Gary Mabbut Backs Spurs Trio for World Cup

[Swanny]

World Cup 2010 Exclusive: Gary Mabbutt Wants Crouch, Defoe & Lennon To Feature For England

The former England defender thinks the Spurs trio should be an integral part of Fabio Capello's plans in South Africa...

Jan 12, 2010 8:43:51 PM



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World Cup QR: Peter Crouch & Jermain Defoe, England - Andorra (PA)

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Former Tottenham Hotspur defender Gary Mabbutt spoke exclusively to Goal.com about England's chances of winning the World Cup. Mabbut was capped 16-times by the Three Lions and he gave his opinion on which players could make a surprise impact in South Africa.

"Being a Spurs man, I might be biased but I believe the attacking trio of Peter Crouch, Aaron Lennon and Jermain Defoe are crucial to the success of the England team at the World Cup. Fabio Capello has a lot of big decisions to make – particularly on which strikers he takes to South Africa. I would take Defoe and Crouch.”

Mabbutt is also an ambassador for England's bid for the 2018 World Cup and he went on to state why he believes the Spurs trio can make an impact in South Africa.

"Jermain Defoe is a confident player and a great finisher. He is scoring a lot of goals for his club and country and I believe he has earned the right to be at the World Cup. Peter Crouch can change games and adds a different dimension to the team, so he should be on the plane to South Africa too.

"Aaron Lennon is also going to have a great tournament. Perhaps going back a couple of years there were questions about the quality of his balls into the box, but he has answered those questions. This season he has been performing at the highest level, and the numbers of assists he's registered shows that. His game is coming together at the right time both for Tottenham and for England and he will be an important player at the World Cup."

Mabbutt concluded the interview with his thoughts on England's chances of winning the tournament.

"I think this is our best chance to win the World Cup since 1966. The weather in South Africa will benefit European sides and if the players can hit form together we have a great chance."

World Cup 2010 Exclusive: Gary Mabbutt Wants Crouch, Defoe & Lennon To Feature For England - Goal.com

[Audere est Facere]

he forgot dawson, no way around him if he keeps on like that.

[THFC6061]

Spurs have currently got eight full England internationals on their books...

Ledley King
Jonathan Woodgate
Tom Huddlestone
Jermaine Jenas
David Bentley
Aaron Lennon
Jermain Defoe
Peter Crouch

... and Michael Dawson's recent form has certainly pushed him into the frame for a full England call-up (he has already been capped at "B" level) and a possible inclusion for the 23-man squad for South Africa this summer.

If Ledley is fit, he is also in with a good shout of an inclusion and it wouldn't surprise me if Tom Huddlestone gets the nod too.

Lennon, Defoe and Crouch should all be pretty much pencilled-in already.