Fabio Capello

That the unpopular Domenech was actually still in charge of Les Bleus in South Africa baffled many onlookers given the fact France – the 1998 world champions – were forced to qualify via the play-offs – who could forget the Thierry Henry handball against the plucky Irish in Paris?

However, the former Lyon chief announced before the World Cup that he would be stepping down – he surely would have been sacked anyway post-tournament – which made him a lame-horse boss unable to work closely with his players.

Laurent Blanc was the choice to replace Domenech and it is the decorated former Barcelona, Inter Milan and Manchester United defender who will lead France into battle against Capello’s England at Wembley on Wednesday night.

Blanc’s status – he won 97 caps for his country over an 11-year spell – meant he was always going to be given time to work his magic and France top their Euro 2012 qualifying group having taken nine points from their four games so far.

England are also ticking over nicely in second place in Group G, three points behind surprise leaders Montenegro who have played a game more than the Three Lions.

The forthcoming midweek friendly in London pits international managers against each other who are at very different stages in their respective career because Blanc is 44, while Capello, 64, will retire when his deal expires in 2012.

The England squad was hit by three withdrawals at the weekend in the shape of John Terry, Ashley Cole and Gabriel Agbonlahor – Gary Cahill, Stephen Warnock and Carlton Cole have all now been called up – to add to high-profile absentees including Wayne Rooney, Jermain Defoe and Frank Lampard.

Up front that means Peter Crouch with 41 international caps is the elder statesman and almost certain to start as he bids to add to his tally of 21 England goals.

With England the home side they will be looking to start on the front foot and 6/1 for Spurs man Crouch to get the better of a defence that could include Arsenal duo Gael Clichy and Bacary Sagna.

Should Crouch need any further incentive then the chance to strike an early psychological blow ahead of the north London derby against the Gunners at the Emirates would not go unnoticed by his club boss Harry Redknapp.

The beanpole striker could be partnered with Newcastle sensation Andy Carroll – fitness permitting for the youngster – and Crouch would surely thrive alongside another big forward.

As depleted as England’s option are in attack, France’s striking options don’t look a whole lot better as, 31-cap Karim Benzeman aside, Blanc’s other three hitmen – Kevin Gameiro, Guillaume Hoarau and Loic Remy – ‘boast’ just nine caps and one goal between them. For the record Remy – 3/1 to score anytime – has the goal.

Like Crouch, Benzema is sure to start at Wembley and while he is just into double figures in international goals, carrying the burden of his country at the age of 22 is a big ask for a player yet to convince since joining Real Madrid.

In the absence of Franck Ribery, much will rest on the shoulders of Chelsea star Florent Malouda who jointly leads the Premier League goalscoring charts (Malouda 18/1 to get his nose in front by the end of the season).

Malouda is likely to relish the chance to run at a defence lacking club-mates Cole and Terry and 25/1 for the 30-year-old to score two or more goals looks tempting despite the fact he only has five strikes to his name in 61 games.

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Tottenham

Redknapp is generally a fan of the Italian and believes the former Milan and Juve chief is the right man to successfully guide the Three Lions to Euro 2012.

However, he has questioned his usage of Spurs forward Crouch, who was deployed alongside Wayne Rooney at Wembley this week.

“Peter Crouch is 6ft 7in tall so his best asset is an obvious one,” he said in his column in The Sun.

“It’s no good putting him up front and then trying to play the ball to his feet all the time.

“Peter is a technically good player but England should use his height – because he towers above most defenders.

“I’m the last one to advocate the long-ball game but, if you have a player like Steven Gerrard who can put the ball on his head from 35 yards out, do it.

“While he does that, the team can surge forward as a group and pick up the second ball, the knockdown they know is coming.

“If you’re not going to make the most of Crouchie, don’t play him, simple as that. Use a little striker instead.”

Redknapp also believes Capello needs to get the most out of key trio Rooney, Gerrard and Frank Lampard if England are to become a major player on the international stage once again.

“I have a vision of a ‘golden triangle’ for England,” he added. “Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard in the middle, with Wayne Rooney playing off a striker and dropping back a little bit.

“In that way, he can play just in front of the two central midfielders and is a great link-man between midfield and up front.

“There is no doubt Rooney is still a world-class striker. But again when Lampard is missing, there is an obvious gap in the team.

“I think Rooney is perfectly suited to the role of dropping off a main striker, because he is superb at running at defences with the ball.”

Redknapp, whose Spurs side go to London rivals Fulham (Spurs 9/5, Fulham 7/5, the draw 9/4 – 90 minutes) this weekend, remains confident England can not only make it to Poland and Ukraine for the European Championships but says they have the ability to win the tournament outright (8/1).

“England had a poor World Cup, yet we still have the players and manager to go and win Euro 2012,” he said.

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Peter Crouch

The north London outfit are entering their first-ever Champions League campaign having defied the odds to secure fourth place last season ahead of mega-rich Manchester City.

Their finish in the Premier League table made sure of a spot in the last round of qualifying for the tournament and after a slight hiccup in the first leg they eventually turned over Youngs Boys of Berne, thanks in part to a Crouch hat-trick.

Spurs have now headed out to Germany for their first European Cup game since they were dumped out at the semi-final stage in 1962 by Benfica.

Just less than half a century later and Tottenham have returned to Europe’s top club competition with confidence high they can go on a decent run.

They have been drawn in Group A alongside last season’s winners Inter Milan (1/6 to qualify from Group A), Werder Bremen (20/21) and FC Twente (9/2).

Despite having been paired with Inter Spurs certainly fancy their chances of progressing to the knockouts stages ahead of Werder and Twente.

Tuesday’s game against Werder will be good test of Tottenham’s European credentials as they take on the four-time Bundesliga champions.

Despite the nature of the occasion Spurs boss Harry Redknapp has seemingly headed out to Germany with other things on his mind having been heavily linked with the England manager’s post after current boss Fabio Capello announced he would leave in 2012.

Redknapp has said he isn’t looking that far ahead and claims he is totally focused on the job in hand.

The former West Ham, Portsmouth and Southampton boss will certainly have injuries on his mind having lost Michael Dawson and Jermain Defoe to ligament damage before the game.

However, some good news came on Monday after it was revealed Luka Modric could be fit after badly bruising his leg in Saturday’s 1-1 draw with West Brom.

Despite potentially missing three key players Crouch has backed the Tottenham (40/1 – Champions League outright) squad to come good and get off to a winning start in their Champions League campaign as he aims for an appearances in the final at Wembley in May.

“I was a part of Liverpool side that got to the 2007 Champions League final and the quality in the Tottenham dressing room right now is a match for the team we had at Anfield three years ago,” said Crouch.

“We don’t want to get ahead of ourselves by saying we can get to the final or anything like that because we have only just qualified for the group stages for the first time, but I firmly believe we are good enough to enjoy a good run in this competition. We just have to believe in ourselves if we are to make the most of this opportunity.

“With the final being held at Wembley this season, it would be great for an English team to get there and there’s no reason why Spurs cannot have a good go at making it happen. We have plenty of players in our squad who are capable of doing some damage in this competition.”

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Peter Crouch

Rooney is being held up as the potential saviour for the Three Lions over the next month following his sensational form for Manchester United in the season which has just finished.

His 33 goals were not enough to help Sir Alex Ferguson’s side to the Premier League title but his form has left many observers predicting England can enjoy real success this summer – providing he hits his top level and stays injury free.

Crouch, who is being tipped to start up front alongside Rooney against America in the Group C game on Saturday, believes the former Everton youngster could prove to be a revelation.

“It is massive for us to have someone in such great form going into the World Cup,” Crouch added.

“He has always been fantastic. A top-class player. People are saying he needs to play with another striker.

“But this season at United he has proved he can play up front on his own and still score goals.

“Wayne is world-class. He is in the top five players right now – everyone would agree with that.”

Crouch, on offer at 14/1 to be the top PL striker at World Cup, is also talking up his strike-partner as a potential World Player of the Year if he can inspire Fabio Capello’s side to glory and help England win their first major tournament since 1966.

“I think he could end up being the World Player of the Year. It would be great for England if someone could do that,” he added.

“For someone to win it would be phenomenal. You also forget how young Wayne is.

“He has achieved so much in a short time. He has a long, long way to go in his career.”

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Peter Crouch

The Tottenham marksman has edged out club colleague Jermain Defoe and Aston Villa forward Emile Heskey for the famous shirt, worn by England legends Nat Lofthouse and Sir Bobby Charlton at previous World Cup finals.

Crouch, 13/2 to be Top England Goalscorer, has got a better than one-in-two goal ratio for England – finding the net 21 times in 38 appearances, not all of them starts, and will be tough to dislodge from the starting line-up if he dovetails well with Wayne Rooney in the opening match.

Aaron Lennon (11/1) and Joe Cole (9/1 to be First Goalscorer v USA) could be in line to fill the wide berths in the opening match, with Lennon inheriting David Beckham’s number seven shirt and Cole taking the number eleven jersey.

Further clues to Capello’s starting line-up can be drawn from David James taking the number one shirt over rival goalkeepers Joe Hart and Robert Green while fitness doubt Gareth Barry has to make do with the number fourteen shirt.

Frank Lampard, who boasts 20 international goals from 78 matches, keeps the number eight he wears for Chelsea and could be a big price in the Top Premiership Scorer in World Cup 2010 market after his sensational season with the Blues.

Lampard (16/1) hit 22 goals from midfield last term, the same number as Argentina’s Carlos Tevez (14/1) and more than both Nicolas Anelka (11/1) and Fernando Torres (4/1).

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Peter Crouch

The Tottenham striker has scored 20 goals in 37 internationals, but does not feel he is guaranteed to be on the plane to South Africa.

Crouch has formed a formidable attacking partnership with Wayne Rooney, and fired in two goals in England’s most recent international against Egypt.

But the 29-year-old knows the pressure is on him, not only on the field but off it too.

“All I can do is do what I’ve done, give my best and hopefully it’s good enough,” Crouch said at England’s training camp in the Austrian Alps.

“We’ve got fantastic players with England and lot of strength in depth. We’ve got players who’ve scored a lot of goals this year as well. But hopefully my record will stand me in good stead and give me a chance of hopefully starting.”

Capello’s first message to his provisional squad on their arrival in camp was that no-one’s place on the plane to South Africa was guaranteed (11/4 England – Group C – To Qualify).

“In his first meeting he said he’s got to cut the squad down,” Crouch revealed. “He just said, ‘Do as well as you can. Work hard and that day will come when it comes.”

Crouch admits Capello’s rules-based system has come as something of a culture shock.

“You have to be on time, everything,” Crouch said. “Whether it is with regards to footwear, conduct around the hotel – every time you’re being judged.

“My trainers didn’t arrive the other day because our bags didn’t arrive. I had a pair of slippers on and I got pulled up on that. What can I do? I’ve got no trainers!

“I wouldn’t say it makes you nervous but the manager’s definitely got that respect.

“He’s very hands-on. Every training session, he’ll be involved in it and if he sees something he won’t be afraid to tell you and lets you know where he wants you. And he’ll organise you better.

“He’s got a hell of a lot of respect from the lads because of his previous exploits in winning championships and Champions Leagues.”

“Sven was a lot more laid-back, everyone was saying that,” Crouch acknowledged. “This time the atmosphere seems a lot more serious, a lot more focused.

“We’ve always done tactical work but this manager is probably the most tactical I have worked for. Organisation is a key thing for him and having worked for a lot of managers before I’ve always felt that in matches you can always tell the ones who work on the tactical stuff.”

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Despite experiencing continual problems with a knee injury King managed to play a vital role in Spurs’ Champions League qualification and has been rewarded with a spot in Fabio Capello’s 30-man provisional squad (England 1/3 to win Group C).

Crouch has known King since they were trainees together at White Hart Lane and has always been convinced of his quality: “I’ve known Ledley since I was 13 in my first spell at Spurs.

“He was fantastic even then. Even then you knew he was going to be world class and he has proven that.

“As long as he can prove his fitness, he will be up there as one of the best centre-halfs at the World Cup.?

King has won 19 caps for England, but has not played for his country since Fabio Capello became manager.

The Italian selected the Tottenham star for his first England squad, only for King to withdraw due to injury. Capello then picked King again for the 2009 games against Slovakia and Ukraine, but he was removed from the squad after being assessed by England’s medical staff.

Crouch though, thinks that King can overcome his injury worries to cement his spot in the final squad: “He has proved his quality this season, hopefully he has proved his fitness.

“He played the last three games of the season, all for the 90 minutes, he came through those and trained this week with England as well.

“Ledley has to be managed a bit different to the rest of the players. He has to do his own thing and train when he feels capable of it.

“Without a doubt, the manager thinks it is worthwhile him coming and, on his day when he is fit, there are not many as good as him.”

King doesn’t train with the rest of the first team squad at Tottenham, as the club seek to manage the swelling on his knee after games.

The 29-year old rarely plays in more than game per week due to the swelling, but managed to play in all three of the games in Spurs’ vital last week of the season.

King has been tipped to play in a defensive midfield role for England at the World Cup, if Gareth Barry is unable to recover from injury, having previously performed in the position for both club and country.

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