U21 captain and leader of the team that won the Dallas Cup, Jack Grimmer please log in to view this image has been called up to the Scotland U21 squad to play Holland on 5th September. Source: http://sport.stv.tv/football/237657-scotland-under-21s-hand-first-call-ups-to-danny-handling-and-jack-grimmer/ Still only 19, Jack has played at all youth levels for his country, but this is his first call-up for the U21s. Well done and well deserved,
And another youngster, Pat Roberts was on International duty for England U17s earlier today. Playing at Burton Albion’s Pirelli Stadium, Pat scored England’s only goal as they went down 3-1 to Portugal. Pat’s goal levelled the score just after half time and came from a quite exceptional run and left footed shot. please log in to view this image
He’s definitely capable rosc, and of course he now has a squad number. However, I think he’s being held back on purpose and I mean that in a positive sense. Although he’s only 19, this will be his second season captaining the U21s and, bearing in mind that the players in that squad are all themselves pretty young (and inexperienced), I reckon the Club want him to take the leadership role for a while yet. Also, remember the team that won the Dallas Cup were the U18 group except Jack who they brought in to captain and guide them through the tournament. Unlike others who tend to go out on loan to get the experience, I believe this is an excellent way for him not only to develop as a footballer but, through the extra responsibility, get added confidence. In two years time the Fulham centre backs will be Grimmer and Burn.
Here is a video clip of Pat's goal - [video=youtube;z0GKfFSiwRU]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0GKfFSiwRU&feature=player_detailpage[/video]
Nine of our young players have been included in International squads this week - Pajtim Kasami will play for Switzerland U21s as they take on Latvia in a European Championship Qualifying match on Thursday. Kasami has caught the eye of late by breaking into the First Team and scoring his first Fulham goal against Sunderland, but will have ambitions of helping his country this week as the Swiss begin their Qualifying campaign against a side who beat Liechtenstein 4-0 in their Group Five opener. Kerim Frei is in action as Turkey U21s take on Malta in Group Seven. The winger has been involved with the Turkish senior squad in recent months and didn’t feature as the U21s were beaten 3-1 by Poland in their opener so will hope to make a big impression to help his side’s chances of progression. Centre-back Jack Grimmer has been handed a call-up to the Scotland U21 squad when they face off against the Netherlands. The Scots beat Luxembourg 3-0 to start their campaign perfectly and sit in second position as they come up against the highly-rated Dutch in Group Three. Denmark’s U21s will be hopeful of a big win against Andorra at the Aalborg Stadium on Friday and have versatile midfielder Lasse Vigen Christensen in the squad. They began with a 1-0 win over Estonia in Group Two and will hope to close the gap and increase their goal difference at the top of the table. Goalkeeper Jesse Joronen could play as Finland U21s look to keep up their good form against Lithuania in another European Championship Qualifier. Finland won 5-1 against Wales but have drawn their other game to sit behind the night’s opposition, who have played a match more, in second place. In the same Group One, on-loan midfielder Josh Pritchard could be in action for Wales U21s on Friday as they play minnows San Marino. Pritchard was in goalscoring form for his club Tromso in the UEFA Europa League last week and will be looking to do the same to help Wales keep up the pressure on Finland and Lithuania. Dean O’Halloran and Noe Baba have been selected to represent the Republic of Ireland U19s for a double header of friendly fixtures against Slovenia. The Irish will play Slovenia on Tuesday 3rd and Thursday 5rd September after they lost narrowly to Norway in a similar double fixture, 2-1 and 1-0, a few weeks ago. Defender Cameron Burgess has been selected to represent Scotland U19s in their International Challenge match against Iceland at Forthbank Stadium in Stirling on Tuesday 3rd September.
Waiting on a definitive list from the Club about those in the main squad on International duty. However - Aaron Hughes is out of the NI team with a groin strain Fernando Amorebieta has been called up for the Venezuela squad and I believe will be travelling. I find this baffling and irritating. We have lost him for the whole of August with a 'knock' yet he is okay to now play in South America? Arguably he might get needed game time but I would have thought that the risk of further injury outweighed any advantages.
Seven of the main squad could be in international action this coming week, including the new signing and, as mentioned, Amorebieta. Dimitar Berbatov is also having an outing, in a Charity match on Sunday. Here is the full round-up from the Club: âNew signing Elsad Zverotić will play for Montenegro in 2014 FIFA World Cup Qualifying before he arrives in SW6 as his country travel to Warsaw to take on Poland in Group H. Montenegro are the surprise leaders of the group as they sit top on 14 points after their seven games, ahead of England (12) and Ukraine (11) who have both played one match less. However, they were held to a 2-2 draw by the Poles in their last Qualifying game with Zverotić playing all 90 minutes. With England and Moldova next on the agenda, a win in Warsaw would do our new boyâs hopes of heading to Brazil a world of good. Alexander Kačaniklić has returned from injury and could play for Sweden as they look to keep up the pressure on Germany for top spot in Group C. Austria, Sweden and the Republic of Ireland are all level on 11 points - five behind the leaders - as they battle for the second qualifying position. Unbeaten in four competitive games, Sweden face the Irish in a must-win tie in Dublin on Friday and our winger, who has become first choice for his country, will certainly be key to their hopes of success. Group E sees two Fulham defenders in action as Brede Hangelandâs Norway aim to close the gap on top side Switzerland, for whom Philippe Senderos will be in action. Norway sit six points off the top and are at home to Cyprus after a 2-0 defeat to Iceland dented their hopes of qualifying, while the Swiss host Israel in Berne and have yet to lose a game. With clean sheets a key component of a successful campaign, the two defenders will come head-to-head next week in a match that will be vital for both teamsâ hopes. Greece, sitting in second place, are four points ahead of Slovakia in Group G and three behind Bosnia-Herzegovina as they include Giorgos Karagounis in the squad to face Liechtenstein in Vaduz. The Greeks are unbeaten in three matches and play three of their last four games on home soil, with the trip to Liechtensten in their last away foray. Giorgos has been involved in four of the countryâs six games to date so will surely lend his experience to the first XI once more. Aaron Hughes was not passed fit to play for Northern Ireland in their game against Portugal in Group F. The Irish stunned Russia 1-0, but are eight points off top-of-the-table Portugal and will have to cope without our combative defender fit if they are to repeat it against Cristiano Ronaldo and company. In CONCACAF Qualifying, Bryan Ruiz faces one of the biggest matches in his international career for Costa Rica as they take on the United States in a top-of-the-table clash. Costa Rica have impressed in their Qualifying campaign and sit second, two points behind the US and with a chance to overhaul them and snatch top spot if they can pull off a win in San Jose. Only two points ahead of third-placed Mexico, Bryanâs side need to step up and take control of the group if they want to secure progress having won just one of their last four games. He has yet to make his competitive debut for the First Team but Fernando Amorebieta is travelling to help Venezuela lift themselves from sixth place in the CONMEBOL Qualifying group. A whopping 10 points off leaders Argentina and five away from fourth-placed Chile, their hopes of automatic progress may be slim but the all-important fifth position (and a spot in the Intercontinental Play-Off) sees them level with Uruguay on 16 points â although they have played one game more. The first chance to change that for the better comes on Friday as they take on Chile in Santiago, but they have won only one of their seven away fixtures in the group to date. He may have retired from international football with Bulgaria, but Berbatov will be back among the elite as he competes in a Legends Charity match for Stiliyan Petrov at Celtic Park on Sunday. Petrov, who is in remission from acute leukaemia, played for Celtic during his career and has called upon the likes of current players such as Berbatov, John Terry and Gabriel Agbonlahor, retired stars Jamie Redknapp, Roy Keane and Robert Pires, as well as a host of celebrities including One Direction singer Louis Tomlinson, comic John Bishop and former Westlife singer Nicky Byrne to help raise money for his cancer foundation.â
A good night for our young Internationals: Pajtim Kasami scored a penalty in Switzerland's 2-0 win over Latvia. Kerim Frei scored the third goal in Turkey's 4-0 win over Malta. [Both of those games were under 21 European Championship qualifiers.] Jesse Jorenen again captained Finland's U21s in their 1-0 win over Lithuania. Noe Baba started for Irish U19 team in their 2-0 victory over Slovenia. He was subbed by Dean O'Halloran after 74min. PS Jack Grimmer was an unused sub as Scotland U21s lost 4-0 to the Netherlands.
Nice info Cottager,dissapointed about Jack,but he was probably better off not playing with that mob. Any idea where Jesse is in the clubs pecking order,
He's been given a squad number rosc, so that's good news. With Bettinelli and Oberschmidt out on loan he's first choice U21, although they've been giving young Rodak the odd outing. I'm still not sure what the Club's strategy is on keepers. We've got 3 in the main squad, 3 at U21 level and 3 in the U18s.
One player who hasnât been called up by his country is Derek Boateng and I bet heâs not too happy about missing todayâs game after this recent outburst against the Chipolopolos: âGhana midfielder Derek Boateng wants the Black Stars to repay the Zambians back in their own coin ahead of the 2014 World Cup decider insisting they will not use violence but teach the Chipolopolo a football lesson on the pitch. The Black Stars were beaten 1-0 by the Chipolopolo under controversial circumstances in Ndola in June last year. Boateng, who currently plays for English side Fulham, was one of the players allegedly assaulted by Zambian police after the defeat. The Ghanaian players tried to rush onto the match officials moments after the game ended to protest against perceived bias from Tunisian referee Med Kordi and his two assistants. The 30-year-old alongside striker Benjamin Acheampong were physically manhandled by the Zambian police and the Ghanaian international wants the Ghana FA to pay them back in their own coin either by fair or foul means. âThey treated us badly when we went to Zambia. We must treat them the same way when they come to Ghana,â Boateng told Happy FM. âWeâll pay them back in their own coin. They way they treated us before and after the game, weâll treat them the same way. Not to be violent like they did to us but we will teach them a footballing lesson on the pitch.â âThis is one game that I would love to be part of. I am confident about the game. We are more than capable of beating them. But we must pay them back in Kumasi.â Source: http://www.ghanasoccernet.com/well-pay-zambia-back-in-their-own-coin-derek-boateng/ PS And I bet another player, Fernando Amorebieta, wished he hadnât been called up by his country: â20 out of 24 players on the Venezuela national team came down with explosive diarrhea.â
Here is tonight's round-up from the Club: Alexander Kačaniklić completed the match as Sweden came from behind to win 2-1 against the Republic of Ireland in Dublin in World Cup Qualifying Group C. Ireland took the lead through Robbie Keane but Sweden levelled through Johan Elmander before Anders Svensson grabbed a second-half winner. Sweden, who travel to Kazakhstan on Tuesday, are now second in the group on 14 points, with Germany top on 19. Elsehwhere, new Fulham signing Elsad Zverotic played the full 90 minutes as Montenegro drew 1-1 against Poland in Warsaw in Group H. Dejan Damjanovic put the visitors in front in the 12th minute but Poland were level shortly after through Robert Lewandowski. Despite the hard-earned draw, Montenegro slip down to second in the table behind England on goal difference after the Three Lions defeated Moldova 4-0. Roy Hodgson’s side have a game in hand and play Ukraine on Tuesday evening. In Group E, Brede Hangeland was named in Norway’s starting XI as his country defeated Cyprus 2-0, with Philippe Senderos an unused substitute as Switzerland drew 4-4 at home to Iceland. Norway sit second on 11 points, four behind leaders Switzerland. The two nations meet on Tuesday. In Group G, Giorgos Karagounis came on in the 67th minute as Greece won 1-0 against Liechtenstein in Vaduz. Greece are now level with leaders Bosnia in the table, but sit second by virtue of goal difference. The Greeks host Latvia on Tuesday
And two youngsters who didn't get a mention in the Club round-up - perhaps because neither actually got a game: Lasse Vigen Christensen was an unused substitute for Denmark's u21 side in their 6-0 win over Andorra. Josh Pritchard wasn't in the match squad as Wales u21s lost 1-0 to San Marino. [Oh dear, not a good night for Wales!]
Well done Bryan as he gets one over on a certain 'old' boy: Bryan Ruiz played a starring role as Costa Rica earned a huge 3-1 win over the United States in a World Cup Qualifier on yesterday. With Ruiz dictating the play in San Jose, the victory saw the Ticos surge ahead of the States to the top of CONCACAF Group Four and leaves them in pole position to book their spot at next yearâs World Cup in Brazil. Johnny Acosta opened the scoring early on, rising above DaMarcus Beasley to meet a corner and nod home. Celso Borges doubled the advantage in similar fashion shortly afterwards. The US pulled a goal back before the break when former Fulham player Clint Dempsey, making his 100th appearance for his country, scored from the spot. But Joel Campbell made sure of the win for Costa Rica with 15 minutes left. The Ticos are away to Jamaica on Tuesday. Bryab's new boots obviously worked wonders - please log in to view this image And, Fernando Amorebieta was an unused substitute as Venezuela lost 3-0 away to Chile in the CONMEBOL Qualifying Group. Sixth-placed Venezuela, who maintain slim hopes of securing fifth position and a spot in the Intercontinental Play-Off, host Peru on Tuesday. Perhaps he'll get an outing on Tuesday but that's an awful long way to got for not a lot of nothing.
The score ended 1-1 as England equalised in the second half with a goal from the West Brom wonderkid. Our other player captaining his side, Pajtim Kasami, scored his side's first goal as Switzerland U21 hit six in the second half to win 6-0 away to Liechtenstein.
Last night was not as good for Liam Donnelly as Northern Ireland slipped to a narrow 1-0 defeat in Belgium. And unfortunately he was dismissed for a second bookable offence, in the 92nd minute.
