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Pacman to the point

If England don't do it under Capello, they never will

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Jamie "The Pacman" Pacheco praises the FA for securing the services of Fabio Capello and separates the wheat from the chaff in England's squad to face France on Wednesday night

Back in November, shortly after England's failure to qualify for Euro 2008 and McClaren's subsequent exit, I penned a column (click here to read it) saying that England had to bend over backwards to secure the services of either Mourinho or Capello if they were to return to a position where they were realistically in contention to win one of the two major tournaments up for grabs.

And I don't mean the "We're England, we're always in contention" or "The Premiership is the best league in the world therefore by definition we are the strongest football country in the world" sort of contention. I'm talking about being a side that possesses talent, squad depth, the ability to create and take chances every match, discipline, resilience, mental strength, confidence and a world class manager - that sort of contention. The first and last bits are already there, the rest remain to be seen.

As important as all the factors I mentioned above may be, the actual quality of the players available is the starting point for assessing whether a side really will be in contention for a tournament. Greece are the only side I can recall in recent years who won the European Championship or the World Cup with a squad that on paper didn't look capable of doing just that. And now is the time for Capello to decide who can cut the mustard at the highest level in two years time and who can't - assuming England qualify of course!

Which is why I sincerely hope that this is the last call-up that Beckham gets. He deserves his 100th cap, he's done enough for England in the past to earn the right to join the elite club of England centurions and a friendly is the right occasion for him to achieve the milestone. But enough is enough. His stamina which was such a major part of his success for Man Utd and England has withered, the lack of fast-paced competitive football in the MLS is likely to mean he'll lose his sharpness and too much time on the ball out there will mean he will get used to more time and space than he will have at international level.

Set pieces? Even if he is still one of the best in the world, that alone can't or at least shouldn't be enough to get him a game. Chris Paterson isn't the greatest all-round rugby player in the world but he's the greatest kicker in the world and in the modern game of rugby where it so often comes down to converting penalties, he more than justifies his selection. But that's rugby and I can't ever envisage a time in football where set-pieces alone virtually decide the outcome of matches. Besides, in a side that contains such players as Lampard, Gerrard and to a lesser extent Hargreaves, surely there are enough options for England not to miss Beckham's deliveries that much?

What's more, England have in David Bentley a more than worthy successor for the right-sided position in midfield. Young, hungry and confident by nature, he's got skill, more pace than Beckham ever did, is a fine crosser and creates and score goals. Fitness permitting, he's the guy that Capello needs to start in that position for England's next five matches. If he looks out of his depth at that level then he will have had his chance and blown it but he certainly deserves the chance.

David James should get the nod in goal for the time being as long as his form remains at it's current level though I suspect Ben Foster is the long-term choice. Micah Richards (absent from this squad due to injury) will one day be the rock at the heart of England's defence but with the likes of Terry, Ferdinand and Woodgate (two from these three for the foreseeable future) still around for the next few years he can gain all the international experience he needs at right-back. Ashley Cole seems to only make the headlines for all the wrong reasons these days and I see no good reason why he shouldn't be dropped in favour of Joleon Lescott, who has been the best defender in the Premiership this season and whose extra height (not to mention goals) would be a huge bonus.

Hargreaves should be an automatic choice in the holding role for his energy, tackling and short passing, as well as his ability to slot into any pretty much any position on the pitch should the need occur. Gerrard needs to start putting in some big performances for England sooner rather than later but is still the man to build the team around. Joey Barton's best mate Frank Lampard I feel, has some role to play in the next couple of years but probably more as an option off the bench rather than as a starter. Little Joe Cole possesses something that no-one else in the team can: true flair - he can create something out of nothing and runs at players at pace which invites fouls and creates space for others. He must start - always.

The forwards pick themselves. Rooney's strength, commitment, unpredictability and goals (which have admittedly dried up a bit) are key whereas a fit Michael Owen is still one of the best goal poachers around. With his injury record, I worry for England in that I don't feel the likes of Defoe, Bent or Crouch are satisfactory replacements but we'll just have to wait and see whether the Newcastle skipper can keep fit.

Make no mistake about it, this is a fine squad of players and it's about time they fulfill their potential. This time there will be no excuses if they don't. If they can't compete with the best under Capello, they never will.