The last match at Wembley stadium, between England and Germany next Saturday, will be an occasion for history, nostalgia and sepia memories. But with the announcement of Kevin Keegan's 27-man England squad came the chance that it will also give England and beyond a glimpse of the future. Joe Cole, 18, received his first senior call up yesterday.
While it is unlikely that the West Ham United teenager will start this huge World Cup qualifier, Cole may well be on the bench, and the significance of his inclusion was heightened by the widespread speculation that Cole's 38-year-old team-mate Stuart Pearce would be recalled, as would Teddy Sheringham. Neither Pearce nor Sheringham made it. Nor did Paul Gascoigne.
Both Cole and Pearce have sustained broken legs in recent months but Cole has recovered from his April break quickly to gradually establish himself in the West Ham first team this season. West Ham have struggled in terms of points but manager Harry Redknapp has been adamant that his side's performances, and those of Cole, have merited greater reward.
Cole has his now and joins other youthful England figures such as Liverpool's quartet of Steven Gerrard, Jamie Carragher - his second call up - Emile Heskey and Michael Owen, as well as Newcastle's Keiron Dyer and Aston Villa's Gareth Barry. Cole's clubmate Rio Ferdinand is only 21.
"He's a rare talent," said Keegan of Cole. "He can change a game that's tight, he can change the course of a game. I believe he is ready, willing and able to perform at the top level." Cole has said that his favourite games in training at Upton Park are English v Foreigners.
Judging by Keegan's enthusiastic remarks, Cole the younger could find himself alongside his elder namesake Andy at some stage next Saturday, or in Helsinki against Finland four days later. Cole senior of Manchester United, having played well in the friendly in Paris with France, will be confident of starting beside Owen, who will be determined to play after his goal in Paris.
Aside from Joe Cole's inclusion, the other major talking point was that, in the absence of the injured Sol Campbell, Keegan has made David Beckham vice-captain to Tony Adams. Beckham, who has not been reprimanded by UEFA after appearing to spit in the direction of the referee during United's defeat in Eindhoven on Tuesday night, is seen as an England captain in the long run by Keegan. "I don't worry about his temperament," Keegan said, "he's a leader."
Adams resumes the armband now that he is fully fit at Highbury and, well as Barry did in Paris, Adams may be joined in defence by Graeme Le Saux, now a captain himself at Chelsea, and with a solid display at Old Trafford last Saturday behind him.
Steve McManaman will wish that he could say the same, though at least he is retained despite his awkward situation at Real Madrid. Nevertheless, McManaman may already be behind Joe Cole.
ENGLAND SQUAD: Seaman (Arsenal), Martyn (Leeds), James (Aston Villa), P Neville (Man Utd), Le Saux (Chelsea), G Neville (Man Utd), Barry (Aston Villa), Adams (Arsenal), Keown (Arsenal), Southgate (Aston Villa), Ferdinand (West Ham), Carragher (Liverpool), Ince (Middlesbrough), Dyer (Newcastle), Wise (Chelsea), Beckham (Man Utd), Barmby (Liverpool), Scholes (Man Utd), McManaman (Real Madrid), J Cole (West Ham), Parlour (Arsenal), Gerrard (Liverpool), Owen (Liverpool), A Cole (Man Utd), Phillips (Sunderland), Fowler (Liverpool), Heskey (Liverpool).
