ENGLAND v PARAGUAY        PREVIEW                                        World Cup football home page
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This friendly between England and Paraguay is to be played on Wednesday 17 April 2002 at Liverpool's Anfield ground.

In previous friendly matches Sven has reached a compromise with club managers for most players only to play for 45 minutes. In the last friendly match against Italy, however, it was debateable how much the manager could have learned from the game when most players only had 45 minutes to prove themselves.

                                            
                         Jose Luis Chilavert (Paraguay goalkeeper) during the World Cup 1998
                         He will not play in the match against England, however, due to injury

                                                          

Sven-Goran Eriksson has chosen a 25 man squad against Paraguay

Steve McManaman, Darren Anderton, Nick Barmby, Graeme Le Saux, Richard Wright and Kevin Phillips have been left out of the squad against Paraguay and so are very doubtful to be picked for the World Cup provisional squad on May 7.

Blackburn striker Matt Jansen is the surprise inclusion in the squad at the expense of his club strike partner Andy Cole. Leeds striker Alan Smith has also been omitted from the squad.

Sven's first choice goalkeeper David Seaman has come back into the squad as expected. With Nigel Martyn as the reserve goalkeeper, David James has got the third goalkeeper place ahead of Richard Wright in this squad.

In central defence, Sol Campbell, Gareth Southgate and Ugo Ehiogu are in the squad but Rio Ferdinand has been left out as he is injured. After this squad was announced on 13 April 2002, both Sol Campbell and Ugo Ehiogu had to pull out of the squad with hamstring injuries which they both suffered during FA cup semi-final game between Arsenal and Middlesbro on 14 April 2002. Martin Keown has been drafted in to replace them.

Gary Neville will be first choice at right back and Wayne Bridge is in the squad for the left back position. Phil Neville and Jamie Carragher have been included for being able to play at right or left back. Danny Mills has also kept his place in the squad for cover at right back. Ashley Cole is injured again and so has been left out of the squad.

In midfield, Steven Gerrard, Paul Scholes, Kieron Dyer, Nicky Butt, Frank Lampard, Trevor Sinclair, Danny Murphy and Owen Hargreaves have been picked as expected. Joe Cole has been picked again despite giving having a mixed game against Italy in the last friendly match. The England Captain David Beckham became injured with a broken foot in the Champions League game on 10 April 2002 and  may be out for up to 8 weeks - he has therefore not been picked in this squad - click here to see the latest on the David Beckham injury.

In attack, Michael Owen and Robbie Fowler are in the squad. Darius Vassell has another chance to prove himself at international level while Teddy Sheringham has been picked after his recent goals for Tottenham - Emile Heskey has been left out as he has a hamstring injury. Striker Matt Jansen is the one surprise inclusion in the squad (but he unfortunately had to pull out of the team from injury on the day of the match). Michael Owen has been given the captaincy for this match in the absence of David Beckham.

 

The 25 man England squad (reduced to 24 men after central defensive injuries mentioned above) for the game against Paraguay is::
 
                                                        David Seaman

                                                        Nigel Martyn
                                                        David James
 
  Gary Neville                         Martin Keown             Gareth Southgate           Wayne Bridge
  Phil Neville                                                                                                   Jamie Carragher
  Danny Mills
          

 

  Danny Murphy                           Steven Gerrard             Paul Scholes                 Kieron Dyer
  Owen Hargreaves                       Joe Cole                      Frank Lampard             Trevor Sinclair
                                                    Nicky Butt                                                                   

 
 
                                       Matt Jansen                             Michael Owen (captain)
                                       Robbie Fowler                         Darius Vassell
                                       Teddy Sheringham


 
                                                               


The last time England faced Paraguay was in the World Cup 1986 - England won 3-0 to go through to the quarter finals. At this time, Bobby Robson was in charge of the England team and the goalkeeper Peter Shilton was the captain, having taken over from Bryan Robson, who was injured earlier in the competition.


Gary Lineker in action against Paraguay in 1986

The England team against Paraguay was Peter Shilton, Gary M Stevens, Kevin Sansom, Alvin Martin, Terry Butcher,  Glen Hoddle, Steve Hodge, Peter Reid (sub Gary A Stevens), Trevor Steven, Peter Beardsley (sub Mark Hateley), Gary Lineker 

Gary Lineker had come back to form with a hatrick in his previous game against Poland and got his first goal against Paraguay after 32 minutes to go in at half time 1-0 up. Fellow striker Peter Beardsley then made in 2-0 after 55 minutes before Gary Lineker effectively finished off the match with his second goal in the 72nd minute.

See the match report on Wednesday's match here.                                                
 

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Note: This England World Cup 2002 website is also available using  http://clik.to/england