I'm pretty sure I don't remember The FA coming clean and admitting they were only to eager to exploit the clubs they're supposed to be protecting for nothing more than a couple of votes in a manner usually reserved for the world's oldest profession.
Portugal's ridiculous luck from the Euro's continues. How have Chile not won this? Fortunately, justice is forthcoming in the penalty shootout. Portugal miss 3 out of 3 and Ronaldo's photo shoot, as he scores the final winning penalty, is postponed.
I'm not claiming the FA are innocent. Far from it, far from innocent and rather arrogant about it. All I'm saying is that the main reason we can't criticise the Russian and Qatar bids more is that the evidence hasn't been provided / been discovered or has been destroyed. I guess it's a matter of relative guilt where nobody comes out well, but it seems the worse culprits have effectively gotten away with it because they still have the world cup (and in Qatar's case a completely different world cup than the one they "bid" for!)
How can you say that if there is no evidence to support your view of who the "worst culprits" could be?
You don't find it strange that Russian bid papers were stored on one machine and that machine has been destroyed. For a high profile national bid like that. Utterly ludicrous assertion. Tells me they had plenty to hide.
Given the game of musical chairs that is the RFS presidence, with seven changes in the past eight years between just four people, it wouldn't surprise me if their bid data was on just one bloke's computer - because they got replaced before they printed it off, and their replacement got replaced, but then the person who replaced the first guy got the job again, only to be replaced...
England U19s beat Bulgaria 2-0 in their opening game of the U19 Euros in Tblisi, Georgia. Early goals in each half by Mason Mount of Chelsea and Fulham's Ryan Sessegnon were enough to take the points. Marcus Edwards played 83 minutes, while Andre Dozzell, son of Jason, completed the 90. The second match of the group will see them face the Netherlands on Thursday. They recently kicked off against Germany, who complete the group.
England U19s make it two wins from two games, as they beat the Netherlands 1-0 with a late goal: Marcus Edwards causing chaos in the box. Germany left to go in the group.
I object to the use of the word "break" in the title of this thread. Tell me when there was a break in the football season???
Well if you are posting this in a few years, in 2022 there's a break. Because we're now getting a completely different WC from the one "voted for" which will require a mid season break and probably lead to no time between seasons over the summer!
For reasons that I can't understand the U19 Euro's is getting very little coverage. Yesterday, we walloped the Germans 4-1 to confirm our place in the semi-finals. We have won all three group fixtures. Unfortunately, Marcus Edwards didn't get off the bench and Ryan Sessegnon upped his transfer value by scoring a couple. So did Ben Brereton of Nottingham Forest who I've heard we are following quite intently (along with quite a few others). Still, come on Her Maj's BBC! There's actual competitive football to be reported on, which I find more interesting and appropriate on the Sports website than stories regarding Rooney's choice of night time attire.
Here's the goals: Chelsea's Mason Mount looks like he can easily make the step up. Will probably do a good job for Vitesse next season before a loan in the Prem, then getting sold to Bournemouth.
0 - 0 with 20 mins to go in the UEFA U19's - send for Marcus Edwards. Go on son! In the dying embers of added time young Marcus Edwards receives the ball, Goes on a jinking run and cuts it back for England to win with a back heeled finish. Beautiful football!