Sport 10-08-2001 Eriksson Calls On Owen Hargreaves who: Sven Goran Eriksson what: Expected to pick Bayern Munich`s Owen Hargreaves for Holland friendly where: White Hart Lane, LONDON when: Wednesday night snippet: "Sven-Goran Eriksson will today spring the biggest surprise of his time as England`s coach," reports The Guardian, "by promoting the Bayern Munich youngster Owen Hargreaves to the squad for next Wednesday`s friendly against Holland." "His chance comes because the England coach promised Liverpool boss Gerard Houllier and Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson that his first-choice side for the World Cup qualifier against Germany in Munich on September 1 will have a run-out for the opening 45 minutes only," explains The Mirror. The selection will dispel fears that Hargreaves might elect to play for Wales (his mother, Margaret, is Welsh), Canada (he was born in Calgary) or Germany (where he would be eligible to play after five years as a German citizen). But the news is a "hammer blow" for West Ham youngster Joe Cole`s international career, says The Sun. 19 year-old Cole was withdrawn from David Platt`s Under-21 squad - who play Holland at Reading`s Madejski Stadium on Tuesday - "to ensure he recovers from a foot injury in time for the start of the season," writes Steven Howard. "This will be widely interpreted as Cole not being thought ready for full international duty." [... more]

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