Capello opts for Upson and slams Terry as tensions rise before Slovenia showdown

England coach Fabio Capello has bowed to the pressure and agreed to name his side early before the must-win World Cup clash with Slovenia on Wednesday – and he has already confirmed West Ham’s Matthew Upson will replace Liverpool’s Jamie Carragher at centre-back.

Capello has also slammed former captain John Terry for his comments at a press conference on Sunday. The Generalissimo, reasserting his authority in an increasingly tense camp, said: "When you speak, you have to speak privately. This is a big mistake - you have to speak with me and the players."

With Manchester United’s Rio Ferdinand ruled out just before the tournament and Tottenham’s Ledley King injured in the opening Group C clash against the USA, Capello has little choice other than Spurs Michael Dawson, who arrived as a late replacement for Ferdinand.

Carragher, who reversed his international retirement to be here, was booked after coming on during the 1-1 draw against the US and picked up a second booking in the awful 0-0 draw against Algeria in Cape Town on Friday.

His suspension left Capello confirming: "Upson will play because he always played with John Terry and I probably will change some others."

Capello has come under pressure from the media and players – notably former captain Terry – over his decision not to name his side until two hours before kick-off in South Africa. Curiously though, the Daily Mail found out 24 hours before the Algeria game that Portsmouth veteran David “Calamity” James was to take over from West Ham’s Robert “Phokeng” Green in goal.

That suggests the players have always known the team some time before kick-off – and it was just a matter of plugging the leaks.

Capello, who has been unusually animated on the sideline throughout, could be seen to have bowed to the pressure after Terry spoke of “arguments” in the camp on Sunday. The Italian has also spoken of the “pressures” of this World Cup, and fears he has “wasted two years” of preparation.

Capello’s mood won’t be helped by former England full-back Paul Parker coming out in support of Dawson rather than Upson, who struggled with the Hammers in the relegation fight last season. Parker said: "God knows why Dawson wasn't in the original squad - but he should replace Carra against Slovenia without a shadow of doubt.

"Michael Dawson was playing well for his club at the end of the season yet he picked (Matthew) Upson, who just hasn't been playing well."

Critics are also calling for the end of Frank Lampard’s ragged World Cup campaign. Though he scores 20 goals a season for Chelsea, he struggles to make an impact next to Liverpool’s Steven Gerrard for the Three Lions. Others argue Aston Villa’s Gareth Barry, rushed back into the side after injury, is still not 100 percent.

Alternatives include James Milner, give just 32 minutes to prove his worth against the US, Michael Carrick, the Manchester United central midfielder who likes to sit deep and spray it around, or Chelsea’s Joe Cole, curiously over-looked on the left throughout this tournament.

Neal Collins is in South Africa to promote his first novel A GAME APART. For more details see www.nealcollins.co.uk .

He is also appearing at the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown next month. For tickets, see http://www.computicket.com/web/event/neal_collins_a_game_apart/148367625

Rio's bed barely cool as Dawson touches down in South Africa, ready to train

MICHAEL DAWSON is here. He touched down at Johannesburg’s Oliver Tambo Airport this morning ready for the greatest month of his life.

Yesterday he was 5,000 miles away contemplating a summer holiday and how he was going to persuade the missus to let him watch England’s World Cup campaign on the television.

Then England captain Rio Ferdinand’s knee gave way during England’s first training session at the Royal Bafokeng Sports Complex after a challenge involving Emile Heskey. The injury-prone Manchester United star – who played started 13 Premier League games last season as he struggled with back and thigh problems – was rushed to hospital, underwent scans and was ruled out.

While we wrote the footballing obituary for a 31-year-old who is unlikely to feature at Brazil 2014, Dawson was fielding the call from Fabio Capello. I imagine the conversation would have gone something like this from the Italian Generalissimo: “Michael, your country needs you. Get to Heathrow, pronto!”

Dawson, 26, who flew in on the same plane as several reporters, has had to miss today’s wedding anniversary... but his bags came off the aeroplane first.

Part of the original 30-man squad, Dawson has yet to win an England cap. He heard on Tuesday he hadn’t made the cut, last night the dream was back on line. This afternoon he will be training with the squad before the opening Group C game against the USA in Phokeng on June 12.

Apparently he told a passenger on last night’s flight that he really felt for Rio after the “sickener” of a last minute injury.

And Spurs boss Harry Redknapp, who spent the middle part of the week insisting Dawson should have joined White Hart Lane pal Ledley King in South Africa, found himself saying yesterday: “You can rely on Michael Dawson, no problem. Rio will be a big miss, but Fabio could not have a better man to call on if he has to.

“It really won’t be a problem for Michael, he will get on a plane, deal with it and just give his all. He will also be a great character around the camp because he is always smiling and is a tremendous lad. “At the start of the season, he was not my first choice at Tottenham, he was third or fourth choice, but he did not sulk. He just worked hard, got his head down and grabbed his chance when it came. I’m sure he will do exactly the same with England. He’s had an absolutely wonderful season and proved he is one of the best central defenders around.”

Redknapp believes Capello will no go with a centre-back pairing of King and Terry, adding: “I don’t think people need to worry too much about Ledley possibly getting injured as well. Six days between games is fine for Ledley.”

The challenge on Didier Drogba which changed the World Cup forever: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXF8s3BCpwc

Falling stars at the World Cup: England captain Rio Ferdinand out, Ivory Coast's Didier Drogba highly doubtful

RIO FERDINAND joined the growing list of major names ruled out of the World Cup last night when he was left writhing on the ground with a twisted knee after clashing with controversial striker Emile Heskey.

Ferdinand joins the Ivory Coast's free-scoring Didier Drogba, who broke his arm against in the 2-0 unfriendly win over Japan, German captain Michael Ballack, crocked during Chelsea's FA Cup final triumph, South Africa's top scorer Benni McCarthy, Ghana’s talismanic Michael Essien and of course, England's former captain David Beckham, who ruptured an ankle tendon playing for Milan in January.

Rio's problem first broke after England's first training session at the magnificent Royal Bafokeng Sport Complex. After the cheering news that Manchester City's Gareth Barry joined the session, coach Fabio Capello revealed: "The bad news happened in the last moment of the training. Rio has just gone to hospital.”

Ferdinand, on crutches, was rushed for a scan. Then came the news confirming his elimination from the tournament. Capello said: "It is obviously bad news and everyone with the squad is very disappointed and sorry for Rio."

Last night, England’s odds on winning the World Cup for the first time since 1966 lengthened to 15/2 from 7/1, though older cynics point to Jimmy Greaves’ injury 44 years ago as a sign that such set-backs are not catastrophic.

Tottenham's Michael Dawson will now fly out to replace the Manchester United centre-back, who started just 12 Premier League games this season after severe back problems. Even Tottenham's Ledley King, with his notorious cartilage problems, managed 17.

Ferdinand admitted two months ago: "I was walking like a 60-year-old, this is my worst ever season" but insisted the back trouble had cleared up. But thigh and groin injuries continued to dog him. At 31, he is unlikely to appear in Brazil 2014 but there are those who already feel he is "too involved" with his online magazine and film directing hobbies.

John Terry, stripped of the captaincy, has not been asked to resume duties, official deputy Steven Gerrard gets the armband despite rumoured problems at Liverpool this season. Terry and King are likely to start for England, with West Ham’s Matthew Upson, Liverpool’s out-of-retirement Jamie Carragher and Dawson in reserve at centre-back.

Drogba’s agent, Thierno Seydi, insists the Premier League’s top scorer will could play a role in the tournament. He said: "We all got scared. The fracture is real, but I think any medical decisions have been put on hold I am not a doctor, but it looks like he will have an operation. We'll see, but there is still a chance. But there are no guarantees yet.
"When a player like Drogba says he will play, it is reassuring. In his mind he's still available."

The Ivory Coast FA said: "He was taken urgently to a medical centre in Sion, where X-rays revealed a fracture in the player's right forearm area. Didier Drogba's state of health is the object of all the attention of the Elephants' medical staff and of distinguished specialists.
"The Ivory Coast Football Federation stress that the striker Didier Drogba has not, for the moment, been ruled out of the 2010 World Cup."
But the 32-year-old will need a miraculous recovery to make it. Medical experts suggest a plate or pin in the injury will be dislodged by a heavy fall.

See the horror challenge which may have changed the 2010 World Cup forever: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXF8s3BCpwc

Who is Neal Collins (nealcol on Twitter): Exclusive video of England's World Cup base: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sAousno69rI

Carragher on His England Return: I'm Back Because Liverpool Are Rubbish!

JAMIE CARRAGHER today explained his shock decision to reverse his international retirement – a u-turn which saw him plunged straight in to England’s World Cup squad yesterday.

Carragher blamed Liverpool’s appalling season, arguing: “Look, I’m not getting any younger, we’ve got no Champions League football here next season - so why not?”

The 32-year-old quit with some force while former England boss Steve McClaren was in charge three years ago, having earned 35 caps. He found himself down the pecking order behind John Terry, Rio Ferdinand and Matthew Upson, all three of whom were included in Fabio Capello’s 30-man provisional squad yesterday.

In his autobiography released a year later he said: “If I loved playing for my country as much as my club, perhaps the thought of retirement would never have occurred to me. That it did shows me I made the right call. I wasn’t giving up my football career or my ambitions. Only England.”

Essentially little has changed – other than Liverpool’s complete lack of form which saw them finish seventh in the Premier League after making an early exit from the Champions League group stages.

He added: "The FA got in touch a few weeks ago and asked if I would have a rethink due to injury problems. I said I would make myself available.

"The World Cup and Champions League are the top levels of football. I'm keen to work under Capello."

Capello himself said: “We started (talking to Carragher) two months ago. We spoke with him. My assistant Franco Baldini met him two weeks ago and he was happy to stay with us. We decided to select him. I selected him because he is a really, really good player.

“Jamie is one of the 30 players,” said the Italian. “During the training camp I will evaluate the performance of each player.”

Carragher will meet up with the squad – including team-mates Steven Gerrard and Glen Johnson – for a high-altitude training camp in Austria next week. Capello has to trim his squad to 23 for June 1, probably choosing five from Carragher, Spurs pair Ledley King and Michael Dawson, captain Rio Ferdinand, former captain John Terry and West Ham’s out-of-form Upson.

Neither Manchester United’s injured Wes Brown nor Everton’s fit again Phil Jagielka made the squad – creating some controversy in England given Carragher’s forthright views on his retirement three years ago. The question has to be: If England didn’t matter three years ago, exactly what’s changed Jamie?