Is David James still England's number one?

2009-10-05

Fabio Capello has led England through an imperious qualification campaign for the 2010 World Cup, but could all his good work be undone by goalkeeping errors in South Africa next summer?

The theory goes that a successful team needs strength at its spine. Combine a world-class goalkeeper, central defender, central midfielder and striker in the same team and you have the basic ingredients for world domination.

England are three-quarters of the way there. John Terry and Rio Ferdinand are both world-class at the back; as are Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard in midfield and Wayne Rooney in attack.

But lingering doubts remain with regard to the number one jersey.

Ben Foster was tipped by many as the man for the job, but a handful of unconvincing – and mistake-riddled – performances for Manchester United have seen him dropped by Capello for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers.

Paul Robinson, Steve McLaren’s choice between the sticks, has enjoyed somewhat of a return to confidence with Blackburn (shipping six against Arsenal aside), but you get the feeling to recall to the squad is as much down to Foster’s failings than his own performances.

And so Capello has returned to the fit-again David James – the man whose brilliance is so regularly interspersed with comedic acts of footballing suicide that we know him as ‘Calamity’.

Robert Green has been neat and proficient as his deputy, but the consensus is that James is the man in possession – that only injury or a collection of calamities beyond anything in his long career will see anybody else defending England’s goal as they seek to end 44 years of hurt.

But can England really win the World Cup with James in goal? Or should Capello be looking elsewhere? Over to you.

England Squad:

Goalkeepers: David James (Portsmouth), Robert Green (West Ham), Paul Robinson (Blackburn).

Defenders: Wayne Bridge (Manchester City), Ashley Cole (Chelsea), Glen Johnson (Liverpool), Joleon Lescott (Manchester City), John Terry (Chelsea), Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United), Matthew Upson (West Ham), Wes Brown (Manchester United)

Midfielders: Gareth Barry (Manchester City), David Beckham (Los Angeles Galaxy), Michael Carrick (Manchester United), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), Aaron Lennon (Tottenham), Shaun Wright-Phillips (Manchester City), James Milner (Aston Villa)

Strikers: Carlton Cole (West Ham), Peter Crouch (Tottenham), Emile Heskey (Aston Villa), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Gabriel Agbonlahor (Aston Villa)