Having come through the game that mattered at a canter against the Welsh on Saturday Fabio Capello and co turn their attention to Ghana and a chance to experiment.
Gareth Barry will lead out a much-changed England side from the one that won in Cardiff and it will be a great chance to see who can stake a claim for a regularly place in Capello’s side. Ghana proved to be no pushovers at the World Cup and will provide a stern test for an inexperienced England side.
The majority of football fans will be looking at this game and just hoping none of their team’s players come back with any injuries, given the period of the domestic season we are entering. As usual Capello will look at the game as a chance to experiment ahead of June’s Euro 2012 qualifier against Switzerland.
The Italian will also hope that the Black Stars provide more of a test to his team than a largely toothless Wales did. Having released John Terry, Frank Lampard, Wayne Rooney, Ashley Cole and Michael Dawson due to their Champions League commitments it was always going to be something of a scratch side.
Despite all the changes England are still 8/13 to beat Ghana on Tuesday, with the Black Stars priced at 9/2 while the draw is on at 13/5. The odds for Ghana look appealing when you consider they went further than England at the World Cup and had it not been for Asamoah Gyan’s missed penalty they would have made it through to the semi-finals. The African nation established themselves as a good side at the tournament and have name a decent looking squad for the trip to Wembley.
The midfield options for Ghana look particularly impressive and Scott Parker and Jack Wilshere might have their hands full against the likes of Anthony Annan, Kwadwo Asamoah, Sulley Muntari and Kevin-Prince Boateng. Ghana coach Goran Stevanovic is less likely to see this game as a training exercise and will probably field a strong looking team.
With the internationally inexperienced Phil Jagielka and Gary Cahill playing a centre-half for England Ghana might fancy their chances of at least getting on the score sheet and both teams to score at even money might be worth a look.
You’d think England will be too strong for Ghana in the end but as they proved at the World Cup you can never discount the Black Stars. Those who do pull on the Three Lions shirt will have to be prepared to match Ghana’s work rate and you’d think the fringe players in the team will be willing to do that. Already Capello has revealed Leighton Baines will join Cahill and Jagielka in making up part of the back four. Parker and Wilshere are likely to play at the heart of the midfield as they look to oust Steven Gerrard and Lampard.
The Italian has also given the nod to Andy Carroll to start up front, potentially alongside Darren Bent, who has been in a rich vein of form for his country recently. The Villa striker has scored three in his last three appearances for his country and might be worth a look to make it four from four. Bent is evens to score anytime and 4/1 to get the first goal.
Having got an easy ride on Saturday expect Ghana to give England a stern test at Wembley. While the result of the match won’t matter so much to Capello it will be important for the fans to see their team record another win as they try and restore some faith in the side after the World Cup.
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