David Beckham will finally gain his 100th cap after being recalled to playing in England’s friendly against France.
The ex England skipper and LA Galaxy star has been named in the provisional by coach Fabio Capello, he said: “ I have had good reports on him from the assistant coach Franco Baldini, and also from his club. I always said that when David was fit he could be in the squad”.
Arsenal’s aspiring young footballer Theo Walcott, 19, has also been called up to play in the game his first since he played in the 2006 World Cup Finals, he is said to be thrilled after just celebrating his birthday last Sunday. The game which will be played in Paris on 26thMarch will be missing Manchester United’s Michael Carrick and Tottenham’s winger Aaron Lennon who has also been left out of the Under-21’s squad.
The provisional squad will be reduced to a group of 23 players by Capello and his assistant coach Baldini on Saturday 21st March. The England coach will be hoping for no injuries on Sunday during two premiership games where 13 players from the final squad will be playing when Manchester United host to Liverpool and Arsenal take on Chelsea at Stanford Bridge.
The provisional squad:
Goalkeepers: James (Portsmouth), Carson (Aston Villa), Kirkland (Wigan)
Defenders: Bridge (Chelsea), A Cole (Chelsea), Johnson (Portsmouth), Terry (Chelsea), Brown (Man Utd), Lescott (Everton), Ferdinand (Man Utd), Wheater (Middlesbrough), Woodgate (Tottenham), Upson (West Ham)
Midfielders:Barry (Aston Villa), Young (Aston Villa), Bentley (Blackburn), J Cole (Chelsea), Lampard (Chelsea), Wright-Phillips (Chelsea), Beckham (Los Angeles Galaxy), Gerrard (Liverpool), Hargreaves (Man Utd), Downing (Middlesbrough), Jenas (Tottenham)
Forwards:Walcott (Arsenal), Agbonlahor (Aston Villa), Crouch (Liverpool), Rooney (Man Utd), Owen (Newcastle), Defoe (Portsmouth).
