That’s it the next time England get together their 23 man World Cup squad will have been announced. Gareth Southgate has opted to make his final squad early rather than naming a provisional squad and then whittling it down to a final 23. Southgate explained this was to make England’s training camp a performance camp […]
Month: March 2018
England 1-1 Italy: VAR penalty cancels out Vardy strike
After their impressive win over Holland on Friday there was always the danger that a much changed England team would deflate expectations with a poor performance, as happened 2 years ago when victory over Germany in Berlin was followed a few days later by a home loss to Holland. As it turned out this was […]
England v Italy preview
After beating Holland last Friday England continue their World Cup preparations with a date at Wembley against another fallen superpower of world football; Italy. Whereas Holland and in full rebuild mode under Ronald Koeman, Italy arrive at Wembley with much the same veteran squad that failed to qualify for the World Cup now under the […]
Holland 0-1 England: Lingard’s Dutch Delight
It’s fair to say an England friendly went well when the mood an hour after full-time was distinctly more positive than what we experienced in the build up. Pundits have lined up endlessly to point out this is the weakest England squad in living memory with Alan Smith even pointing out it felt like the […]
Holland v England preview
England are heading to Amsterdam for their first fixture of 2018. With the World Cup less than 100 days away the main object of the exercise is for players to cement their place in the World Cup squad and the 11 to play Tunisia in the World Cup opener. Who has the most to gain? […]
What represents a successful World Cup for England?
The press and public reaction to the latest England squad underlined what we already knew; expectations are at a low point for the England team heading into the World Cup. Of course the return to fitness of Harry Kane will make a big difference but just what do we realistically aim for this summer? How far can […]
England Squad Announcement: 10 takeaways
After a 4 month absence International football is back and places for the World Cup are up for grabs, here’s a breakdown of Gareth Southgate’s latest squad… The squad is taking shape. Southgate picked 27 and name checked the injured Harry Kane, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Phil Jones & Fabian Delph as players still in the frame […]
The Cut Candidates
With less than a 100 days to the World Cup which England regulars should be looking over their shoulder? Joe Hart (75 Caps) He hasn’t played a Premier League game since November and West Ham are out of the cup, so where does that leave Hart with England? Jordan Pickford made an impressive England debut […]
Curious cases of dual nationality
As Declan Rice ponders whether to commit his international future to England or the Republic of Ireland, here’s a look back at other cases of dual nationality and what those players decided to do. The Adopted Englishmen John Barnes English football’s most decorated adopted son was born in Jamaica and moved to England with his […]