England National Football Team Match No. 784

England 2 Greece 2 [0-1]

Saturday, 6 October 2001

England Pre-Match

All information is complete and includes England's match against Albania on 5 September 2001, the third of the 2001-02 season.

Notes

Sunday, 30 September 2001 - Teddy Sheringham was recalled to the England squad for next weekend's World Cup qualifier against Greece as Frank Lampard paid the price for his recent drinking spree as he was dropped.  With Michael Owen and Alan Smith out injured, Sheringham won a recall ahead of Chris Sutton and Kevin Phillips, while West Ham United's Trevor Sinclair also won his first England summons since February last year.  Martin Keown and Ugo Ehiogu were also back in the absence of Sol Campbell and Wes Brown due to injury, while Nicky Butt could join the 23-man squad if he passes a fitness test on Monday on a rib injury sustained at White Hart Lane on Saturday.  Even though there is a major doubt over Butt, and while Michael Carrick and Owen Hargreaves are in the Under-21s, Lampard still loses out in the wake of his ill-advised drinking spree the day after the terrorist atrocities in the United States. 

On his first day in charge of England, Eriksson made clear his strong aversion to players, whether on international duty or not, stepping out of line or drinking to excess during the season.  And Lampard, hardly a central figure in the senior squad, has become the first player to lose out after crossing Eriksson's path on this subject in the wake of his club fine for public indiscipline.

There is still another doubt over David Seaman's shoulder, but Rio Ferdinand was said to be fine despite limping at the end of Leeds United's game at Ipswich Town on Sunday.

Monday, 1 October 2001 - Nicky Butt passes his medical examination and joins up with the England squad, although there is still a doubt over David Seaman's persistent shoulder injury.

Tuesday, 2 October 2001 - David Seaman rested his problematic shoulder for England's first training session. Seaman has been receiving treatment on his right shoulder, which troubled him last season and then caused him to miss Arsenal's game at Derby last weekend.  Sven-Göran Eriksson was due to give an update on his first-choice goalkeeper's fitness this evening.  However, it seems likely the Arsenal goalkeeper will be given until Friday if necessary to prove his fitness.  Three other players also missed England's training session at Manchester United's former base The Cliff.  United midfielder Nicky Butt was not present for the initial training sessions. Midfielders Steven Gerrard and Steve McManaman also did not take part, although there was no immediate news on whether this was anything more than a precautionary move.

Wednesday, 3 October 2001 - Sven-Göran Eriksson was given a boost on Wednesday when three of his players returned to training ahead.  Goalkeeper David Seaman (shoulder), midfielder Steven Gerrard (back) and midfielder Steve McManaman (hamstring) had all missed England's opening session yesterday.  But the trio were back in action and looking as if they were suffering no ill effects when England were put through their paces.  The only absentee was Manchester United midfielder Nicky Butt, who was having treatment on his rib injury.  The presence of Gerrard in particular is vital to England's hopes - they have won all seven internationals in which he has been involved.

Thursday, 4 October 2001 - Sven-Göran Eriksson's  injury problems intensified when first choice keeper David Seaman was forced to pull out of the England squad.  Eriksson is already without Michael Owen, Sol Campbell, Wes Brown and Alan Smith due to injury, while Nicky Butt will be reassessed again after training.  Now Seaman has had to pull out due to further problems with a sore shoulder and Nigel Martyn looks set to replace him in goal at Old Trafford this weekend.  Leicester City keeper Ian Walker has meanwhile been called up to the squad as back up to Martyn and Richard Wright.  Seaman had been due to win his 68th cap against Greece and he had previously been an ever-present in competitive games under Eriksson.

Friday, 5 October 2001 - Midfielder Nicky Butt has become the latest player to be ruled out of England's World Cup qualifier against Greece at Old Trafford on Saturday.  Butt, who was not expected to start the game, has been troubled by a rib injury all week following last weekend's game at Tottenham Hotspur and was forced to pull out today due to the continuing pain.  The Manchester United midfielder will attend Saturday's game at Old Trafford yet the role of central midfield back-up to Steven Gerrard is likely to fall to Jamie Carragher.

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PY/CG