Crocked Cole = defensive dilemma
Reuters - Friday 12 February 2010, 13:27
LONDON - Fabio Capello is facing his first
serious injury problem as England coach with the World Cup just
four months away after Ashley Cole was ruled out for the rest of
the season with a broken ankle.
His injury has also caused huge concern for Chelsea coach
Carlo Ancelotti as his side maintain their chase for the Premier
League title.
The 29-year-old Chelsea left back suffered the injury in an
accidental collision with Everton's on-loan United States
striker Landon Donovan at Goodison Park on Wednesday.
The players were due to be on opposing sides when England
face the U.S. in their opening World Cup match in South Africa
on June 12.
"It is bad news about Ashley," Capello told reporters. "He's
a really important player. As a left defender he is very good
and dangerous going forward. I hope it won't be too tough for
him."
Cole, with 77 caps, was Capello's automatic first choice on
the left side of the defence, but the England coach could now be
forced to call up understudy Wayne Bridge.
However, that situation is complicated because of the
off-field problems surrounding Bridge and his former Chelsea
team mate John Terry.
Terry was replaced as England captain last week following
allegations in the British media that Terry had an extra-marital
affair with the former girlfriend of Bridge, who joined
Manchester City last year.
Roberto Mancini told a news conference on Friday it was
important for Bridge to play for England.
"Ashley Cole's injury for England is a problem," said
Mancini, "but we have a good player here in Wayne Bridge who can
play for the national team.
"I think its important for him to play for England and if he
is picked, he should play. Its very important for his career
that if he can play in the World Cup, he should play."
Capello does have other options for the position including
Aston Villa's Stephen Warnock or James Milner, Leighton Baines
of Everton or Gareth Barry and Joleon Lescott of Manchester
City.
Cole is in a race against time to be fit for the World Cup.
The Premier League season ends on May 9, with the FA Cup final
on May 15 and the Champions League final on May 22.
England also have a World Cup warm-up game against Mexico on
May 24 and a planned friendly with Japan in late May in Austria
before Capello names his World Cup squad on June 1.
Chelsea coach Ancelotti must also decide on who will replace
Cole as his team maintain their push for the league title.
Ancelotti can call up Yuri Zhirkov or Paulo Ferreira, but
told reporters on Thursday: "We are very disappointed because he
is a very important player. Now we have to do our best to get
him recovered quickly."