Your verdict: Scott Carson and Darren Bent the only losers in Berlin?

Match report: Germany 1 England 2 | Capello's 24-carat gold reserves | How England rated | Debate: what is England's best XI now? | Agbonlahor merits inclusion in long-term plans | Rise and rise of Captain Responsible | Wenger eyes Walcott compensation | Giles Smith: was it meaningful enough to put I'm a Celebrity on hold for a night? | Debate: were Carson and Bent the only losers in Berlin?

Frank Praverman

Fabio Capello refused to pick out individuals as he praised England's magnificent team performance against Germany, but each squad member will today be asking themselves one question: did I do enough?

Certainly, Michael Carrick will be wondering if his serene yet incisive passing has finally broken up the Lampard-Gerrard monopoly in the centre of midfield. And Glen Johnson could now have a legitimate shout to claim the permanent right back berth.

But two players will wonder if they will ever see another England cap. Scott Carson needed to produce a faultless display to erase the painful memories of his blunder against Croatia a year ago, but was made to look stupid as he and John Terry comically hesitated to allow Patrick Helmes the easiest of tap-ins. Terry was honest enough to admit the mistake was his, but an authoritative call from his goalkeeper would have immediately swept away the minimal danger. Even if the error was not down to him, the Keystone Cops defending would have left his confidence shot to pieces. And on the subject of confidence - how much of it could his back four have in him now?

At the other end of the pitch we have Darren Bent. His run to unlock the Germany defence was perfectly timed. His first touch to leave Tim Wiese, the goalkeeper, stranded was ideal. His finish was dreadful, as he somehow screwed his left-footed shot wide of the post with the net gaping. Replays showed his right foot slipped as he planted it but that is a matter of technique, balance and calmness under pressure. You wouldn't see Michael Owen fall over unless it is in celebration. At the top level, England cannot afford a maybe-man in the mould of Andy Cole, who Glenn Hoddle famously described as needing six chances to take one. England need a sharp-shooter, a clinical marksman who can be relied upon. And Bent will be questioning whether he has that in his armoury.

But do you agree? Was Carson blameless in Germany's equaliser? Is he the future between the posts? And could Bent be trusted with another chance or is he only a very good club striker?

Have your say below.

Comments

[Rhys Jaggar]

Bent missed an open goal, Carson didn't command his box and gave away a goal.

Give them another chance, then tell them to sod off if they don't make the grade.

Ruthless management.

Get used to it.

[Johnny in Brighton]

Speaking from someone that was actually at the game Wednesday evening (sitting on the halfway line in the German end), I practically leaped to my feet when Bent skipped past the keeper... yes, it appeared he scuffed the shot in uncharacteristic form.

But, after seeing the replay on the giant screen, the goalie did enough to take him far enough from a direct straight-forward shooting opportunity.

The picture you are using above makes the miss look like a Titus Bramble guffaw, when in reality, the angle was much much tighter.

[Joe]

2010 Squad

Foster, Kirkland, Hart

Richards, Ferdinand, Terry, A.Cole, Brown, King(fitness permitting if not Woodgate) Wheater/Lescott

Wallcot, Gerrard, Barry, J.Cole, SWP, Lampard, Hargreaves, Young/Downing

Rooney, Heskey, Owen/Defoe/Bent/Johnson(which ever is in best form), Agbonlahor, Crouch/Ashton

maybe instead of Crouch/Ashton id find a space for Wilshere or Weleck as these two could come on and take the tournament by storm like Rooney2004

[iain]

Boro could have had carson in the summer and gate decided not too as he felt he was no better than turnbull, it is now clear that he is worse. Hart is a good keeper but again is no better than turnbull in my view and Foster needs to start playing regularly or he will not get in the squad. If turnbull keeos his current run of form going i wouldn't be at all surprised to see him in the next squad with hart and james. By the way, hilarious to see someone above put wilshere (0 caps) and young (about 2) ahead of downing in the 2010 squad, get used to it lads there is going to be at least one teessider going to south africa (if we make it), and don't be too surprised if there are more.

[Anon]

My England Team:

GK: Kirkland*, Green and Foster
RB: Richards*, Johnson, Brown
CB: R.Ferdinand*, Terry*, Woodgate, Upson, J.Evans
LB: Lescott*, Bridge
RM: Bentley*, Lennon, Walcott
CM: Lampard*, Gerrard*, Barry, Carrick, Hargreaves, Huddlestone
LM: Downing*, J.Cole, Barry
ST: Rooney, Defoe, Bent, Agbonlahor, Heskey, Owen

[Luca S.]

It's strange. What is the reason for the English and their Media to put so much pressure on their own players, attacking them verbally? Every country is full of people who defend their country, even if they know they are not right - it's a kind of patriotism the English don't have.

Bent slipped because of the wet surface and he is a good young player with a international future (the opposite of Owen, old, always injured and past his good times)

Be more patient and not hypocratically saying D.Bent should be dropped - Rooney didn't score an international goal for over a year before he managed to score recently. Did anybody blame him?

[Nicholas]

Yes lets drop Bent because his standing foot gave way! Dear oh dear! Didnt the same happen to Terry in Moscow?
Wasnt the German goal Terrys fault anyway? You could argue both cases quite easily.

I thought Bent did okay, no worse than Abgonlahor who is being praised to the heavens.

As for Carson, i dont think he has an international future, not because of Wednesday night, because Ben Foster is a better keeper.

[Just]

In the age of high wages created in the main by TV money it seems that we, the 'fans' have no patinece when it comes to international players. Especially towards those those who are trying desperately to find their feet (excuse the pun Darren).

What takes away the patience of a fan towards a Darren Bent?
Third top scorer in the Premiership since 2005, or Agbonlahor, increasingly prolific, impressive for Villa and at U21 level for nearly a season and a half. Would Martin O' Neill have reaped the rewards if after his first goal drought Agbonlahor was benched and then farmed out to a Championship side on loan?

Collective jealousy towards the players high wages and reported lifestyles, our consumer culture, and over/ inaccurate analyses by 'expert' pundits and journalists are to blame for this climate which ultimately contributes to this revolving door of potential talent deemed not good enough after substitute appearances or a couple of starts here and there.

[Sam]

My England Squad S.A. 2010: Starters*

Foster*, Carson, Hart;

M Richards, G Neville*, R Ferdinand*, Terry*, Upson, W Brown, Lescott, A Cole*;

Walcott*, Carrick, Barry, Hargreaves*, Lampard*, Gerrard*, J Cole, A Young;

Rooney*, Heskey*, Agbonlahor, Owen

[vinny kay]

bent. 24 and has already finished top premiership goalscorer. yeah, time to ditch him. honestly, the level of intelligence displayed by some users here is most worrying.

there's little to fault in bent's game. as a striker he has everything. how you can judge one miss in 45 as a reason to drop him is astonishing. most strikers wouldn't even have the pace or intelligence to get into that position.

[Bobby Smith]

Its time to ditch Bent & Carson and play Owen and Green.
Owen - Proven goalscorer across the world, would never have missed that in a million years!
Its true Carson lacks confidence, but how many goals must England concede untill he is confident? Green has been proforming very well for West Ham and is the No.1 keeper for England, David James is too old, its time to groom his replacement in time for the World cup

[Ben]

Not a great article.

Why look for negatives after what was all in all, a very positive display?

Do you ever look to question why England players have no confidence and "are scared of playing at Wembley" in front of their own fans???

John Terry was 100% at fault for the goal, Scott Carson can consider himself very unfortunate.

Darrent Bent is a good player, who slipped at a very inopportune moment.

English media: Try standing up for your national teams, this constant negativity is like a broken record.

[vinny kay]

england's loss with bent is spurs' gain.
this kid, staying injury free will outscore anyone in the premiership. he's that good.
has as good a goals/game percentage as torres.
i expect him to be the country's top goalscorer this season. big deal, one miss in 45 minutes.

[Laughable!]

"You wouldn't see Michael Owen fall over unless it is in celebration".......No, but you'll see him miss appallingly from 4 yards out against Fulham.......who writes this crap!? Very poor 'journalism' from The Times.

Darren Bent, 9 times out of 10 would've put that away, so why jump on his back?

Personally I think he and Carson played well, John Terry was at fault for Germany's goal, basic defending is to clear the ball from danger, so why shield instead!? Ludicrous!!

Another 'journalist' who obviously favours the players/teams/managers from the "Top Four" - PATHETIC!!!

[Nick]

I thought Agbonlahor was weak and shouldn't be picked for England again....or am I just a Villa fan who wants to avoid another Liverpool/Barry saga as another one of our our carefully nutured talents comes to the attention of "The Big Four"?

[rags]

Bent is a good premier league player, that is all. He does not do as well in link up play because his first touch is not great. At international level, he will be found out. Carson is also a good premier league player but is not commanding enough. He lacks confidence. I felt Agbonlahor did better and uses his strength well while Defoe has a great touch as well as pace. My England squad for the world cup would be:

James, Hart, Foster

Brown, Johnson, Terry, Ferdinand, King, Upson, Cole, Bridge,

Hargreaves, Carrick, Barry, Lampard,
Walcott, Gerrard, J. Cole, Wilshere,

Rooney, Agbonlahor, Ameobi, Heskey

[colin young]

Erm, didn't Germany and their players and coach and fans lose too?

[Drew]

To Melanie King,
You think certain players dont get villified and you have included Wayne Rooney and David Beckham in your list? Im sorry, but I seem to remember certain newspapers printing dart boards with David Beckham's picture on it after 1998 and whenever Wayne Rooney doesn't score for England people want him dropped. Carson is subject to the same level of scrutiny as everyone else who plays for England, it is high pressure football, and it seems to me that Carson can't seem to stand the heat and any criticism of him, although at times it has been over zealous, is justified. You are very much deluded if you think that the players you mentioned get away without any criticism, if anything they are the ones who are scrutinised the most and criticised the moment they put a foot wrong. Although perhaps not conducive to a great atmosphere surrounding the national team, it seems to have become par for the course when considering the English football team. Scott Carson is not receiving anything like the level of criticism that the players you mentioned have had to have put up with for years whilst playing for England. If he isn't up to the challenge, then fair enough, but he shouldn't play for England again.

I agree mainly with the article. Carson and Bent really aren't up to it. International football is no room for triers. You must have skill. Bent, unfortunately at this level, just doesn't have it.

It'll be interesting to see what Capello does about Gerrard and Lampard. Be nice to see BOTH of the on the bench, at least for while. Rooney and Ferdinand, though, are another matter.

[9lives]

I've always thought Bent was a decent striker but he's about as much an international player as Defoe is - i.e. not. IMO, natch.

[Chris Deal]

John Terry had the opportunity to clear the ball long before Carson needed to collect it, as England Captain he should be decisive enough to make up his own mind without having a shout from the reserve keeper.
As for Bent he created probably the most clear cut chance of all 3 strikers on the night but lost his footing, hardly reason to suggest he's not up to the task. Defoe has hardly been prolific for country yet,and as for Agbonglahor he didn't exactly test what was a very average and immobile German defence, when he had a chance to run at them he chose to try to pass the ball and ended up giving possesion back to the Germans.
The guy is not prolific enough at club level over a season to justify his inclusion on a permanent basis, Defoe & Bent playing regular first team football are always going to score more goals as has been proved in previous seasons whilst a good player Agbonglahor is not the finished article yet, and to suggest Owen wouldn't of missed that chance, I take it you didn't see his glaring miss against Fulham two weeks ago.

[Laura Bithell]

Great Game, and very proud of the england players for stepping up to the challenge.

Carson and terry were both to blame for the german goal, but we wouldn't have been in any danger if we had taken more chances.

good times for england

[Liam]

This evaluation of Bent is not very good. Bent timed his run brilliantly took it round the German defence and the goalkeeper. He slipped on an already wet surface and yes fluffed what was a shot that he would score nine times out of ten. Although he did extremely well to create the chance in the first place and without his quality run the chance would not have occured in the first place.

[Gavin]

This is amazing, is Terry that untouchable that the error he made has now become Carson's? Terry let the ball role far too long he should have played it back to Carson or smashed it out, not try and shepherd the ball back. Carson probably looked at the situation and believed Terry would deal with it. Terry is at fault and should be blamed accordingly. As for Bent...one game is not enough to make that kind of call, nerves can always play a part.

[Drew]

I thought Darren Bent did well, better than the 4 out of 10 that this paper awarded him. He made some very nice runs, looked a threat in behind, and were it not for a tap on his ankle by the German goalkeeper and an unfortunate slip as he went to shoot, he would have capped off a solid 45 minutes with a goal. Definately worth another look, at the moment I would have him, Agbonlahor, Heskey and Rooney as my four main forwards. As for Scott Carson, looked like a rabbit caught in the headlights, scared of the big stage if you ask me. Will continue to look a half decent player playing for lesser teams, but when the step up has to be made, he will continue to 'bottle it'. Don't pick him for the squad again, a proven liability.