Bobby Zamora deserves Euro 2012 chance, says Martin Jol

17 November 2011 16:55
Martin Jol has backed Bobby Zamora to make England's Euro 2012 squad, claiming he provides Fabio Capello with the guile other strikers are missing.[LNB]Zamora missed two good chances to mark his full international debut with a goal in Tuesday's 1-0 win over Sweden and afterwards branded his own performance as 'not the greatest'.[LNB]But with Wayne Rooney suspended for the group stages of the tournament, there is a place in attack up for grabs and his Fulham boss says 30-year-old Zamora can feel the breach.[LNB] Give him a chance: Fulham boss Martin Jol has backed Bobby Zamora to star for England at Euro 2012[LNB]'He was very quick to call himself, but players know when they haven't played well,' said Jol.[LNB]'When a striker scores he has done well.[LNB]'It's about performances so if he gets another chance or a couple of chances, he will take it because he is different.[LNB]'They are all different. Darren Bent is different, Jermain Defoe is different, Wayne Rooney certainly is different. And I don't feel they have a lot of players who are a real number nine who can hold up the ball.[LNB] Hold up: Zamora in action against Sweden at Wembley[LNB]'It's up to the manager - if he wants to play with a goalscorer, then Bent is probably the best goalscorer in England, he's certainly different to Bobby.[LNB]'But if you play Bobby with offensive midfield players he can be very useful. If you play him on his own with a flat midfield, you are better playing Darren Bent.[LNB]'They give all the options so I think Capello will think about taking him because he is a different sort of number nine.[LNB]'Capello will know he is a number nine who will hold the ball up all the time. His first touch is very good, he's good in the box, he's a link-up number nine.[LNB]'Peter Crouch is probably similar. He's better than people give him credit for at holding the ball. But Bobby is probably the most gifted.[LNB]'He's not only a link-up player, not an immobile number nine, he's an intelligent number nine. He's very versatile.'[LNB]Zamora will be back in action when Fulham head to Sunderland in the Barclays Premier League on Saturday.[LNB]  And Jol is hoping to reap the benefits of having a player desperate to prove himself over the rest of the season.[LNB]'Even if you are not involved in the national team you should be motivated and I think he is,' added the Dutchman.[LNB]'It certainly gives you an extra dimension playing for the national team and hopefully he'll be involved. I think it can certainly help.'[LNB]Jol will be without Stephen Kelly at the Stadium of Light after the defender suffered a groin injury on Republic of Ireland duty last week.[LNB]  Fabio finding his own gold! My Jones generation can shine, insists England boss Rooney's appeal against Euro 2012 suspension brought forward 24 hoursAll the latest Fulham news, features and opinion [LNB]

Source: Daily_Mail