David Bentley has vowed to turn Fabio Capello's head - and help bring about an early end to David Beckham's England career.

The Blackburn playmaker has his heart set on cementing a place on the right side of midfield under the new national boss, even though that would mean dislodging, among others, Los Angeles Galaxy star Beckham.

Bentley realises he is not one of the big names who would have attracted Capello to the England job, but believes he will soon make an impact on the hard-nosed Italian.

"I don't think Capello knows who I am but he will do - I will make sure of that," he said in The Sun.

"It's time for me to perform. I'm confident enough I will force my way into the team. It's my job to stop David Beckham. That has to be my aim and I don't think David would argue with that.

"Don't get me wrong, I will be delighted for him if he gets the 100 because he's a top bloke and a great player. If he does reach the 100, I hope he gets it by coming on for me after I've had a stormer."

Bentley added: "I really admire David for everything he's done in football but I want to be breathing down his neck.

"I believe I should be in the England team instead of him. Any footballer has to think like that."

Fabio Capello has arrived at FA headquarters for his first day of work as England head coach, with Sepp Blatter questioning his appointment.

The Italian officially started work on Monday as Steve McClaren's successor but Blatter has expressed his surprise at England returning to another foreign coach.

The FIFA president claimed the FA had "broken a principle of international football" by not choosing an Englishman.

Blatter told BBC Sport: "I have never seen Italy, Germany, Brazil or Argentina with a coach from another country.

"In fact, most of the best teams have a coach from their own country.

"I would say it is a little surprising that the motherland of football has ignored a sacrosanct law or belief that the national team manager should be from the same country as the players."

Blatter said it was now "High Noon" for English football after the failure to qualify for the Euro 2008 finals and insists the domestic football authorities need to address the issue of overseas players in the game.

He added:

"When you talk about being a football nation and you look at the big clubs in the Premier League it is not the English or British game that is represented. The clubs are international XIs.

"There is no doubt that the Premier League is a global success story in terms of marketing and money. But one has to question whether this success has been for the benefit of the game, and not just in England but elsewhere, because the example of football's motherland is important.

"People want the best for their clubs and the Premier League clubs can afford it. But this does not serve football. To serve football you must never forget the national team."

football
England will begin their 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign away to part-timers Andorra on 6 September.

New boss Fabio Capello's team will then play Euro 2008 nemesis Croatia in Zagreb four days later.

England end their campaign at home to Belarus on 14 October 2009 four days after a trip to Kiev to face Ukraine.

"We are reasonably pleased with how it worked out," said FA director of football development Sir Trevor Brooking after the fixture meeting.

___________________________________________________________


England's fixtures for the 2010 World Cup qualifying stage:
Andorra (a) Saturday, 6 September 6 2008
Croatia (a) Wednesday, 10 September 2008
Kazakhstan (h) Saturday, 11 October 2008
Belarus (a) Wednesday, 15 October, 2008
No game - Saturday, 28 March, 2009
Ukraine (h) Wednesday, 1 April, 2009
Kazakhstan (a) Saturday, 6 June, 2009
Andorra (h) Wednesday, 10 June, 2009
No game - Saturday, 5 September, 2009
Croatia (h) Wednesday, 9 September, 2009
Ukraine (a) Saturday, 10 October, 2009
Belarus (h) Wednesday, 14 October, 2009

Rio Ferdinand has admitted he would 'love' to be named England captain under new manager Fabio Capello.

The Italian will take charge of the national side for the first time in the friendly with Switzerland on 6th February after being named the successor to former boss Steve McClaren.

Capello has admitted he already has a team in his head but has yet to decide on who will captain England at Wembley and Ferdinand has revealed he would be keen to be handed the armband.

But the Manchester United defender could face tough competition from the likes of Steven Gerrard, Michael Owen, Gary Neville and John Terry - who skippered England under McClaren, but is still recovering from a broken foot.

Opportunity

"Who wouldn't want to be England captain," Ferdinand told Sky Sports News. "I would love to be given the opportunity to be England captain one day.

"But that is not the be all and end all. I just love playing for England, if you are named captain then that is a bonus and it's a great achievement in your life and your career."

David Beckham - who will make his 100th England appearance if selected - has also been widely tipped to be named captain to mark his century of caps, a move Ferdinand would welcome.

"Sentimentally, it's nice," Ferdinand continued. "Not many people get 100 caps in their career and Becks has done that if he gets in for the next game.

Confident

"If he's captain then it would be great, but 100 caps is 100 caps. You've got the 100 caps so I don't think he would be too disheartened if he wasn't given the armband."

Ferdinand is also confident Capello - who has had successful spells in charge of Milan, Roma, Juventus and Real Madrid - will turn around England's flagging fortunes following the failure to qualify for Euro 2008.

"At every single club that he has been too he has won trophies. That winning mentality is something that we need badly with England," Ferdinand added.

"For a long time now we have been in and around tournaments and not won anything.

"We have got a guy who has got very good winning habits. A lot of us have got winning habits with our clubs, but never managed to get that across with England and that is something we have to change."

Owen Hargreaves is hopeful Fabio Capello will turn around the fortunes of the England team and expects the new manager to make changes.

Capello will take charge of his first game since being named successor to Steve McClaren when England take on Switzerland at Wembley on 6th February.

And midfielder Hargreaves is confident Capello - who has enjoyed successful stints as manager of Milan, Roma, Juventus and Real Madrid - will transfer his impressive club record to international level as England bid to forget their failure to qualify for Euro 2008.

"Coming off a disappointing campaign for the European Championship it is going to be a long few months leading up to the tournament itself," Hargreaves told Sky Sports News.

Success

"I hope we have a bright future to look forward to and, with a new manager in, I'm sure changes will be made.

"You look at the success that he (Capello) has had and it is no coincidence. He has been very successful and he has a clear structure and strategy of how he wants to play.

"For us as players we haven't had the opportunity to work with him or see him up close.

"It will be very exciting to get involved and get in the group and train together and see how we will end up playing."

Big picture

Capello has admitted he has yet to decide who he will name as captain of the national side, but Hargreaves has given his backing to David Beckham - who will make his 100th appearance for England if selected against Switzerland.

But Hargreaves insists the success of the England team must come first and that the selection of a skipper must benefit the side as a whole.

"What is important is that we are successful and that we win games. Whoever is the captain, I think the bigger picture is the success of the England team," Hargreaves added.

"I think Becks would also agree with that. It is quite an achievement for him to have 100 caps and I'm sure he will get them.

"He has been a very influential player for us and if he was captain for the day, or hopefully for the next few years, it would be a great thing."

England squad: David James (Portsmouth), Scott Carson (Aston Villa), Chris Kirkland (Wigan Athletic); Wayne Bridge (Chelsea), Ashley Cole (Chelsea), Curtis Davies (Aston Villa), Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United) Glen Johnson (Portsmouth), Ledley King (Tottenham Hotspur), Nicky Shorey (Reading), Wes Brown (Manchester United), Joleon Lescott (Everton), Micah Richards (Manchester City) Matthew Upson (West Ham United), Jonathan Woodgate (Tottenham Hotspur); Michael Carrick (Manchester United), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Gareth Barry (Aston Villa), Jermaine Jenas (Tottenham Hotspur), Owen Hargreaves (Manchester United), Joe Cole (Chelsea), Ashley Young (Aston Villa), Stewart Downing (Middlesbrough), Shaun Wright-Phillips (Chelsea), David Bentley (Blackburn Rovers); Emile Heskey (Wigan Athletic), Gabriel Agbonlahor (Aston Villa) Michael Owen (Newcastle United), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Peter Crouch (Liverpool)

Michael Carrick and Stewart Downing are among the players to have been left out of Fabio Capello's 23-man England squad.

A 30-man party was named on Thursday but that has now been trimmed by seven ahead of the friendly against Switzerland.

Curtis Davies was the surprise inclusion in the initial party but he has not made the final squad.

Ledley King, who missed Tottenham's 1-1 draw with Manchester United, has also missed out, along with fellow defenders Glen Johnson and Nicky Shorey.

Emile Heskey had already been forced to withdraw after suffering an injury in Wigan's 1-0 victory over West Ham.

Carrick and Downing have been regulars in the England squad over the last couple of years but Capello has opted to cut them and look more closely at the likes of Gabriel Agbonlahor, Ashley Young and David Bentley.

Capello will name his captain for the game on Tuesday.

England squad: David James (Portsmouth), Scott Carson (Aston Villa), Chris Kirkland (Wigan Athletic); Wayne Bridge (Chelsea), Ashley Cole (Chelsea), Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United), Wes Brown (Manchester United), Joleon Lescott (Everton), Micah Richards (Manchester City) Matthew Upson (West Ham United), Jonathan Woodgate (Tottenham Hotspur); Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Gareth Barry (Aston Villa), Jermaine Jenas (Tottenham Hotspur), Owen Hargreaves (Manchester United), Joe Cole (Chelsea), Ashley Young (Aston Villa), Shaun Wright-Phillips (Chelsea), David Bentley (Blackburn Rovers); Gabriel Agbonlahor (Aston Villa) Michael Owen (Newcastle United), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Peter Crouch (Liverpool)

David Beckham has been included in the England squad to face France in a friendly next week - and will be hoping to win his 100th cap in Paris.

Beckham, who plays for LA Galaxy, was included in Fabio Capello's provisional 30-man squad on Thursday.

Arsenal forward Theo Walcott and Middlesbrough's central defender David Wheater have also been called up.

Portsmouth striker Jermain Defoe has also been included while Chelsea pair John Terry and Frank Lampard, who missed Capello's first game in charge due to injury, are also there.

Those named in Capello's first 30-man squad in January who miss out this time are Micah Richards and Curtis Davies, both injured, as well as Ledley King, Nicky Shorey, Michael Carrick and Emile Heskey.

Capello has not named his captain against France - he has said he wants to try different players before deciding on a permanent choice.

Steven Gerrard wore the armband against Switzerland last month and Terry or Rio Ferdinand are the favourites for this game.

Los Angeles Galaxy president and general manager Alexi Lalas insisted Beckham is fit and "ready to go".

"He's a great player and I think he would help any national team in the world," said Lalas. "At the Galaxy we are so proud having any of our players called up, especially David because it could be his 100th cap."

As for Beckham's fitness, former USA international Lalas said on Sky Sports News: "I'm telling you right now, you are getting a player who is healthy, fit, motivated and ready to help England. He's ready to go."

Walcott, meanwhile, said on his club's website: "I celebrated my 19th birthday on Sunday, so the call-up is a great birthday present for me.

"I'm looking forward to meeting up with all of the lads after the weekend's game."

England squad to face France on March 26: James (Portsmouth), Carson (Aston Villa), Kirkland (Wigan); Bridge (Chelsea), A Cole (Chelsea), Johnson (Portsmouth), Terry (Chelsea), Brown (Man Utd), Lescott (Everton), Ferdinand (Man Utd), Wheater (Middlesbrough), Woodgate (Tottenham), Upson (West Ham); Barry (Aston Villa), Young (Aston Villa), Bentley (Blackburn), J Cole (Chelsea), Lampard (Chelsea), Wright-Phillips (Chelsea), Beckham (Los Angeles Galaxy), Gerrard (Liverpool), Hargreaves (Man Utd), Downing (Middlesbrough), Jenas (Tottenham); Walcott (Arsenal), Agbonlahor (Aston Villa), Crouch (Liverpool), Rooney (Man Utd), Owen (Newcastle), Defoe (Portsmouth).

Frank Lampard and Wayne Rooney both trained with the rest of the England squad on Monday ahead of Wednesday's friendly against France.

Lampard suffered a knock to his hip in Chelsea's 2-1 win over Arsenal on Sunday, but looked to be moving freely during the session at London Colney.

Rooney also played a full role despite fears he had picked up a knee injury in Manchester United's win over Liverpool.

All 23 players turned out for training, including former captain David Beckham.

The players had to contend with snowy conditions at Arsenal's Hertfordshire training base, but Beckham - who is hoping to win his 100th cap at the Stade de France - was all smiles on his recall to the squad.

The news about Lampard and Rooney will come as a welcome relief to England coach Fabio Capello.

He voiced his concerns about the timing of Sunday's meeting of the top four sides, coming so close to England's trip to Paris.

"I'm not ecstatic, not happy about it," said Capello.

Capello has already been forced into changes and called up West Ham goalkeeper Robert Green on Sunday after Wigan's Chris Kirkland was ruled out through injury.

The squad was reduced from 30 to 23 on Saturday, with Tottenham keeper Paul Robinson coming in for the injured Scott Carson.

Gabriel Agbonlahor, Ashley Young, Shaun Wright-Phillips, David Wheater and Jermain Defoe were all cut from the squad, while Matthew Upson was withdrawn because of injury.

Capello also justified his decision to bring Beckham back into the squad, having left him out against Switzerland.

"In the previous match I did not call him up because he was not fit having not played any games. He is now fit," Capello told the FA's website.

"When David is fit he can always bring an important contribution because of his vision on the pitch and the fact he can cross the ball and always create chances. Not only from free-kicks.

"It's not my style to call someone up to do them a favour. I will call players in that I believe are useful to the team and with a view on future games and what I need to do in the future.

"I called him up because I believe he is going to be useful to the team.

"Good players are good players whether they play in America, England or in Spain."

Chelsea's John Terry, who was England captain under Steve McClaren and is a leading candidate to get the full-time role under Capello, has backed Beckham to take the job on Wednesday.

"David is a credit to himself and what he has done is exceptional," Terry told BBC Radio 5 Live's Sportsweek.

"If he is going to start or come on, he fully deserves to wear that England armband.

"I am very nervous about joining up with the squad and certainly don't expect to be captain.

"I wish to continue as England captain and fingers crossed I can do that but if not I will respect Mr Capello's decision."

France coach Raymond Domenech has called on a squad of 39 players to cover the England match, as well as an 'A' team fixture against Mali on Tuesday.

England squad:

Goalkeepers: David James (Portsmouth), Paul Robinson (Tottenham Hotspur), Robert Green (West Ham)

Defenders: Wayne Bridge (Chelsea), Wes Brown (Manchester United), Ashley Cole (Chelsea), Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United), Glen Johnson (Portsmouth), Joleon Lescott (Everton), John Terry (Chelsea), Jonathan Woodgate (Tottenham Hotspur)

Midfielders: Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Gareth Barry (AstonVilla), Owen Hargreaves (Manchester United), Joe Cole (Chelsea), David Bentley (Blackburn Rovers), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), David Beckham (LA Galaxy), Stewart Downing (Middlesbrough)

Forwards: Michael Owen (Newcastle United), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Peter Crouch (Liverpool), Theo Walcott (Arsenal)

France squad:

Goalkeepers: Gregory Coupet (Lyon), Mickael Landreau (PSG), Hugo Lloris (Nice), Steve Mandanda (Marseille)

Defenders: Eric Abidal (Barcelona), Jean-Alain Boumsong (Lyon), Gael Clichy (Arsenal), Francois Clerc (Lyon), Mathieu Delpierre (Stuttgart), Julien Escude (Seville), Patrice Evra (Manr Utd), William Gallas (Arsenal), Gael Givet (Marseille), Philippe Mexes (AS Roma), Adil Rami (Lille), Anthony Reveillere (Lyon), Sebastien Squillaci (Lyon), Lilian Thuram (Barcelona)

Midfielders: Mathieu Bodmer (Lyon), Alou Diarra (Bordeaux), Lassana Diarra (Portsmouth), Mathieu Flamini (Arsenal), Claude Makelele (Chelsea), Rio Mavuba (Lille), Samir Nasri (Marseille), Jeremy Toulalan (Lyon), Jerome Rothen (PSG), Patrick Vieira (Inter Milan)

Strikers: Nicolas Anelka (Chelsea), Hatem Ben Arfa (Lyon), David Trezeguet (Juventus), Jimmy Briand (Rennes), Djibril Cisse (Marseille), Thierry Henry (Barcelona), Florent Malouda (Chelsea), Sidney Govou (Lyon), Franck Ribery (Bayern Munich), Louis Saha (Man Utd), Mathieu Valbuena (Marseille)

Tonight's under 21 game any live coverage on astro>?

yup at 3am

how about tonight match??
what time haa??

England squad:

Goalkeepers: David James (Portsmouth), Joe Hart (Manchester City), Joe Lewis (Peterborough)

Defenders: Wayne Bridge (Chelsea), Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United), Phil Jagielka (Everton), Glen Johnson (Portsmouth), Stephen Warnock (Blackburn), David Wheater (Middlesbrough), Jonathan Woodgate (Tottenham)

Midfielders: Gareth Barry (Aston Villa), David Beckham (LA Galaxy), David Bentley (Blackburn), Stewart Downing (Middlesbrough), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Tom Huddlestone (Tottenham), Ashley Young (Aston Villa)

Forwards: Theo Walcott (Arsenal), Gabriel Agbonlahor (Aston Villa), Dean Ashton (West Ham), Peter Crouch (Liverpool), Jermain Defoe (Portsmouth).

will there be any live telecast for the match?