England, Newcastle, World Cup 2010

On the surface, Fabio Capello’s decision to omit 89-cap veteran – for that’s what he is these days – Michael Owen from his squad to face Andorra and, more crucially, Croatia over the next week appears a needlessly controversial and reckless one.

Why select a squad with only four forwards – Wayne Rooney apart, none have made any great impact at international level – when a much-hyped ‘revenge match’ against the Croats looms so large on the horizon? And then to overlook the national team’s one regular source of goals during the past decade is just asking for trouble, you’d think. So what could Capello’s justification for such an apparently McLaren-esque judgment possibly be?

First things first. Owen is not match-fit. Whether or not you buy into the well-worn theory that the diminutive striker needs at least five or six full games upon returning from the latest in the interminable litany of knocks, niggles and serious setbacks to punctuate his career before he can truly give of his sharp-shooting best, there is no doubt that Owen has yet to reach top form or fitness this season.

Capello has often stated the basic requirements for inclusion in his new England regime – the keystones being match fitness and consistent club form, with only David Beckham seemingly immune to this hardline policy. “Owen is a good player and always scores a lot of goals for England,” said the England boss just last week. He continued: “But he has not played and, at this moment, we need fit players.”

The unexpected inclusion of Fulham’s effervescent midfield general Jimmy Bullard serves to cast further light on the decision. Consistently strong performances such as Bullard’s earn recognition while those out of form and fitness must sit it out and focus firmly on reaching peak condition in time for the next England get-together. That is the message the five-time scudetti winner is boldly trying to circulate.

A vast army of England fans have, in recent times, complained bitterly about past coaches’ predilection for star names over those impressing week-in, week-out in the domestic game. Messrs Gerrard, Lampard, and Rooney are among those – quite justly – derided for failing to translate stellar club form into passionate, imagination-capturing displays when sporting the Three Lions. Yet – predominantly due to the inadequacies of their potential replacements – these players are never dropped.

Conversely, Owen is one of a particularly small number of players who seem to lift their form in an England shirt – an excellent return of 40 goals in those 89 games supports such an analysis. So, on that basis, he could have every reason to feel ‘owed’ a place - at least in the 23 - based purely on past performances. Notably, everyone’s favourite monotone pundit Alan Shearer took a brief break from grinning at Gary Lineker’s mind-bendingly lame puns to come out in support of his former striking partner’s claims.

And many cry that the alternatives chosen by Capello have hardly set the pulse racing – and that much is true. England currently suffer from a paucity of international-class strikers, but are not alone in their predicament; Italy and Portugal are among those with similar problems.

This time around, Emile Heskey, as ever, has been selected for his physical qualities and belligerent presence up front. Theo Walcott: for his intimidating pace and fast-developing footballing intelligence. Jermain Defoe offers the only genuine goal-poachers’ threat in Owen’s absence. The apparently un-droppable Rooney – sorely in need of an inspiring international showing – makes up the unlikely quartet.

It is, therefore, difficult to argue that a fully-firing Michael Owen would not considerably augment England’s striking options. However, Capello, like many managers, rarely opts for a two-man strikeforce; leaving the Newcastle forward far less certain of inclusion than in his late 90s, early noughties pomp.

While those who are prematurely inking out obituaries to his international career are clearly misguided, 28-year-old Owen’s omission denotes a clear-minded break from past selection policies from the England head coach. With his first competitive matches in sight, Capello has laid down a clear marker in terms of his beliefs and strategy for guiding an ailing national team forward – with one eye fixed firmly on South Africa 2010.

So, for the time being, Owen will have to content himself with sitting at home, leafing through the various barrel-loads of cash delivered courtesy of Mike Ashley’s remarkable generosity (which apparently stretches to the tune of £120k-a-week over the course of a new three-year deal). Perhaps he might treat himself to a couple of new racehorses to take his mind off matters.

To be less flippant, the ex-Real Madrid and Liverpool man will obviously be keen to repay the undying devotion of the Geordie faithful by scoring a hatful of Premier League goals; in the process making himself a must-pick for England’s October fixtures – against Kazakhstan and tricky Belarus. Given his past record, few would back against such a scenario coming to pass.

Returning to the next fortnight; a sharp reversal in fortunes (i.e. an emphatic win) against past conquerors Croatia would do much to re-ignite a sceptical fanbase’s waning passion for the national side. In the long shadow of Team GB’s unremitting Olympic success – and even, whisper it quietly, a resurgent England cricket team – Capello’s charges shoulder the heavy responsibility of justifying the enormously inflated hype which surrounds them.

They can do this only by reversing a long-running trend of desultory underachievement.

One thing’s for sure; the taciturn Italian at the helm has left little room for ambiguity – to effect such a turn-around, it will be either his way or no way.

Tags: Croatia, England, Fabio Capello, Fulham, Jimmy Bullard, Kevin Keegan, Michael Owen, Mike Ashley, Newcastle, World Cup 2010

---

Related Articles

• Bullard has all the talent to become an England regular
• The Monday Miscellany
• Walcott’s consummate evening offers England renewed hope
• Capello makes World Cup qualification look easy again
• “Change is the only constant” – Fabio Capello and the aftermath of 4-4-2