Matthew Upson will be John Terry’s partner, the fourth in as many weeks
Much of today’s space was taken by John Terry’s grovelling apology to Fabio Capello but the Chelsea central defender is sure to be in the thick of things today.
Terry is on multiple partners on the pitch, like he is off it.
Matthew Upson whose form has been decidedly underwhelming for a long time, is standing in for injured Jamie Carragher, who in turn took Ledley King’s place once he ws felled, who himself was promoted once Rio Ferdinand was injured.
Upson is decent at set pieces, defending not so much. He has been slowed down by a history of knee injuries. The Slovenian attack could fancy taking him on.
Valter Birsa has proven to be quite an attacking threat from the open field and loves going wide right to push those probing crosses down to Milivoje Novakovic, the Peter Crouch kind of striker. Upson might be pressed hard to fend those off.
Slovenia also have a defense that can soak up a lot of pressure and they will expect Wayne Rooney, in danger of becoming the most overrated player this World Cup, to come out like a gangbuster. So does Capello include Jermain Defoe? or as widely anticipated Steven Gerrard in the ‘hole’?
2 comments on “England to start Matthew Upson”
“Wayne Rooney, in danger of becoming the most overrated player this World Cup”
I’m normally not nitpicky about this kind of thing but I really object to the idea that Rooney is overrated. He might be drastically underperforming and, indeed, I think he is, but “overrated” implies that he isn’t as good as people said he was. His results this past season and over his career seem to clearly contradict such an assertion.
Jesse G., just a twist on words. But practically speaking it is true. Who would imagine that this England team that scored 34 goals in the WC qualifiers, with Rooney scoring 11 of them would come up with just a goal. One can argue Leo Messi has not scored too but not for the lack of trying. Plus, he has provided so many opportunities for others.