After a busy couple of weeks for England, fans could be forgiven for forgetting about the upcoming World Cup Qualifying fixtures against San Marino and Poland.
Following John Terry’s international retirement, Rio Ferdinand seemed destined for his first selection under Roy Hodgson. However, it was not to be, with Stoke’s Ryan Shawcross gaining his first call-up to the national side, having turned down an approach from Wales earlier in the year.
A further headline rooted in the John Terry saga was Ashley Cole’s condemning of the FA after dismissing his evidence in the former England captain’s court hearing.
Using abusive language to describe the FA on Twitter on Friday, Cole later apologised, possibly saving himself from the wrath of Hodgson ahead of Friday night’s match against San Marino.
By Tuesday, it appeared that all had been forgotten, as Cole along with the rest of the squad joined FA board members, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and manager Roy Hodgson to unveil St George’s Park, the new national football centre.
At last a positive for Hodgson’s side, with Steven Gerrard describing the facility as “the best in the world…taking away all the excuses the players might use in the future”.
When England line up against the minnows of San Marino and Poland in the coming week, fans will be expecting victory more than ever.
Team news ahead of the fixtures mainly surrounds Cole, whose outburst could see him resigned to the bench, particularly with Leighton Baines as a more than capable deputy. Suggestions that Cole could captain the side against Poland for his 100th cap now seem unlikely.
Several young players were tipped to make the trip, including Raheem Sterling, who has instead been included in Stewart Pearce’s under-21 squad. Likewise, Steven Caulker looked the likely replacement for John Terry but will instead feature alongside Sterling, with Shawcross getting the chance to win a first England cap.
The biggest surprise in the selection would be Liverpool’s on-form midfielder Jonjo Shelvey, who has been lavished with praise from his club and country captain Steven Gerrard.
He said, “To get called into the full England squad is testament to what he’s done so far. It will be a great experience for him.”
Hodgson retains the freedom from the FA to pick Cole should he wish, but while the manager says his position is not under threat, he may choose the San Marino fixture to test some of the younger squad members at Wembley, resting the likes of Cole for a tougher away game in Poland on Tuesday.