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Gerrard pulls out of England game
Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard has pulled out of the England squad for Wednesday's friendly against the Netherlands because of a groin injury.
Gerrard's withdrawal follows that of Manchester United goalkeeper Ben Foster on Monday.
"Steven Gerrard will not travel to Amsterdam this morning for England's friendly with Holland on Wednesday," a Football Association statement read.
"Gerrard has returned to Liverpool as a precaution due to a tight groin."
No replacement for Gerrard has been named.
Foster, 26, picked up a knock during his side's FA Community Shield defeat by Chelsea on Sunday.
Manchester City's Joe Hart - currently on loan at Birmingham City - has been called up as a replacement.
Lampard looking forward to Holland test
First-choice goalkeeper David James was left out of the England squad by coach Fabio Capello because of a knee injury.
West Ham's Robert Green and Blackburn's Paul Robinson are the other two keepers in the squad, one of whom is now likely to start at the Amsterdam Arena.
Green, who has four caps, started England's last two matches, the World Cup qualifying wins against Kazakhstan (4-0) and Andorra (6-0) in June.
Robinson won the last of his 41 caps in a 2-1 European Championship qualifying defeat by Russia in Moscow in October 2007.
Foster has played twice for England, the first in the 1-0 defeat against Spain in February 2007 and the second as a second-half substitute in the 4-0 win over Slovakia in March this year.
He is expected to be first-choice for Manchester United in the absence of regular number one Edwin Van der Sar, who will be sidelined for up to eight weeks after undergoing surgery on a broken finger and bone in his left hand.
Foster started the Community Shield match against Chelsea on Sunday, but was unable to prevent United losing 4-1 on penalties.
Following seven successive qualifying wins, England are on the cusp of qualifying for the World Cup next summer in South Africa, while the Dutch, who have also notched up seven victories, are assured of a place in the 2010 finals.
After playing the Netherlands, Capello's England face Slovenia in a friendly on 5 September, before facing Croatia in a World Cup qualifier at Wembley on 9 September.
England squad for 12 August friendly against the Netherlands:
Goalkeepers: Robert Green (West Ham United), Joe Hart (Manchester City), Paul Robinson (Blackburn Rovers)
Defenders: Wayne Bridge (Manchester City), Ashley Cole (Chelsea), Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United), Glen Johnson (Liverpool), Joleon Lescott (Everton), John Terry (Chelsea), Matthew Upson (West Ham United)
Midfielders: Gareth Barry (Manchester City), David Beckham (LA Galaxy), Michael Carrick (Manchester United), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), James Milner (Aston Villa), Theo Walcott (Arsenal), Shaun Wright-Phillips (Manchester City), Ashley Young (Aston Villa)
Forwards: Carlton Cole (West Ham United), Jermain Defoe (Tottenham Hotspur), Emile Heskey (Aston Villa), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United)
source: bbc
Posted on Tuesday 11th August 2009
