National Team Update: Owen targets century

Seems a while since England played France, doesn't it?

Fear not, though, England footy fans, for the national side's next game is looming large on the horizon.

On 28th May, the United States of Amerikhastan visit Wembley for a post-season shindig against Fabio Capello's charges.

The England boys, of course, will be winding down after another long season. The representatives of Chelsea and Manchester United will be looking back on a close-run title race and a presumably epic Champions League final.

The Liverpool lads always seem to be whining about being tired at the end of the season - it surely won't be any different this time around.

In truth, the whole England squad has been fighting individual battles all season. The same goes for the USA internationals playing in Europe, while their home-based compatriots are currently in week seven (I think) of the Major League Soccer season, a season expected to mark a noticeable rise in quality of a league which is much criticised.

In theory, this should be the friendliest of friendlies. Plenty of the States squad plays in England, the rest have domestic concerns. The England players will mentally be on the beach. The countries have a special diplomatic and strategic relationship, the most important pillar of the UK's foreign policy. Then of course, there are the cultural links which arguably are demonstrated by us limeys adopting American trends three or four years after they hit big in the streets of the federation.

Except for ghostridin' da whip. That's just f***ing silly.

Long story (sorry) short: this is going to be a nothing game, and we might just see a draw.

Oh captain, my captain

The USA tie is Capello's third game on the England bench. In his previous two, Steven Gerrard and Rio Ferdinand have been awarded the captain's armband. Capello is testing out his possible skippers, and it'll be interesting to see who ends up being the main man.

Given the consistent poor conduct and attitude of John Terry, one would hope that disciplinarian Capello's distaste is such that the Chelsea player has thrown away his chances of being England captain. Then again, Ferdinand's wall-kicking won't have done him any favours.

Other names mentioned include Villa captain Gareth Barry (whose brain was last seen somewhere on Merseyside) and Wayne Rooney. Surprisingly, I see the logic behind making Rooney captain, but I don't think he's the best man for the job.

The post, according to Capello, is up for grabs. He's told his players to show they're worthy and, intriguingly, stresses the importance of off-the-pitch behaviour. That seems to rule out some of the top candidates. Whatever happens, it promises to be a fascinating story. I expect Gareth Barry to lead the side out at Wembley at the end of this month. I also expect it to be his last act as (technically) an Aston Villa player, seeing as he's been tapped up by the evil parallel universe version of Rafael Benitez.

The only double any Newcastle player could achieve

One other possible captaincy candidate is Michael Owen, back among the goals and targeting a couple of records in his international career.

Owen is currently sitting on 89 England caps with 40 goals for his country to his name. That makes him 11 games short of a century, and 9 goals short of Sir Bobby Charlton (a tosser, by the way). Owen tends not to go on about these records, but they're both in his sights now.

I reckon he'll manage it, too.