Capello: Rooney and Heskey partnership key
Reuters - Monday 13 October 2008, 02:00
LONDON - The attacking partnership of
Emile Heskey and Wayne Rooney is the key to England enjoying
more success when they face Belarus on Wednesday
looking for a fourth successive World Cup qualifying win.
England coach Fabio Capello, speaking after England's 5-1
win over Kazakhstan at Wembley Stadium in Saturday's Group Six
game, said Rooney, who scored twice, benefits most when he plays
alongside the taller, muscular Heskey.
"Rooney is very important for us," said the Italian, "but
Heskey is important for him. Defenders always go towards Heskey.
"When that happens, it creates a bit of space for Rooney --
whose movement is so good."
Although Heskey has not scored for England in his last 16
appearances over the past five and a half years, Rooney is bang
in form, scoring in his last four matches for Manchester United
and England with his international tally now standing at 17
goals in 47 appearances.
TACTICAL SWITCH
Their partnership only began to work properly in the second
half of Saturday's match after Rooney spent a frustrating time
wide on the left for the first 45 minutes.
A halftime tactical switch, in which midfielder Gareth Barry
was replaced by Shaun Wright-Phillips who took Rooney's place on
the left with Rooney moving to a more central role, unlocked the
determined Kazakh defence and gave England victory.
The only change likely to the England starting lineup will
be in defence if skipper John Terry recovers from a back injury
in time to play.
If he does not, Capello may stick with stand-in Matthew
Upson, although Joleon Lescott would also be in contention to
play alongside Rio Ferdinand at the heart of the defence.
England travel to Minsk looking for a fourth successive win
in Group Six from their first meeting with Belarus. England have
never previously won their four opening matches in a World Cup
qualifying campaign.
The home side have three points from two matches after
losing 1-0 to Ukraine and beating Andorra 3-1.
They look like being disadvantaged without their best player
and skipper, midfielder Aleksandr Hleb who is doubtful after
twisting ankle ligaments playing for Barcelona last month.
Striker Vitaly Rodionov is also injured but his BATE Borisov
team mates, midfielders Sergei Sosnovsky and Igor Stasevich have
recovered from illnesses and are expected to play.
"At least I don't have to give any pep talk to my team
playing England," Belarus coach Bernd Stange told reporters
before the game.
"I think my guys will go out with nothing to lose and they
should not have any fear of their opponents," said the German.
Probable teams:
Belarus: Yuri Zhevnov; Egor Filipenko, Sergei Omelyanchyuk,
Vladimir Korytko, Dmitry Verkhovtsov; Aleksandr Kulchy, Anton
Putilo, Oleg Strakhanovich, Aleksandr Pavlov, Vitaly Kutuzov;
Vitaly Bulyga
England: David James; Wes Brown, Rio Ferdinand, Matthew
Upson or John Terry, Ashley Cole; Steven Gerrard, Gareth Barry,
Frank Lampard; Theo Walcott, Emile Heskey, Wayne Rooney
Referee: Terje Hauge (Norway)
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