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October 12, 2002
(Saturday)
Woodgate in -
Smith and Mills miss out?
UNITED defender
Jonathan Woodgate is set to start England's Euro
20004 qualifying game in Slovakia on Saturday, but team-mate Alan
Smith looks certain to be on the substitute bench alongside the
unlucky Danny Mills.
Woodgate will win his third full cap and will partner Middlesbrough
skipper Gareth Southgate at the heart of the England defence, the
Leeds player being preferred to Boro's Ugo Ehiogu by England coach
Sven-Goran Eriksson.
So Woodgate looks certain to continue his England rehabilitation,
while Smith can count himself unlucky if he doesn't get the nod to
partner Michael Owen in attack after the 21-year-old United star
scored and impressed in the friendly against Portugal last month.
Smith admitted yesterday that he was determined to follow the example
of former England captain Alan Shearer and that he had proved this
season that his temperament and disciplinary record had improved
after troubles in the past.
The Leeds striker will not be phased by any physical attention from
Slovakian defenders should he get the nod this weekend.
He showed his new found mature attitude against Metalurg Zaphorizhya
in the UEFA Cup last week when he kept his cool throughout and
accepted that being kicked in such a way is a sign of his ability to
influence a game.
Smith said: "I feel cooler when I am being kicked. I'd rather get
kicked than have to kick somebody. If someone is kicking you, it
shows they are more scared of you rather than if you are having to
chase them and kick them.
"I remember watching Alan Shearer being kicked black and blue in
Poland a few years ago but he took it. Alan has done it for years and
he still does it every week in the Premiership.
"That's a first-class temperament to look up to. He's as hard a man
to play against as anyone as he's so strong and is good in the tackle
but when people are kicking him, he just gets up and gets on with it.
"If you go out there and show someone that you're scared then people
prey on other people's weaknesses. You have to go out there and prove
to people that you're strong enough to go and play and that you have
confidence in your own ability."
"Being from Leeds, people like you to show that you do care.
Sometimes you do go silly but my manager at Leeds, Terry Venables,
will soon sort that out."
But what of Danny Mills, who after impressing for England in the
World Cup, looks to be the fall guy for the resumption of the Gary
Neville, David Beckham partnership down England's right flank.
Mills can count himself desperately unlucky if he misses out as he
offer more attacking options than Neville, who missed the World Cup
through injury.
But the Manchester United link up with the England captain means
Neville is likely to win a recall.
Next article:
Woodgate goes solo
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Woody in England squad
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