Peter Crouch double lifts optimism for England’s Football World Cup bid
Last updated 05/03/2010 10:53:29
Peter Crouch lifts Optimism for England Football World Cup Bid
There is no more optimistic footballer than Spurs and England striker Peter Crouch and he lifted the hopes of his national team and his own when he came off the bench to score twice against African Champions Egypt at Wembley.
At six feet seven inches and built like a stick insect Crouch has found himself the figure of fun around the globe but his goals have surely now earned him a place on the aircraft for the World Cup finals in South Africa this summer.
Manager Fabio Capello called for Crouch at half time to replace Jermain Defoe alongside Wayne Rooney and he responded immediately with a brace of brilliantly taken goals as England came back from a first half deficit to win 3-1 in the last game before the World Cup 30 are named.
Capello almost completely ignored the lanky centre forward when he did not give him a single start in his first year as manager but as soon as he was given his opportunity he responded and he has now scored 20 goals in 37 appearances, twenty of which have been from the substitute's bench.
He has become something of a lucky mascot to the England side who have won 12 of the previous 13 matches in which he has scored and he has now scored six goals in his last five appearances under Capello.
His two goals for England came at a perfect time to keep his spirits bubbling as he has currently lost his place at White Hart Lane to the Russian striker Roman Pavlyuchenko and Capello has let it be known that he wants his squad members playing regularly for their clubs.
Crouch's two goals , added to a third from another substitute, Shaun Wright-Phillips, means that England have now won eight in succession at the new Wembley and will be looking to improve on that when they face Mexico on a date to be arranged before the World Cup.
Optimism is high among England supporters now that the Italian manager has totally asserted his authority over a talented but sometimes casual bunch of players who have proved to be easily distracted in the past.
He shows no favouritism even amongst the leading, experienced players and against Egypt he had no hesitation in taking off not only Defoe but also the out of touch Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard and man-of-the-moment Wayne Rooney as well as Theo Walcott who is feeling his way back to form and fitness.
Capello has shown that no one can guarantee their places in either squad or team and even record breaking David Beckham was reduced to a cheer leader on the England bench on Wednesday night.
But there is plenty of time for the likes of Lampard and Gerrard to battle their way back into the manager's good books for almost 100 days remaining before England's opening game against the USA in Rustenburg on June 12.
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