By Myles Palmer
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SVEN’s best player is Rooney.
His favourite player is Beckham.
His second favourite player is Owen.
But in Denmark tonight it’s Defoe-Rooney-Joe Cole.
With Beckham, Lampard and Gerrard in midfield.
If the Danes were any good they could destroy that daft midfield.
At 18, Defoe was on loan to Bournemouth from West Ham, who had previously loaned Lampard and Rio Ferdinand to Harry Redknapp’s former club.
Defoe had to wash his own kit at Bournemouth. They had no laundry lady.
At 22, he will not have that problem playing for England.
Defoe reminds me of another Spurs striker, Martin Chivers, who also liked to play within the width of the penalty area and score the goals and get the glory.
Chivers was much bigger than Defoe, but not as combative and cocky.
If Defoe plays well tonight, Sven will take him off and put Owen on.
In 2004 Sven did not know that Defoe was a more gifted striker than Owen.
He still doesn’t.
Terry, Ferdinand, Lampard, Defoe and Beckham are all Londoners – and so are the Coles, Joe and Ashley.
SEVEN LONDONERS starting a game for England !!!!
When was the last time that happened?
Statto, where are you? I’ve lost your phone number !
ZIDANE AND MAKELELE had several long telephone chats over the summer before deciding to come back for France, with Thuram.
Against England in Portugal, Zidane was sick with nerves, vomiting before he converted that penalty.
France play Ivory Coast, who have Drogba and Toure.
Zidane scores in big games and finals. But this is not a big game.
IN THE IHT, ROB HUGHES reminds us that, at 16, Puskas played in the same club team as his father.
The genius scored 83 goals in 84 games for Hungary.
Rob quotes him saying, “I want to thank my father for all the advice he never gave me.”
Tonight Hungary play Argentina in the Ferenc Puskas Stadium.
August 17th 2005.