During 2008, Fabio Capello awarded caps to 35 players in ten games as England won eight, drew one and lost one. Today we look at Joe Cole who scored three goals in six appearances.
Age 27
Date of Birth 08.11.81
Caps in 2008 6 Goals in 2008 3
Career Caps 53 Career Goals 10
Chelsea
Joe Cole started the year with a bang for England as he created the first goal under Fabio Capello, gliding past Stephen Lichsteiner and squaring the ball for Jermaine Jenas to tap into an open net.
It was a theme that would continue as Cole was involved at the business end for England in each game he featured in for the Three Lions.
Cole grabbed his first goal of the year in August, scoring a last-minute equaliser at Wembley as England rescued a draw with Czech Republic in their last friendly before their World Cup qualifiers kicked in.
Cole was the saviour in England's opening qualifier away to Andorra as he came from the bench at half-time to score two fantastic goals and give Fabio Capello three points in his first competitive game in charge.
Cole kept his place in the starting lineup four days later as England put on a simply outstanding display in Zagreb to defeat Croatia 4-1. Cole would not complete the match however after requiring ten stitches to his head after being caught by an elbow from Robert Kovac.
Kovac would see red, but Cole also departed the match due to the knock. It would be Cole's final involvement for England in 2008 as injury would keep him out of the remaining three games.