Cohen questions England withdrawals

England legend George Cohen has described the withdrawal of several senior players ahead of tonight’s friendly with Germany as “too much of a coincidence”.

The fixture in Berlin has been hit by a number of high-profile withdrawals including Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard and Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard, while a late injury to Theo Walcott means Fabio Capello has only three of his regular starters in his squad for the game of the Olympiastadion.

A number of Premier League managers have questioned the value of this latest international friendly, but Cohen – a member of the 1966 World Cup-winning squad - insists playing for England in any game should be considered an honour and questioned the number of injuries suddenly affecting the nation’s top players.

“Playing for England is something that you should always cherish,” he told BBC Radio Five Live.

“Quite frankly, for many, many years we’ve always had this business of players pulling out of the squad at the last moment.

“I don’t suppose this is the most opportune time to play this particular game, but at the same time I think that too many players pulling out is too much of a coincidence.”

With a number of senior players missing, the game will give budding stars such as Gabriel Agbonlahor and Ashley Young the chance to stake a claim for a more prominent role in future England fixtures.

And Cohen urged Capello to give the new faces the time on the pitch they need to prove themselves, rather than making constant changes throughout the game as has happened in past England friendlies.

He said: “I think that the cameo appearances we had under the last manager were appalling quite frankly, and I don’t like players coming on for 10 minutes, 15 minutes, and getting caps because I think it just devalues it.

“The great players in this game only had the ball for two minutes in the entire 90 minutes. What chance has somebody got of showing what they can do in 10 minutes.

“I don’t like it and I hope Mr Capello doesn’t use it too often.”

Cohen also responded to Argentina coach Diego Maradona’s comments yesterday about England’s controversial third goal in the 4-2 final win over West Germany 42 years ago.

The new Argentina boss, in Scotland for a friendly at Hampden Park, told reporters he felt England have no right to complain about his ’Hand of God’ goal in 1986 when, according to Maradona, Geoff Hurst’s goal never crossed the line.

“Geoff’s shot wasn’t illegal, and handball was,” Cohen said. “At the same time, I’m sure Mr Maradona can count to four. We scored another one, didn’t we?”

However, he added: “It’s ridiculous, though I suppose had it been the other way around I don’t suppose we would have argued the toss.”

On comments made by Scotland assistant boss Terry Butcher, who was in the England side that infamous day 22 years ago, saying he would not shake Maradona’s hand at the friendly, Cohen added: “I think Terry might have said that with tongue in cheek, I don’t know.

“Terry knows these things have happened and, as I said, had it happened at the other end nothing would have been said and the Argentines would have been saying the same thing.”