CLASSY CARRICK CAN PASS TEST AT HIGHEST LEVEL

THIS weekend's friendly against Argentina here in Geneva is one I'm really relishing. There have been times in the past when friendly internationals have been less than riveting and that's just the way is these days.

Clubs invest huge amounts of money in their players and you can't blame them when they are sometimes anxious that their star names will come back safe and sound after a friendly.

A game against Argentina is different though, whether it's in the World Cup, a friendly in Switzerland or a kickabout in the local park.

The fact that this match is being played in World Cup season and on neutral territory, for me, adds to the occasion. In many ways it simulates a tournament match.

Originally, I thought that myself and Chris Kirkland would perhaps play a half each. It seemed an ideal opportunity for him to get some valuable international experience.

Unfortunately Chris must have run over another black cat because he's injured again, this time with a nasty kidney injury.

Hopefully he'll soon recover from this latest setback and be involved in the other warm-up games for England in the spring.

He does need to get some international mileage under his belt in case something should happen to me.

It's always possible in football as every player knows - but fingers firmly crossed.

There certainly does seem to be a distinct lack of English keepers in the Premiership these days and we do need to find more in the future.

Players such as Scott Carson at Liverpool need to be playing more regularly. Scott is an excellent keeper but at the moment he's not in the Liverpool side.

Only by playing regularly do you learn and improve your game.

As a keeper you learn to accept that, for many, you're only as good as your last save.

I've taken a bit of criticism recently for a couple of mistakes for Tottenham and you have to be big enough to

accept the stick when it comes your way, as well as the praise.

I think my overall form is pretty good at the moment although I'd be lying if I said I wasn't disappointed with a couple of recent goals, against Manchester United and Arsenal.

I am keen to put one thing straight though. I saw a couple of reports after the 1-1 North London derby draw that I dropped the ball which led to Robert Pires equalising.

The truth is I never intended to catch it.

My mistake there, in fact, was that my starting position for the cross was a little too far forward, the reason being that the sun was low and I was trying to duck under the grandstand to avoid it shining straight into my eyes.

I got a fair bit on the ball but not quite enough. It was just my luck it went straight to Pires. A yard either side and everything would have been fine but that's how it goes sometimes.

Talking of luck, it seems that my Spurs team-mate Ledley King has run out of it this week, after he picked up an injury in the Bolton game.

I don't think it's too serious but it does look as though it will keep him out of Saturday's big game - and that's a pity.

Everyone who watched him play in that holding midfield role against Poland last month would agree that Ledley put in a tremendous performance and I would imagine that Sven-Goran Eriksson might want to have another look at the system again at some stage against the Argentines.

Ledley's misfortune could well open the door for another Spurs man in Michael Carrick and he thoroughly deserves his chance.

I've been able to appreciate Michael's displays for us this season and I would have to say he's hardly put a foot wrong.

He's made that midfield holding role his own so far and, if he gets his chance against Argentina, I am sure he will take it. One of his great assets is his range of passing. Short or long, Michael's equally happy with his passes and he plays the ball down the channels as well as anyone I've seen.

Down at Tottenham he's been likened to Glenn Hoddle and you can see why.

Glenn was a sublime passer of the ball and Michael is in that category.

I hope he gets his chance because I know how much he's looking forward to this game.

England against Argentina has a special ring about it and I can remember watching on television nearly four years ago when we beat them with a penalty.

I would settle for the same sort of result in a couple of days' time.

Courtesy of RSR Ltd

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