Trinidad and Tobago v England preview

Capello takes his team to Caribbean for friendly

By Rob Parrish   Last updated: 1st June 2008

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England bring the curtain down on their international season with a friendly against Trinidad and Tobago on Sunday evening.

While the cream of European football are preparing for the Euro 2008 finals, the Three Lions can only dream of what might have been as they face the Caribbean side in Port of Spain.

England's failure to qualify for this summer's tournament in Austria and Switzerland saw the hapless Steve McClaren rightly relieved of his duties in November, with Fabio Capello brought in early this year.

The Italian's first task will be to ensure that England book their place at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, and he will use this weekend's clash to run the rule over the players at his disposal.

Much-changed

It will be a much-changed line-up from the side on duty for the 2-0 Wembley victory over the USA on Wednesday, with seven Chelsea and Manchester United players excused the trip.

John Terry, Wayne Rooney, Frank Lampard, Ashley Cole, Joe Cole, Owen Hargreaves and Wes Brown have not travelled in the wake of their UEFA Champions League final exertions.

Only Rio Ferdinand and Wayne Bridge have remained with the squad for the clash against Francisco Maturana's Trinidad and Tobago side.

With Terry not involved, Capello will be changing his captain once again with Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder David Beckham set to be handed the armband.

Steven Gerrard, Ferdinand and Terry have each been named skipper for one match with Capello set to appoint a permanent captain ahead of the World Cup qualification campaign.

Portsmouth striker Jermain Defoe will be eager to be given another opportunity up front after starting against USA in midweek.

Treat

Sunderland striker Kenwyne Jones will be a familiar face in the Trinidad and Tobago side to fans of Premier League football, but Stadium of Light team-mate Dwight Yorke will not feature.

Along with Jones, fellow English-based players Stern John, Carlos Edwards, Dennis Lawrence and Clayton Ince have also been included in Maturana's 18-man squad.

And Jones is gunning for revenge after two late goals denied Trinidad and Tobago a point in the teams' only previous meeting in the group stages of the 2006 World Cup.

"I think we are going to see a very good game and I know all of Trinidad wants us to beat England this time around because we were seven minutes away from getting a point when we met them in Nuremberg in 2006," said Jones.

"I'm feeling good at the moment and we've come through a good week of preparation for the match. England are coming off a win against the States but I think on Sunday it's going to be a different ball game.

"Both teams I think will give a good showing and it should be a treat for the fans."