Stuart Pearce says Arsenal starlet Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain could feature for England at Euro 2012

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Stuart Pearce says Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain remains in England's Euro 2012 plans despite leaving the youngster out of his squad to face the Netherlands next week.

The 18-year-old has impressed in several appearances for the Gunners since the turn of the year with many fans clamouring for a senior inclusion but the Southampton academy graduate will instead play for the under-21's against Belgium.

When asked if Oxlade-Chamberlain could feature at Euro 2012, Pearce stated: “100 per cent, yes, without a doubt.
“I think he would suffer by not playing 90 minutes against Belgium on Wednesday.
“It would be better the Under-21s winning a game, possibly qualifying for the Euros in two years’ time. That’s where my eye has got to be with the experience of these young players."
Pearce hinted that the youngster may not have started if selected for the senior squad and insisted he still holds the under-21s in high regard.
Pearce is expected to resume his role as manager of the youth set-up when a permanent senior coach is appointed.
He continued: “I could have brought him in, played him ten minutes and there would have been a scrum from the media. He’d bypassed the under-21s, shouldn’t ever play for the under-21s again.
“If we keep doing that then we will never win at that age group and galvanise a winning formula at the younger age group.
“One or two of these younger players who can play in the under-21s and seniors, there might be an indication they’ve been picked in those squads because they might get game time.”

Face France, Germany Call Cacau

 

Bongarts
Joachim Low makes surprise decision by calling Cacau for German international test match against France next week.

Cacau calling into question because of the bloody Brazilian striker did not appear dressed in this season. Together VfB Stuttgart, Cacau scored only four goals from 22 matches.

Cacau but still called on to fill the place left by Lukas Podolski who missed this game due to injury.
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Test match will be held in Bremen. In addition to Podolski, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Mario Gotze and Per Mertesacker also could not play because of injury.

Germany also will play two test match against Switzerland on May 26 and June 1 face of Israel.

Germany squad:
Goalkeepers: Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich), Tim Wiese (Werder Bremen)

Players Back: Dennis Aogo (Hamburg SV), Holger Badstuber (Bayern Munich), Jerome Boateng (Bayern Munich), Benedikt Hoewedes (Schalke 04), Mats Hummels (Borussia Dortmund), Philipp Lahm (Bayern Munich), Marcel Schmelzer (Borussia Dortmund ), Christian Traesch (VfL Wolfsburg)

Midfielder: Lars Bender (Bayer Leverkusen), Sven Bender (Borussia Dortmund), Sami Khedira (Real Madrid), Toni Kroos (Bayern Munich), Thomas Mueller (Bayern Munich), Mesut Ozil (Real Madrid), Marco Reus (Borussia Moenchengladbach ), Simon Rolfes (Bayer Leverkusen), Andre Schuerrle (Bayer Leverkusen)


Players Forwards: Cacau (VfB Stuttgart), Mario Gomez (Bayern Munich), Miroslav Klose (Lazio)

PROSHOTS

Ryan Giggs will reach 900 games for Manchester United if he plays against Ajax on Thursday, and he has no plans to stop just yet.

The 38-year-old admits having doubts over whether he could carry on, around Christmas last year, but was persuaded by Sir Alex Ferguson to continue and has 23 appearances already this season.

If you include his 64 Wales caps and his five under-18 and under-21 appearances, Giggs will be on 969 games for club and country, so is 1000 games within reach?

“Yeah I suppose it is,” Giggs said in an interview with the Daily Telegraph. “If I finish this season well and play a lot next season, I should do it, which would be great because not many have done that. Wingers certainly don’t do that very often.”

The Welsh winger admits retirement is something he has thought has about, but is enjoying his football at the moment and is taking each day as it comes.

He continued: “Retirement is just a decision that I have to take my time with because I feel different after every game. After the 3-3 game with Chelsea I felt brilliant yet there have been other games when I haven’t felt so good after, so it’s swings and roundabouts.”

The veteran even mentioned playing in the Olympics for Great Britain.

He added: “If I’m asked I, will consider it. Obviously I haven’t played in a major international tournament so it would be a major plus for me. First of all I have to get picked.”

United are two points behind Manchester City in the Premier League and are out of the Champions League but Giggs still believes there is silverware to be won this season.

“There is definitely a sense it [the Europa League] would be great to win because it is something I have never won,” he continued.

And on the league: “They [City] are our local rivals and have never really competed with us until this season so it’s added a different dynamic.

“It’s good that different teams are challenging for the league but it will only be good for us if we beat them. It’s as simple as that.”

‘Playing in the Europa League will be strange but we’ll try to win it’ - Manchester United’s Javier Hernandez

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Manchester United striker Javier Hernandez is looking forward to his side’s upcoming clash with Ajax in the Europa League, and is anticipating a great tie between two of Europe’s most successful sides.

The Red Devils travel to the Amsterdam Arena to make their debut in the competition and, although Hernandez has conceded the Champions League is the continent’s elite competition, the Mexican international is excited to face Ajax.

"Playing at home in the second leg is important but it’s only a small advantage – it doesn't guarantee victory," Hernandez told MUTV. “It’ll be a difficult game but we’ll go to Amsterdam looking to win.

"The Champions League is the best competition in Europe and it’s a bit strange to be in the Europa League. But we want to win every tournament we enter. Both teams have a lot of history in Europe, so it should be a great game."

Sir Alex Ferguson’s side find themselves in the Europa League after finishing third behind Benfica and Basel in their Champions League group