Cole set to lead from the front

2008-09-08 09:38

Barcelona - Joe Cole is being tipped to finally win over new England manager Fabio Capello and force his way into the starting lineup for Wednesday's crunch World Cup qualifier against Croatia in Zagreb.

Chelsea midfielder Cole, mysteriously left on the bench by Capello despite being one of England's most consistent players over a number of years, has saved his manager's blushes for the last two games in a row.

He came on as a second-half substitute to score a last-minute equalizer against the Czech Republic at Wembley last month and then repeated the trick on Saturday, scoring twice inside 10 second-half minutes against Andorra to confirm a 2-0 victory and three World Cup qualifying points.

Those goals, at a time when England were struggling to break down a 10-man defence, saved Capello from the kind of inquest that eventually put an end to his predecessor Steve McClaren.

Now many of the England squad expect to see Cole rewarded with a starting berth in Zagreb on Wednesday, a tie regarded as possibly the most crucial of all in Group 6.

"I think Joe is staking his claim," said Cole's England and Chelsea teammate Frank Lampard.

Manager

"No player likes being left out of the starting lineup and Joe isn't any different. No-one trains harder or gives his all as much as Joe and he wants to be in the team.

"He's come on and scored two goals so that's as much as he can do. The decision is always down to the manager but he has given him something to think about by coming on and doing that.

"When you aren't in the team - whether it's because you are out of favour or it's a tactical thing - all you can do is do your stuff when you are called on and Joe has done that yet again."

Lampard has seen Cole at close quarters for the last five years at Chelsea and although he refuses to criticize England boss Capello he is no doubt as baffled as anyone else as to why the midfielder has been overlooked.

Lampard added: "Joe's got tremendous ability and he can score important goals - he's done that for Chelsea over the past couple of years.

"Joe showed against Andorra that he can unlock a defence and his goals were the kind of goal-poaching types of goals which he's added to his game in recent years. That's the sort of player you want in your team when you are desperate to nick a goal and his prime years are to come.

Laboured

"He's only 26 and there's a lot more ahead from him I'm sure."

Even with Cole on top form, however, Lampard admits England weren't up to scratch on Saturday as they laboured to beat a team ranked 186th in the world.

But he insists what really matters is how they play in Zagreb on Wednesday - and whether they qualify for the World Cup Finals in 2010.

He said: "I think we've under-achieved as a group over the past couple of years - that's a fact. I think we just have to play better and that's what we're trying to do.

"Listen, no one needs telling that we should beat teams like Andorra - we all know that. But it is tough when they are just throwing everyone behind the ball like that.

"At least Croatia will come at us, but they have got very good players so that presents different problems. It will be a bit more open. They've got a lot more threats in their team, but it might be a bit more enjoyable."

- AFP