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Cole slams Crouch-haters

13/10/2005

England star Joe Cole has today defended Peter Crouch after the lanky striker was booed when he was brought on during the 2-1 defeat of Poland in the final group six World Cup qualifier.

The Liverpool forward replaced Cole's Chelsea team-mate Shaun Wright-Phillips in the 68th minute but his welcome was hardly a warm one and his every subsequent touch was jeered by the Old Trafford crowd.

But Cole, who was in impressive form on the left-hand side, described the fans who barracked Crouch as "ridiculous".

Speaking to BBC Radio Five Live, he said: "The booing of Peter was not good."

He added: "It was ridiculous, he is a great player, an important member of the squad and he is going to have some great moments in an England shirt."

Crouch has failed to find the net for either club or country this season yet has been consistently picked ahead of the likes of in-form Darren Bent of Charlton, who has scored seven goals already this season, by coach Sven-Goran Eriksson.

The prolific Spurs striker Jermain Defoe and Chelsea's Carlton Cole, who despite not playing regularly for the Blues, has continued to score and impress for England under-21s, have also both been kept out of the reckoning by the out-of-sorts Crouch.

But Eriksson has also vowed to stand by his striker selection.

"I do not know who was being booed, whether it was me or Crouch, but he is a good footballer," the Swede said.

"He had played only one and a half internationals before this game. He has something other players don't. It is very harsh to judge him now."

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