Post by jenelle on Jun 22, 2006 19:44:48 GMT
The focus of attention in the England squad today may be on David Beckham's bizarre new haircut, but for Ashley Cole it's purely football matters that are making his hair stand on end.
The England captain is a certainty for England's World Cup squad, but at the start of this season the finals in Japan and Korea next summer were simply not within the realms of reality for a young left-back in Arsenal's reserve team.
But now the 20 year old from Stepney is having to come to terms with the fact that he could also be in the England squad if Sven-Goran Eriksson secures a successful conclusion to his World Cup salvage operation.
In a season of disappointment for his club, Cole has emerged as a potential England full-back for the remainder of the decade.
Cole has been a source of immense satisfaction to Arsenal and their coach Arsene Wenger this season. He gave him a chance at Bradford in September, when Cole scored in a 1-1 draw, and has had him in the team since January.
His sudden success at club level earned him an international debut in the 3-1 win in Albania in March and, apart from his own quality and remarkable progress, a shortage of rivals for his position means his World Cup chances are good.
"The prospect of playing in the finals of the World Cup was something I wouldn't have even dreamed about a year ago," said Cole. "As a kid you want to play in the World Cup, but once you get into the real world you realise what is involved.
"At the start of this season I thought I'd be lucky if I got one or two chances in the Arsenal first team so you can imagine how surprised I am to be in the England squad.
"I'm a realist, though. I know that for me to have any chance of a World Cup place, we have first to quality and that isn't going to be easy. We still have a lot to do."
Cole will probably be preferred to Charlton's Chris Powell when Eriksson names his team for Friday's friendly match against Mexico at Derby. A sound performance will win him a place in the World Cup qualifying tie in Greece on Wednesday week.
"If I get a chance to play in either game, I will do all I can to impress Mr. Eriksson," said Cole.
"I did okay in Albania but I know I can play better." Cole, who played 14 games on loan to Crystal Palace last season, has emerged in the last few months as one of the Premiership's most promising youngsters.
Although this was his first season as a Premiership regular, he shares with senior team-mates the sense of disappointment at finishing the season empty-handed. "The problem is that Arsenal have set themselves such high standards over the years," he explained.
"We were Premiership runners-up, FA Cup Finalists and Champions League quarter-finalists. That's not a bad season by anyone's standards, but at Arsenal you do feel a sense of disappointment because we were expected to win something."
Cole now looks set to be the long-term Arsenal successor to Nigel Winterburn who won two England caps but was never able to oust Stuart Pearce as first choice. Cole is good enough and young enough to have a similar international career to another great Arsenal left-back Kenny Sansom, who played for England 86 times.
He has a long way to go before he can dream of emulating Sansom but he has shown this season that he has the appetite for the challenge. "I think it's true that you improve if you work and play with better players," he said.
"At the start of this season I felt that I needed to be physically stronger and I think I have achieved that by working with the first team on a regular basis. But I know that I still have a long way to go."
Because of continuing injury worries about Manchester United's Wes Brown, Eriksson has called up Danny Mills, Leeds United's former Norwich and Charlton defender.
Robbie Fowler, meanwhile, has admitted that Michael Owen is now England's No1 striker - and has vowed to seal the second international striking berth alongside him.
Fowler has forced himself into the reckoning after starring in Liverpool's great end to the season.
But he said: "I think Michael's recent form has been exceptional. He's scored a lot of important goals and I think we are looking to work with him at the minute."
Fowler admits his international career has been at best patchy, but he remains confident in his ability.
Fowler admitted: "I've not done as well as what I would have liked.
"I've been unfortunate in that the squads I have been in, the forwards have always been very settled and it's been hard to break up partnerships
"I have started seven games and scored three goals, which isn't bad, but I would like to add to it."
The England captain is a certainty for England's World Cup squad, but at the start of this season the finals in Japan and Korea next summer were simply not within the realms of reality for a young left-back in Arsenal's reserve team.
But now the 20 year old from Stepney is having to come to terms with the fact that he could also be in the England squad if Sven-Goran Eriksson secures a successful conclusion to his World Cup salvage operation.
In a season of disappointment for his club, Cole has emerged as a potential England full-back for the remainder of the decade.
Cole has been a source of immense satisfaction to Arsenal and their coach Arsene Wenger this season. He gave him a chance at Bradford in September, when Cole scored in a 1-1 draw, and has had him in the team since January.
His sudden success at club level earned him an international debut in the 3-1 win in Albania in March and, apart from his own quality and remarkable progress, a shortage of rivals for his position means his World Cup chances are good.
"The prospect of playing in the finals of the World Cup was something I wouldn't have even dreamed about a year ago," said Cole. "As a kid you want to play in the World Cup, but once you get into the real world you realise what is involved.
"At the start of this season I thought I'd be lucky if I got one or two chances in the Arsenal first team so you can imagine how surprised I am to be in the England squad.
"I'm a realist, though. I know that for me to have any chance of a World Cup place, we have first to quality and that isn't going to be easy. We still have a lot to do."
Cole will probably be preferred to Charlton's Chris Powell when Eriksson names his team for Friday's friendly match against Mexico at Derby. A sound performance will win him a place in the World Cup qualifying tie in Greece on Wednesday week.
"If I get a chance to play in either game, I will do all I can to impress Mr. Eriksson," said Cole.
"I did okay in Albania but I know I can play better." Cole, who played 14 games on loan to Crystal Palace last season, has emerged in the last few months as one of the Premiership's most promising youngsters.
Although this was his first season as a Premiership regular, he shares with senior team-mates the sense of disappointment at finishing the season empty-handed. "The problem is that Arsenal have set themselves such high standards over the years," he explained.
"We were Premiership runners-up, FA Cup Finalists and Champions League quarter-finalists. That's not a bad season by anyone's standards, but at Arsenal you do feel a sense of disappointment because we were expected to win something."
Cole now looks set to be the long-term Arsenal successor to Nigel Winterburn who won two England caps but was never able to oust Stuart Pearce as first choice. Cole is good enough and young enough to have a similar international career to another great Arsenal left-back Kenny Sansom, who played for England 86 times.
He has a long way to go before he can dream of emulating Sansom but he has shown this season that he has the appetite for the challenge. "I think it's true that you improve if you work and play with better players," he said.
"At the start of this season I felt that I needed to be physically stronger and I think I have achieved that by working with the first team on a regular basis. But I know that I still have a long way to go."
Because of continuing injury worries about Manchester United's Wes Brown, Eriksson has called up Danny Mills, Leeds United's former Norwich and Charlton defender.
Robbie Fowler, meanwhile, has admitted that Michael Owen is now England's No1 striker - and has vowed to seal the second international striking berth alongside him.
Fowler has forced himself into the reckoning after starring in Liverpool's great end to the season.
But he said: "I think Michael's recent form has been exceptional. He's scored a lot of important goals and I think we are looking to work with him at the minute."
Fowler admits his international career has been at best patchy, but he remains confident in his ability.
Fowler admitted: "I've not done as well as what I would have liked.
"I've been unfortunate in that the squads I have been in, the forwards have always been very settled and it's been hard to break up partnerships
"I have started seven games and scored three goals, which isn't bad, but I would like to add to it."