Broom Broom

So now we have it. Our first glimpse of new England boss Steve McClaren’s Brave New World, in a 25 man squad for the forthcoming friendly against Greece.

No room for sentiment. It’s out with the old. And that means recently retired captain David Beckham, just four games short of the magical 100 caps, plus veteran defender Sol Campbell and his new Portsmouth chum, 36 year old goalkeeper David James.

Apart from the usual suspects and a welcome call-up for Dean Ashton, there are recalls for a whole host of players who failed to impress Sven – Jermain Defoe, Darren Bent, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Phil Neville, Wes Brown, Chris Kirkland, Kieran Richardson and Luke Young.

And in keeping with the fresh new image, McCLaren announces a new assistant coach – the modest young Terry Venables, who could go far.

Well, virtually anyone is going to look younger, and livelier, than Tord Grip.