Europe’s big guns bank on youth brigade

Europe’s big guns bank on youth brigade By Dave James Paris Oct. 10: Rejuvenated England, European kings Spain and Italy, the defending champions, hope their young guns can fire them closer to the 2010 World Cup finals on Saturday. But former champions Germany and France, whose qualifying campaigns have yet to hit top gear, will be looking to the tried and trusted to spark them closer to South Africa. England, under Fabio Capello, have enjoyed two wins from two games, the last of which was an impressive 4-1 win in Croatia which propelled them to the top of Group Six and sent Arsenal teenager Theo Walcott’s reputation into orbit. The 19-year-old’s hat-trick in Zagreb should make him a first choice in Saturday’s clash with minnows Kazakhstan at Wembley and against Belarus in Minsk four days... [read full story]