Brede Hangeland believes team-mate Bobby Zamora deserves his place in the England squad, even though the Fulham striker drew a blank in front of Fabio Capello during the 3-1 defeat to Tottenham.
A couple of hours after yesterday's Craven Cottage match, Capello included Zamora in a 25‑man group for Saturday's friendly against Spain and the match with Sweden three days later.
Zamora has scored five times in 18 games this season and despite having just one cap, Hangeland believes his colleague is right for the international stage.
"The way Bobby played, he is definitely a very good player," he said. "If he is not worthy of a spot in the England squad, there must be some great strikers about."
At 30, Zamora is the oldest of the five forwards in the squad with the others being 27-year-old Darren Bent, Gabriel Agbonlahor, 25, Daniel Sturridge, 22, and Danny Welbeck, 20.
Wayne Rooney was also left out as Capello targets alternatives with the Manchester United striker currently banned for the entire group stage of Euro 2012 as the Football Association wait on an appeal hearing. The England boss is expected to include Sturridge and Welbeck as well as 19-year-old defender Phil Jones in an experimental line-up against Spain and wants his youngsters to relish the clash against the best side in the world.
"It will be difficult for us because Spain have improved a lot," said Capello. "They won Euro 2008, they won the World Cup and the confidence in their style and their players is really big. It is important for the players that will play on Saturday to know the value of the World Cup winners.
"Daniel has been selected, Welbeck too and Jones, who played really well against Montenegro. I want to see something different. It will be interesting to see these players play a really important game at a sold-out Wembley."
Despite the police investigation into allegations John Terry made a racist comment to Anton Ferdinand, the Chelsea defender is in the squad. However, Terry will not feature in Saturday's clash against the world champions.
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England squad to face Spain and Sweden: Joe Hart, Scott Carson, David Stockdale; Glen Johnson, Phil Jones, Gary Cahill, John Terry, Ashley Cole, Leighton Baines, Phil Jagielka, Joleon Lescott, Kyle Walker; Frank Lampard, Jack Rodwell, Stewart Downing, Gareth Barry, Adam Johnson, James Milner, Scott Parker, Theo Walcott; Darren Bent, Daniel Sturridge, Gabriel Agbonlahor, Bobby Zamora, Danny Welbeck.
