks, top scorer­ in Belgium for Antwerp, top scorer for Hull in their­ promotion winning season, and has excelled at every­ level. He was in Capello's plans before he got­ injured and SP as continued in the belief in this great­ English prospect. He as played with all the selected­ forwards at some time or another and most of the others­ in the squad.
    So lets give the lad (and the rest of­ the squad) a chance to see what he/they can do! COME ON­ ENGLAND!

    From tim, on Fri 24 Feb 16:39
  6. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    lol another joke of a so called team with aother idiot­ in charge.RIP english football

    From Rip, on Fri 24 Feb 16:03

  7. 80% of these players will make Great Britain Olympics­ footbal team so a test run match for the Olympics­ Pearce?

    From MAHROOF OJO, on Fri 24 Feb 13:44

  8. Oxlade Chambelain's name was a chance for Pearce to­ show that he can at least see the obvious and that he­ knows promising talent when he sees it, but no. he­ would have been first on my list. after the thrashing­ against Germany Oxlade is of one of the few names not­ linked to that shambles.

    Anyway Pearce is a yes man­ and England need a manager like Redknapp because he can­ do what Jack Charlton did for Rep Ireland and gel the­ team together and get them to play above themselves.­ Pearce will never inspire an England team to break­ through walls. I bet Martin O'Neil still sits in a­ dark room and tries to work out how Steve Brolly­ McClaren got the England job over him. One of the­ biggest mistakes the FA ever made.

    From MARK, on Fri 24 Feb 11:38

  9. Agree John Ruddy Norwich should of been given a­ chance
    John is certainly better than Scot Carson, and­ Robert Green,
    whoi let us down in the world cup.

    From Bryn Smith, on Fri 24 Feb 9:41

  10. nice one i think they should give the job we could do a­ lot worse

    From Gary, on Fri 24 Feb 9:01

  11. John Ruddy should be in there instead of Green hes been­ outstanding for Norwich

    From GAZA BOY, on Fri 24 Feb 7:18

  12. Sure he wiznae born in Stirling?? Fraizer­ Campbell,where the hell did that Name come from.????

    From C.C.Belter., on Fri 24 Feb 7:15

  13. Sure he wiznae born in Stirling?? Fraizer­ Campbell,where the hell did that Name come from.????

    From C.C.Belter., on Fri 24 Feb 7:09

  14. Yes he is a baffoon amongst baffoons ie the fa -­ youll all change your tune after next weeks game

    Ever­ heard of the emperors new clothes Good Luck

    From Ian, on Fri 24 Feb 6:06

  15. I sat and watched Manchester City fail to score a goal­ at home for half a season under Pearce and now the­ buffoon is highly regarded within an England set up.­ Must be a Yes man.

    From gary.climo, on Fri 24 Feb 5:30

  16. At last we can play a game albeit a friendly without­ all the old dead weight Capello kept resarecting, the­ biggest waste of space of all of them being Lampard,­ who i think ought to go to either USA or Japan &­ take than brainless bimbo of his with him & give us­ all a break. He can achieve as much in a season there­ as he does in one game for England only they wont­ notice (scored in the first 5 mins then faded away, was­ one of his better reports for England). When HR takes­ over i dont think family loyalty will come into it or­ he wont last long either. We need 11 players on the­ pitch working together for 90 mins not 10 & a nomad­ who carnt pass, take corners, tackle or even take­ penalties now. I like most am sick of hearing about a­ midfielder who scores 20 + goals a season when well­ over half of them come from penalties & thankfully­ we wont hear that again he's FINISHED.

    From timbarnett, on Fri 24 Feb 4:01

  17. thumbs up if you thought Psycho had named SOL Campbell­ in the squad...

    From Raf, on Fri 24 Feb 3:51

  18. I agree with the way he has gone about the team. he has­ gone for a young team that is still very passionate­ about the game

    From Jordan, on Fri 24 Feb 3:49

  19. Pearce obviously doesnt want the job then - another­ showing up on its way. Bet the press cant wait for this­ one.

    Joe Hart will be out for the rest of the season­ with a bad back after this game.

    Good Luck

    From Ian, on Fri 24 Feb 3:36

  20. Give the man a chance for Gods sake!!!!!!!!!!

    From Nhj Bert, on Fri 24 Feb 3:10
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