Sean Kavanagh has been named in the Ireland U21 squad to play in their UEFA Championship Qualifying Round Group One fixture against Andorra on Thursday, 26 March. please log in to view this image Source: http://www.fai.ie/ireland/news/king-names-squad-for-uefa-u21-opener-in-waterford NB It’s International break time (again!) so doesn’t clash with any of our fixtures.
”Ross McCormack has been named in Scotland’s squad for their upcoming matches at Hampden Park. please log in to view this image They face fellow home nation Northern Ireland in an International Challenge Match on Wednesday 25th March, before hosting Gibraltar in a European Qualifier on Sunday 29th March. Gordon Strachan’s team currently sit third in Group D, and victory over bottom side Gibraltar would put them level on points with leaders Poland” Strange that he’s being selected now, when his form isn’t as good as it was when the previous round of Internationals was on. The ‘Naismith factor’ and Everton’s run of games in Europe?
Adam Taggart has been selected for the Oz U23s for their Olympic qualifying games, despite his “soft tissue issues” ! please log in to view this image ”Australian under-23 coach Aurelio Vidmar admits he’s sweating on the fitness of striker Adam Taggart as qualifiers for next year’s Rio Olympics begin later this month. Taggart was on Monday named in a 23-man squad for the AFC Under-23 Championships in Chinese Taipei, where the Aussies will face the hosts, Hong Kong and Myanmar in Group F. The Fulham striker has battled a groin problem since last year’s World Cup but returned to the Cottagers youth team last month and was among the goals. But Vidmar revealed the 21-year-old former Jets star is no certainty to be fit. “He’s [Taggart] got a couple of issues and we’ll have to wait and see how he pulls up,” Vidmar told reporters on Monday. “All reports are he’s okay but we’re mindful we may lose him at the end of the week. He’s had issues post World Cup and while he’s had some good games for four or five weeks [after his return] now he has some soft tissue issues. We’ll have to wait and see.” Source: http://www.socceroos.com.au/article...q2vhtp1zimv41v4xydxpsj3bo#qkB6tckumv0p8daL.99 [This link includes a video of Adam’s 16 goals last season down under.]
Jazz Richards has been called up fot Chris Coleman's Wales squad to face Israel in a Euro 2016 qualifier on 28 March. please log in to view this image Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/31935139 Wonder if Kit will be present in his assistant role; or staying back to get time in with our own players left back at Motspur Park?
Also in the Oz U23 Olympic squad are: Ryan Williams please log in to view this image and Cameron Burgess please log in to view this image Might be sweating a little over their ‘tissue issues‘ as well.
I am clearly in the wrong Cookie - "Marcus Bettinelli has been named in Gareth Southgate’s England Under-21 squad. The 22-year-old will join the group for the two friendlies against the Czech Republic in Prague on Friday 27th March and Germany in Middlesbrough on Monday 30th March. please log in to view this image It is the second England Under-21 call-up for Bettinelli, who was forced to withdraw from the setup in November last year through injury."
Here's the full list from the Club: Senior team Fernando Amorebieta – Venezuela (Friendlies) Nikolay Bodurov – Bulgaria (European Championship Qualifier) Gabor Kiraly – Hungary (European Championship Qualifier) Ross McCormack – Scotland (Friendly, and a European Championship Qualifier) Jazz Richards – Wales (European Championship Qualifier) Bryan Ruiz – Costa Rica (Friendlies) Under-23s Cameron Burgess – Australia (AFC Championship Qualifiers) Adam Taggart – Australia (AFC Championship Qualifiers) Ryan Williams – Australia (AFC Championship Qualifiers) Under-21s Marcus Bettinelli – England (Friendlies) Jordan Evans – Wales (UEFA Championship Qualifier) Sean Kavanagh – Republic of Ireland (UEFA Championship Qualifier) Under-20s Emerson Hyndman – United States (Friendlies) Under-19s Noe Baba – Republic of Ireland (UEFA Elite Round Qualifiers) Moussa Dembélé – France (UEFA Elite Round Qualifiers) Patrick Roberts – England (UEFA Elite Round Qualifiers) Marek Rodák – Slovakia (UEFA Elite Round Qualifiers) Under-17s Tayo Edun – England (UEFA Elite Round Qualifiers)
He's a lot more likely to get some game time this time around because the U21's regular goalkeeper Jack Butland has been called up to the senior squad to replace Fraser Forster.
On loan goalie Magnus Norman has been called up to the England U18 squad. please log in to view this image Don't know if this was an omission from the earlier list or a late call-up. England have two matches scheduled against Switzerland. Behind-closed-doors at St George’s Park on Thursday and at Walsall’s Bescot Stadium on Saturday. Magnus will be competing with West Ham United’s Sam Howes for game time across the two matches.
Other additions to the list are: Cauley Woodrow who has been called up to the England Under-21 squad for their matches against the Czech Republic and Germany. He’s been given the nod because of an injury to Saido Berahino. Kostas Stafylidis and out-on-loan Kostas Mitroglou who were named in Greece’s squad for their European Championship Qualifier against Hungary in Budapest. However, Mitroglou was a last minute absentee having sufferred a thigh injury in the Olympiakos 3-0 win over Kerkyra yesterday. Mitrog story: http://www.fifa.com/world-match-centre/news/newsid/257/784/4/index.html
Meanwhile - “Ross McCormack has withdrawn from the Scotland squad for the double-header against Northern Ireland and Gibraltar with a knee injury.” Full story: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/32012504
The first of the lads “on duty” got off to a good start: ”Tayo Edun played the full match as England Under-17s kicked off their European Championship Elite Qualifying Round with a 3-1 defeat of Norway on Saturday. please log in to view this image Sunderland’s Daniel Wright put the Young Lions ahead with just three minutes played, but Norway drew level at Burton Albion’s Pirelli Stadium just eight minutes later through Risa Birk. But two goals in six second half minutes from Stuttgart’s Danny Collinge and Leicester City’s Layton Ndukwu earned victory for the home side. “We were confident going into the game of getting the win – we had prepared very well for it over the week,” Edun told TheFA.com after the match. “We met up last Sunday to get that preparation right, working on how Norway would play, and we took that into the game and got off to a good start.” The left-back has kept his place in the England camp having impressed during his time in previous squads, and he admitted he’s delighted to be involved again. “Getting in the squad was a great feeling,” he admitted. “When it comes to the England squad, you sometimes wonder if you are good enough. But the fact that I’m here shows that the manager believes I’m good enough to be around these players, so I want to prove that.”
How the lads are getting on so far: ”Sean Kavanagh played the full 90 minutes as the Republic of Ireland Under-21s defeated Andorra 1-0 in Waterford on Thursday night. A goal from Dylan Connolly in the 31st minute helped Ireland get their UEFA Under-21 European Championship qualifying campaign off to a winning start in Group 2. In Caen, France, Patrick Roberts played for 87 minutes and claimed an assist as England Under-19s beat Denmark 3-2 in their opening UEFA elite qualifying Group 7 match. Sean O’Driscoll’s side fell behind twice, after goals from Marcus Ingvartsen and Robert Skov, but the Young Lions responded through captain Izzy Brown and Demarai Gray who flicked home Roberts’ free-kick as the sides went in level at half-time. A late wonder goal from Ashley Smith-Brown then put England in front before Jeppe Hansen and Harry Winks were dismissed late on – the latter for a second bookable offence. England’s second group match is against Azerbaijan on Saturday. In the same competition at the Carl-Benz-Stadion in Mannheim, Marek Rodák was named in goal as Slovakia’s Under-19s snatched a late 1-1 draw with Germany in Group 2. The Germans led 1-0 in the 19th minute through Max Christiansen but Slovakia grabbed an injury-time equaliser when Tomas Vestenicky found the net. Slovakia meet Czech Republic on Saturday. At Under-18 level, Magnus Norman made his England debut and kept a clean sheet as the Young Lions defeated Switzerland 1-0 at St George’s Park. Adam Armstrong scored the only goal of the game just after the break. The two sides meet again at Walsall’s Banks’s Stadium on Saturday. Tayo Edun played the whole game as England Under-17s finished off their European Championship qualification campaign with a 100 per cent record following a 2-1 win over 10-man Romania at the Pirelli Stadium, Burton. After firing his side into an early lead, Ike Ugbo popped up in the second half to snatch the winner after John Peacock's side had been pegged back. Istvan Kilyen Szabolcs was sent off just after the hour mark for Romania. The result means the Young Lions go into this summer’s tournament in Bulgaria on the back of six straight wins from qualifying. Finally at senior level, Bryan Ruiz played the first half of Costa Rica’s 0-0 friendly draw with Paraguay.”
Good start for Betts, although Cauley fluffed a few (the Club report doesn't mention the couple he hit high and wide) - ”Marcus Bettinelli kept a clean sheet on his England Under-21 debut, while Cauley Woodrow was also given a starting berth in the Three Lions’ 1-0 friendly win in the Czech Republic last night. The home side – who will be hosting this summer’s European Championships – began strongly and saw a decent chance pass by when Jaromir Zmrhal headed over Bettinelli’s goal, although England responded when Alex Pritchard found Woodrow, who turned and fired just off target. Watford’s Matej Vydra had an effort cleared off the line before half-time, but it was Gareth’s Southgate’s boys who made the breakthrough shortly after the restart when Calum Chambers’ cross wasn’t dealt with by Czech goalkeeper Jiri Pavlenka, and Tom Carroll was on hand to convert the loose ball. The goal boosted England and Will Hughes went close to a second, moments before Woodrow was one of three players substituted just after the hour mark as he made way for Burnley’s Danny Ings. Two of the substitutes Jesse Lingard and John Stones saw efforts kept out by Pavlenka, before the hosts put Bettinelli’s goal under threat with a barrage of corners in the closing stages, but the Fulham custodian’s clean sheet remained intact to cap a memorable night for the 22-year-old. Speaking to FATV after the match, Bettinelli said: “They sort of grew into the game so we had to deal with that. They’re a good side. We watched them in the week and did our analysis on them so we knew what they’re capable of. We had to ride out the storm that they were giving us, but we managed to get through that and then second half we took it up a level. We had words with ourselves in the changing room at half-time and said we need to take it up a notch to get a win, and luckily enough that’s what we did. I’m delighted with my debut. I waited a long time for it and my priority now is to carry on playing and try to get on that plane in the summer.”
Big weekend for the lads, and especially for ‘clean sheet’ Kiraly and ‘on target’ Taggart. Good also to see that an old friend is still more than capable of putting in International performances - ”There was nothing to separate Fulham teammates Gabor Kiraly and Kostas Stafylidis on Sunday as Hungary and Greece played out a goalless draw in their European Championship Qualifier in Group F. The visitors enjoyed the lion’s share of possession throughout the game but struggled to overly test Kiraly, while Hungary had chances of their own through Ádám Szalai, Balázs Dzsudzsák and Fulham favourite Zoltan Gera. The draw leaves the hosts sitting third in the standings, while Greece’s hopes of qualifying hang by a thread as they remain bottom with just two points won from five matches played at the halfway stage. Nevertheless, Stafylidis is not giving up until qualification is mathematically impossible, telling uefa.com: “We lost two points because we dominated and had control of the match – if we'd have scored, we'd have won. We knew what we had to do. We knew it was a do-or-die match which we had to win, but it's okay; we didn't lose and it was a huge improvement. There are still five matches left, so there are still chances.” In Group H on Saturday, Nikolay Bodurov’s Bulgaria were six minutes away from a famous win at home to Italy, but were forced to settle for a 2-2 draw. An own goal from Yordan Minev gave the Azzurri a perfect start, but the game was soon turned on its head when strikes from Ivelin Popov and Ilian Micanski made it 2-1 to Bulgaria with just 17 minutes on the clock. Popov almost grabbed another only to see his free-kick smash the bar, but the Italians dominated throughout the remainder of the game, and notched a deserved equaliser when Brazilian-born Eder came off the bench to net a debut goal in the 84th minute. Bulgaria sit fourth in the table with five points from as many games, six behind second-placed Italy. In Under-19 Elite Round qualifying on the same day, Patrick Roberts and Noe Baba had contrasting fortunes. Roberts played 67 minutes of England’s 1-0 win over Azerbaijan in France, with Ashley Smith-Brown of Manchester City hitting the game’s only goal. Victory for the Young Lions against the French on Tuesday will confirm their place at this summer’s Euro Finals in Greece. Unfortunately, Baba’s Republic of Ireland can now no longer make it to the tournament after they slipped to a 3-2 defeat by Germany. They needed to win to stand any chance of topping Group 2, and they looked on course to do just that after goals from Jack Hallahan and Joel Coustrain followed Nadiem Amiri’s opener to make it 2-1. But late strikes from German substitutes Lucas Cueto and Jonas Föhrenbach sent Ireland to the bottom of the standings with one game remaining. In Taiwan, Adam Taggart was on target as Australia Under-23s defeated Chinese Taipei 4-0 on Sunday in their AFC U23 Championship Qualifier, with Cameron Burgess and Ryan Williams also involved from the off. Josh Brillante put the finishing touch to a nice passing move to open the scoring, before Taggart doubled the advantage before half-time. Jaushua Sotirio and Brad Smith then netted after the break to sew up a comfortable win which followed up their 6-0 triumph over Hong Kong on Friday, in which Williams featured. A draw in their final match with Myanmar on Tuesday will secure top spot for the Olyroos and guarantee their attendance at next year’s tournament in Qatar. On Friday, out-on-loan Fernando Amorebieta played the full 90 minutes as Venezuela lost 2-1 to Jamaica in Montego Bay. Gabriel Cichero put the South Americans in front early on, but the Reggae Boyz hit back immediately with former Fulham loanee Giles Barnes’ debut goal. Darren Mattocks then scored the winner just before the hour mark.”
No game time for Marcus or Cauley - although both on the bench - as England U21 come back to beat Germany 3-2 last night. Match report: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/32057631
The ‘Ides of March’ it is, as French toast and bad tempers make it a washout for our U19 Internationals - ”Patrick Roberts scored but England Under-19s missed out on a place at the 2015 Euro Finals after a 2-1 loss to France in UEFA Elite Qualifying Group 7 yesterday. Sean O’Driscoll’s side had won both of their previous two Elite Round qualifiers, against Denmark and Azerbaijan, as had France, the host nation. But an inferior goal difference meant the Young Lions had to win in Saint-Lo to make to join hosts Greece in the summer tournament. However, they had it all to do after Sehrou Guirassy prodded Les Bleus into the lead on 31 minutes and Gnaly Cornet struck a second early in the second half. In swirling wind and rain, Roberts pulled one back late on with a calm finish from Ruben Loftus-Cheek’s pass, but requiring two more goals, England ran out of time. In Group 2, Marek Rodák and Slovakia Under-19s also missed out in heartbreaking fashion after a 2-2 draw with Noe Baba’s Republic of Ireland. Slovakia went into the game top of the group, knowing victory would secure qualification against an Ireland side whose own hopes had been ended with a 3-2 defeat to Germany at the weekend. Rodák, who had previously helped Slovakia to a 1-1 draw with Germany and a 3-0 win against the Czech Republic, saw his side take a 2-0 lead into the half-time break through goals from Denis Vavro and Lukas Cmelik. Rodák then made several fine saves after the restart to keep his side in front but Ireland were handed a way back into the game in the 77th minute when Baba was fouled in the box and Ryan Manning converted from the spot. Slovakia were reduced to 10 men when Laszlo Benes picked up a second booking and Andrej Kadlec followed him down the tunnel soon after for picking up another yellow card. Jakub Hromada was also shown a red card to leave the Slovaks with just eight players. Ireland had Kevin Toner dismissed but snatched an equaliser in injury time when Joel Coustrain popped up to score. In the other game, Germany thrashed the Czechs 6-0 to overtake Slovakia in the table and book their spot in Greece. Elsewhere, Australia won 5-1 against Myanmar in their AFC U23 Championship Qualifier to secure top spot in Group F. Ryan Williams, Cameron Burgess and Adam Taggart weren't named in the starting XI but will now be hoping to feature when the Olyroos face the likes of Japan, Korea Republic, Iraq and UAE in the AFC U23 Championships in Qatar in January 2016 - the final round of qualifying for the 2016 Olympic Games. In international friendly news, Bryan Ruiz played the full 90 minutes as Costa Rica lost 2-1 to Panama . las Perez and Luis Tejada put Panama into an early 2-0 lead with Alvaro Saborio pulling one back for Costa Rica in the 68th minute from the penalty spot. Out-on-loan Fernando Amorebieta completed the full match as Venezuela won 1-0 in Peru. . Josef Martinez scored the winner for Venezuela in the 61st minute.”
