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England can’t win Euro 2012, says Neville

Comment: 0 October 10th, 2011 by: admin

THIS early, Gary Neville is writing England off to win the Euro 2012.

The former Manchester United and England right-back who retired early this year, said the Three Lions are not good enough to lift the trophy in the continent’s biggest football tournament set next year because the players have “no mobility and can’t keep the ball.’’

Capped 55 times for England, Neville said Wayne Rooney’s ejection in last Friday’s 2-2 draw against Montenegro should not be connected with what he perceives as the real problems of the squad.

Neville, writing in the Mail on Sunday, said one world class player might not be able to propel the country to victory.

Rooney will be suspended for at least one match in next year’s finals at Poland and Ukraine for kicking Miodrag Dzudovic for which he drew a straight red card.

“And now we are talking about Rooney possibly missing two games at Euro 2012 when what we should be talking about is the spine of a team that has no mobility and can’t keep the ball,’’ added Neville.

He said a team that has Rooney, John Terry, Gary Cahill, Scott Parker, Gareth Barry and Darrent Bent in its central positions is nowhere near good enough to take on the major footballing nations.

The real issue, he said, is that the spine of the Three Lions is not good enough, as it stands, to take on Spain, Italy, France or Germany at Euro 2012.

“I’m not having a go at individuals. There are some very good players among those names. Collectively, Rooney aside, there is hardly any pace, very little invention and hardly any rotation of positions,’’ he said.

Neville also stressed that England’s friendly against Spain at Wembley on Nov. 12 is very important.

He added England coach Fabio Capello must “resolve’’ the spine of Spain boasting of Carles Puyol, Gerard Pique, Xabi Alonso, Xavi, David Villa and Fernando Llorente. “That friendly is so much more than a practice. Never has a friendly been more important.’’

England play world champions Spain in a friendly at Wembley on Nov. 12 and Neville says because of the players the visitors have, the match is very important. It’s like a Cup final.’’

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