FABIO CAPELLO has already decided on his five first-choice penalty takers in a bid to make sure England do not suffer more shoot-out agony against Germany.
PENALTY-TAKERS: Fabio Capello has already decided on five first choices - including Wayne Rooney
England face the Germans in the last 16 of the World Cup on Sunday and the nation are desperate to avoid a repeat of the 1990 and 1996 penalty defeats.
The entire England squad have been practising penalties since their training camp in Austria, but Capello has also put on separate sessions for Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard, Wayne Rooney and James Milner.
Midfielder Gareth Barry’s ankle injury meant he did not travel to Austria and could not initially take a full part in training in South Africa, but he is now stepping up his penalty practice.
And even Jermain Defoe is among the volunteers for Capello’s contingency plan if any of his penalty takers are struck by injury, loss of form or nerves, or in case a shoot-out goes into sudden death.
As well as Defoe, Ashley Cole, John
Terry and Jamie Carragher are all ready to step into the breech if
needed.
Jermaine Defoe is among Fabio Capello's volunteers but he wants Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard
Captain Gerrard, who missed in the
shoot-out defeat by Portugal in 2006 said: “I’ve got a feeling we might
have to go to penalties at some point and, as a player going into a
World Cup, you’ve got to be prepared. It’s as simple as that.”
Despite being forced off against Slovenia with an
ankle problem, Rooney is expected to be fit to face Germany after taking
part in training and gym work yesterday.
Defender
Ledley King also did some field work, but Aaron Lennon and Michael
Carrick sat out training because of ankle injuries.
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