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Rio Ferdinand faces a fight to book his Euro 2012 spot © Getty Images

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Following England's defeat to Netherlands at Wembley, a number of players looked to have all but secured their place in the Three Lions' squad for this summer's European Championship. Some have their work cut out to impress Stuart Pearce or his successor, while others harbour the faintest chance of sneaking into the squad.

We look at those players with an outside chance of a seat on the plane to Poland and Ukraine this summer.

Rio Ferdinand
With the likes of Gary Cahill, Phil Jones and Chris Smalling earmarked as the future of England's defensive backbone, former England captain Ferdinand's days appear to be numbered. No longer a regular in the Manchester United line-up, Ferdinand needs to make sure he stays fit and shows form - something that could prove key in United's title campaign. Even if Rio does manage to find some form and fitness, that is no guarantee of a place on the plane.

Theo Walcott
If Walcott makes the cut, it will be his first major tournament since 2006. A shock inclusion in Sven Goran Eriksson's World Cup squad, Walcott played a mascot's role in Germany, never making it off the bench despite being one of only two fully-fit strikers in the England squad. It was only after he made his senior debut that Walcott earned his first U21 cap, scoring on debut. After a hat-trick for the seniors against Croatia in September 2008, he was criticised for not having developed and not having a "football brain" and was left out of England's 2010 World Cup squad. Two goals against Tottenham in the North London derby will have done his chances of Euro 2012 call-up no harm, but he faces stiff competition from the likes of Ashley Young, Alex-Oxlade Chamberlain, Stewart Downing and Adam Johnson.

Andy Carroll
England's most expensive striker seems to have fizzled out as quickly as he burst onto the scene. Rated at around £4 million shortly after Newcastle's relegation in 2009, Carroll terrorised defences on the Magpies' return to the top flight, earned his first England cap and secured a mammoth £35 million move to Liverpool. Ironically, neither Carroll nor Fernando Torres, whose £50m sale to Chelsea paid for Carroll's switch to Anfield, have done much to warrant their enormous transfer fees. Just three league goals this season won't have done much to impress Pearce or any potential successor. Carroll needs to rediscover his goalscoring touch if he wants to be on the plane to Ukraine.

Joe Cole
The forgotten man of English football, Joe Cole has not played international football since the 2010 World Cup after an underwhelming first season at Liverpool. However, Cole has been playing some eye-catching football in France, where he is on a season-long loan at Ligue 1 side Lille. Cole has already got one eye on a place in Pearce's Great Britain team at London 2012 (Pearce has already said no player involved in Euro 2012 will be selected for Team GB), but could Pearce hand Cole another chance to shine for England?

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
He came to Arsenal with the hype, and for a time it looked like he was destined to be another Gunners youngster not quite good enough to make the cut. After a slow start to life at Emirates Stadium, Oxlade-Chamberlain has proved to be one of the shining lights of Arsenal's season - showcasing a fearless combination of pace and power. He was not named in the squad to face Netherlands, but if he can continue his current run of form to the end of the season, the son of former England international Mark Chamberlain could barge his way into the reckoning.

Peter Crouch has an impressive goalscoring record for England © Getty Images

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Peter Crouch
Crouch had admitted he carried little hopes of receiving another call-up under Fabio Capello, but following the Italian's resignation the 31-year-old has got his eye on a place at Euro 2012. And with Wayne Rooney suspended for England's group matches and Darren Bent ruled out for three months, Crouch's odds must have shortened. He may not be the most prolific striker in the Premier League, but his England record is not too shabby - 22 goals in 42 caps - more than a goal every two games is not to be laughed at.

Frank Lampard
If his Chelsea form is anything to go by, then Stuart Pearce or whoever would do well to keep him out of the squad for all the pre-tournament friendlies before naming him against France on June 11. Lampard spent more time that he would have liked on the bench this season Stamford Bridge, but every time he gets dropped he seems to score on his return to the starting XI. After being left on the bench for Chelsea's goalless draw with Fulham back in September, Lampard netted a hat-trick in his next Premier League start. His experience and pedigree is undoubted, but will the new boss opt for youth over experience?

Jermain Defoe
The last man to score a hat-trick for the Three Lions, Defoe has found himself overlooked in recent months. Left out of the England friendlies against Spain and Sweden back in November, the Tottenham striker was neglected for the Netherlands clash at Wembley. Struggling for regular football behind the likes of Rafael van der Vaart and Emmanuel Adebayor at White Hart Lane, Defoe needs game time at Spurs if he is to book his place in England's Euro 2012 squad.

Jack Rodwell
Rodwell enjoyed a dream England debut as the Three Lions beat world champions Spain at Wembley. Coming off the bench and holding his own against the likes of Andres Iniesta and Xavi, the Everton midfielder showed he has what it takes to become the long-term successor to the likes of Lampard and Steven Gerrard. However, after three months on the sidelines with a hamstring injury, Rodwell now faces a race against time to impress the selectors.

David Stockdale
Called up to the England squad for the first time in February 2011 after impressing Capello as stand-in in for Mark Schwarzer at Fulham, Stockdale is yet to earn his first cap. Despite having shipped 13 goals in his previous three games at Ipswich, Stockdale was on the bench for England's friendly against Bulgaria in September. He was in the squad for the Sweden and Spain friendlies, but Pearce opted to recall West Ham's Robert Green against the Dutch. Having not yet kept a clean sheet in the Premier League in 2012, Stockdale has a lot to do if he is to prove his worth.

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