Cole set for 100th England cap after Brazil call

LONDON (AFP) –

Chelsea‘s England defender Ashley Cole pictured during the Premier League match between Chelsea and Norwich City at Stamford Bridge in London on October 6, 2012. Cole is poised to become the seventh player to win 100 England caps after being named on Thursday in Roy Hodgson’s squad for next week’s friendly with 2014 World Cup hosts Brazil at Wembley.

Ashley Cole is poised to become the seventh player to win 100 England caps after being named on Thursday in Roy Hodgson’s squad for next week’s friendly with 2014 World Cup hosts Brazil at Wembley.

Cole was included in a a 24-strong squad announced by manager Hodgson but there was no place for Tottenham’s Scott Parker, fit again after coming back from Euro 2012 with an Achilles injury.

Liverpool‘s Steven Gerrard, who won his 100th England cap against Sweden in November, retained the captaincy and fellow experienced midfielder Frank Lampard was also included in the squad.

Midfielders Jack Wilshere, Michael Carrick, Tom Cleverley and Leon Osman were picked as well, but Raheem Sterling, Jonjo Shelvey and Manchester United new boy Wilfried Zaha all dropped down to the under-21s.

Hodgson unusually selected only two goalkeepers in Manchester City’s Joe Hart and Jack Butland of Birmingham City, while Manchester United defender Chris Smalling has received his first call-up of the England manager’s tenure.

England are currently second behind Montenegro in European World Cup qualifying Group H.

Their last outing saw them beaten 4-2 by Sweden in Stockholm in a game that saw Zlatan Ibrahimovic net all four of the hosts’ goals.

England squad

Goalkeepers: Jack Butland (Birmingham City), Joe Hart (Manchester City)

Defenders: Leighton Baines (Everton), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Ashley Cole (Chelsea), Phil Jagielka (Everton), Glen Johnson (Liverpool), Joleon Lescott (Manchester City), Chris Smalling (Manchester United), Kyle Walker (Tottenham Hotspur)

Midfielders: Michael Carrick (Manchester United), Tom Cleverley (Manchester United), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool, capt), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), Aaron Lennon (Tottenham Hotspur), James Milner (Manchester City), Leon Osman (Everton), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Arsenal), Theo Walcott (Arsenal), Jack Wilshere (Arsenal)

Forwards: Jermain Defoe (Tottenham Hotspur), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Daniel Sturridge (Liverpool), Danny Welbeck (Manchester United)