Welcome back: Everton defender Leighton Baines was harshly treated ahead of the World Cup
Leighton Baines
Unfairly treated ahead of last year's World Cup, when Capello took two nervy displays in friendlies against Egypt and Mexico together with a story which claimed he was homesick during the training camp in Austria and axed him from the final squad of 23.
Stephen Warnock, of Aston Villa, got the nod but did not play, due to Ashley Cole's consistent brilliance. But Baines, 26, has responded this season to prove he is the Chelsea full back's rightful deputy.
The Everton left back has been in outstanding form, with his crosses proving a potent weapon for his club and he can also bring dead-ball excellence to the England team. Capello will demand to see evidence that the jitters have gone and that he feels at home on the international stage. At the moment, he has the edge over Arsenal's Kieran Gibbs - but the manager will be watching closely.
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Rank | Team | W/D/L | Pts |
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Cities & Stadiums
The Top 3 Teams of Previous Tournaments
Year | Winners | Runner-up | Third place |
---|---|---|---|
2008 | Spain | Germany | Russia / Turkey |
2004 | Greece | Portugal | Netherlands / Czech Republic |
2000 | France | Italy | Netherlands / Portugal |
1996 | Germany | Czech Republic | France / England |
1992 | Denmark | Germany | Netherlands / Sweden |
1988 | Netherlands | Soviet Union | Italy / West Germany |
1984 | France | Spain | Denmark / Portugal |
1980 | West Germany | Belgium | Czechoslovakia |
1976 | Czechoslovakia | West Germany | Netherlands |
1972 | West Germany | Soviet Union | Belgium |
1968 | Italy | Yugoslavia | England |
1964 | Spain | Soviet Union | Hungary |
1960 | Soviet Union | Yugoslavia | Czechoslovakia |