World cup preview group c
Group C
England
Come on In-ger-land! Yes this year I am actually excited at the prospects of England actually being able to beat any team in world cup, even the Brazilians, Argentinians or Spanish (not on penalties of course)
England have by far the best defence in the tournament, the midfield actually scares teams with the likes of Gerrard, Lampard and Milnar all fighting for midfield spots. We have good quick players on the wings and with Rooney upfront we have a genuine world class forward. Whether we can keep clean sheets is probably the worry or lack of specialist right back, back in Fabio we have the manager for the big time.
Key Player – Wayne Rooney, he is the key for success
Prediction – 1st, maybe America might gives us a sock first game but we will feel confident until semi’s
USA
This is the best America side I have probably seen. They have the experience, the international class players and have a real team spirit. I think many England fans have overlooked the American side for the first game. They ran through Spain at the confeds cup and won’t care who they upset. Also don’t forget the quality they have Oguchi Onyewu, Michael Bradley, Jozy Altidore, Tim Howard, UEFA finalist Clint Dempsey and ask Everton fans what they thought of Landon Donovan. Many good players and very good attacking.
Key Player – Tim Howard, I think he might have to make some vital saves to secure qualifying
Prediction – 2nd
Algeria
Its 24 years since their last appearance at the world cup, coach Rabah Saadane looks to be slowly building a good base of players Madjid Bougherra, Nadir Belhadj, captain Yazid Mansouri, Karim Ziani and Mourad Meghni have all made big leaps in recent years. They aren’t a bad side at all and will push teams further than expected by many.
Key Player – Madjid Bougherra, will have to be the defender supreme and stop teams exposing them at the back. Look out for captain Mansouri and Meghni who is likened to Zidane who was born in Algeria.
Prediction – 3rd/4th, its a straight fight with Slovenia.
Slovenia
Another little known side who have done extremely well under coach Matjaz Kek. Slovenia have good players such as Cologne striker Milivoje Novakovic, keeper Samir Handanovic and captain and midfield creator Robert Koren, West Brom midfielder will probably fancy his chances against the Algerians but will be wary of a hiding from England and won’t fancy playing the Americans.
Key Player – Milivoje Novakovic, goals will be hard to come by in world cup finals and he must score.
Prediction – 4th if they don’t get off to a flyer.
Danny Denhard
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England Provisional 30 man squad for world cup 2010
Goalkeepers
Joe Hart, David James, Robert Green,
Defenders
Leighton Baines, Jamie Carragher, Ashley Cole, Michael Dawson, Rio Ferdinand, Glen Johnson, Ledley King, John Terry, Matthew Upson, Stephen Warnock,
Midfielders
Gareth Barry, Michael Carrick, Joe Cole, Steven Gerrard, Tom Huddlestone, Adam Johnson, Frank Lampard, Aaron Lennon, James Milner, Scott Parker,
Attackers
Theo Walcott, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Darren Bent, Peter Crouch, Jermain Defoe, Emile Heskey, Wayne Rooney
The squad will be cut to 23 on June 1st after the two England friendlies, Mexico on May 24th and Japan May 30th.
England group games are –
Saturday 12 June,
7.30pm
England v USA (ITV1)
Friday 18 June,
7.30pm
England v Algeria (ITV1)
Wednesday 23 June,
3pm
Slovenia v England (BBC One)
The full world cup televised fixtures are available here
Danny Denhard
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Seeded nations for football World Cup 2010
Next years world cup is coming around quickly and seeds have just been announced –
Brazil
Spain
Holland
Italy
Germany
Argentina
England
South Africa
What this means is England and co will miss other big teams in the draw, however could still face teams such as Portugal, France and Ivory Coast.
World cup draw is on Friday, to see all the teams check out my world cup qualifiers post here
Danny Denhard
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England’s forgotten men?
Here is an article I wrote for a great website www.news4football.co.uk it is a dedicated site for the best football news for all 92 professional clubs in England, top news from Scotland and includes regular updates for the MLS, Italy and Spain. It also has a great section on all live games on tv which can be found at www.news4football.co.uk/
England’s forgotten men?
After the 5-1 battering of closest rivals Croatia last night, thought it only right to assess the players which are out of the England frame currently.
Goalkeepers -
David James, the ageing former number 1 appears to be falling down the pecking order, with ok performances from West Hams Rob Green and number 2 jersey going to current Manchester United’s Ben Foster, David James must want to get back from injury as soon as possible. It is without doubt James has improved in his later years and could if form allows it squeeze his into the three keepers going to South Africa. Capello has used 8 keepers in his time as England boss.
Other keepers to keep an eye on are,
Chris Kirkland of Wigan, has always been highly regarded and has settled in at Wigan. His injury record has always been his downfail, the tall keeper looks like he hasn’t had a real opportunity, Capello is a firm believer in disruption, which maybe his ultimate let down.
Joe Hart on loan at Birmingham, the Man City number 2 has gone out on loan as Shay Given has come in, Joe Hart looks to be fighting for the 3rd spot in the squad. Joe Hart is a lucky keeper and as so young he has a real long term chance to be England keeper of the future, he will need to play out of his skin week in week out to creep into the world cup squad but has the skills to get into the squad.
A real outside chance Scot Carson of West Brom, although playing in the second tier in English football it wouldn’t be the biggest surprise thing to happen in world cup squad’s. He is one of those keepers who seems to have a bad day regularly, playing at a team at West Brom who did concede a few goals couldn’t have helped last season. His clangers seem to have stuck with him. If in January a bigger team snaps him up and a few injuries he could sneak his way in.
Defenders -
Micah Richards, the Manchester City full back come centre back had a great run in the team and appeared to control the right back birth until the management change. Although Glenn Johnson has made the right back position his under Capello don’t be fooled to think Richards is out of the picture.
Ledley King, the defensive general from North London has not been called up since the well documented argument between the FA and spurs. Capello clearly likes Ledley and his record speaks for himself. If it was not for the constant knee injury he definitely would be challenging John Terry, Rio Ferdinand and Matt Upson.
There are two other noticeable absentees are Everton duo Phil Jagielka and Leighton Baines. Phil Jagielka played one game at centre back and looked a little shaky, Capello however looked keen to keep the versitle defender in the squad, his injury at the end of last season didn’t help but a good winter could see Jagielka come into the 23 man squad due in South Africa.
Team mate Leighton Baines has now cemented his place at left back for the toffee’s. Baines is the natural replacement for Ashley Cole in my opinion, great left food, good defender and can whip great crosses and free kicks in. His deadball skills have been a good outlet for Everton and has scored some screamers. I think he should replace Wayne Bridge on the subs bench.
Midfielders -
Owen Hargreaves, another injury stricken player who hasn’t featured for over year, his talented was shown for all to see in the world cup and would be pushing Gareth Barry and in my honest opinion would be starting in the engine room. His ability on the ball, tackling and breaking up the game is much needed and not to mention his dead ball accuracy and his willingness to adapt in any role.
Joe Cole, the Chelsea wide player always seems to be injured until a big championship year, was one of the best performers in an England kit and at the last few tournaments he has been up there with the best players. He will first have to get back into the Chelsea team then dislodge Liverpool captain and double scorer Steven Gerrard to regain that old problematic wide left birth.
Other players to watch out for -
Stuart Downing of Villa, currently injured but looked like a real Capello type of player, it could be hard for him to dislodge Milnar and/or Young in the Villa team but a centre role is spoken about. As one of the only natural left sided players he is an outlet that we would look at taking. Whether he has done enough in an England shirt for Capello is another matter.
Next player who has flirted with the fringes of the squad is Franco Zola’s favourite engine Scott Parker, having being capped and being the enforcer in the middle for West Ham. The pedigree of Scott Parker is for all to see and in my opinion is wasted in that holding role at West Ham, he is more suited in that box to box role. Capello seems to have his midfield set, but the subs bench rotates could be a late additional into the full world cup squad if in form for the hammers.
Lastly comes the forward Theo Walcott, currently injured, Fabio Capello has seen what many others have in the right sided forward, he played a number of games for Mr Capello and still features for the under 21’s. With Aaron Lennon playing so well recently, it could be hard for Walcott to compete with the right wing/attacker role but if given the opportunity after injury I can see Walcott come in as an attacker.
Forwards
There are two strikers who haven’t been included for very different reasons, one who’s talents haven’t had the opportunity to shine for England through injury is Dean Ashton and the other is Michael Owen who has the second best strike rate for all strikers who could be considered for England.
Dean Ashton who’s premier league career has been short enough is currently injured, he is that one player which England need. He is good with his back to goal and scorer good goals with both feet and his head. There were a number of clubs interested when he signed for West Ham a few seasons ago. This international career has been hampered by getting injured while being away with the national team, he has made his international debut after two years from the first call up against Trinidad & Tobago. I hope for both England and Ashton he can regain fitness and make a late run for a squad place.
Michael Owen now at Manchester United may have settled for being overlooked by the England management has had a slowish start to his Man U career. Owen who is known for injury affected seasons should in my opinion be given a t chance at international level, the partnership he had with Owen was unbelievable and his experience with other England players over his long successful career must count for something. He is the best finisher in English football and always finds himself in the right place. One thing that will go against him is his injury record and not playing regularly for the red devils. The Liverpool born striker will look to push his way into the Man Utd’s first then push for a place in the England squad. I think he could do it and with a large amount of England goals and caps to his name he could take inspiration from the likes of David Beckham that the door isn’t always closed.
Danny Denhard
Twenty20 world cup fixtures 2009
Warm up matches
Monday, June 1st 2009
Ireland v Netherlands
13.30Lords
Australia v Bangladesh
13.30Trent Bridge
New Zealand v India
17:30Lords
Pakistan v South Africa
17:30Trent Bridge
Tuesday, June 2nd 2009
Ireland v West Indies
13.30The Brit Oval
Australia v New Zealand
17:30The Brit Oval
England v Scotland
17:30Lords
Wednesday, June 3rd 2009
Sri Lanka v South Africa
13.30Lords
Netherlands v Scotland
13.30The Brit Oval
England v West Indies
17:30Lords
India v Pakistan
17:30The Brit Oval
Thursday, June 4th 2009
Bangladesh v Sri Lanka
17:30World cup fixtures -
Trent Bridge
Friday, June 5th 2009
England v Netherlands
17:30Lords
Saturday, June 6th 2009
Australia v West Indies
10.00The Brit Oval
New Zealand v Scotland
13.30The Brit Oval
India v Bangladesh
17:30Trent Bridge
Sunday, June 7th 2009
South Africa v Scotland
13.30The Brit Oval
England vs Pakistan
17:30The Brit Oval
Monday, June 8th 2009
Ireland vs Bangladesh
13.30Trent Bridge
Australia vs Sri Lanka
17:30Trent Bridge
Tuesday, June 9th 2009
Pakistan vs Netherlands
13.30Lords
New Zealand vs South Africa
17:30Lords
Wednesday, June 10th 2009
Sri Lanka vs West Indies
13.30Trent Bridge
India vs Ireland
17:30Trent Bridge
Thursday, June 11th 2009
TBA vs TBA
13.30Trent Bridge
TBA vs TBA
17:30Trent Bridge
Friday, June 12th 2009
TBA vs TBA
13.30Lords
TBA vs TBA
17:30Lords
Saturday, June 13th 2009
TBA vs TBA
13.30The Brit Oval
TBA vs TBA
17:30The Brit Oval
Sunday, June 14th 2009
TBA vs TBA
13.30Lords
TBA vs TBA
17:30Lords
Monday, June 15th 2009
TBA vs TBA13.30
The Brit Oval
TBA vs TBA
17:30The Brit Oval
Tuesday, June 16th 2009
TBA vs TBA
13.30Trent Bridge
TBA vs TBA
17:30Trent Bridge
Thursday, June 18th 2009
TBA vs TBA
17:30Trent Bridge
Friday, June 19th 2009
TBA vs TBA
17:30The Brit Oval
Sunday, June 21st 2009
TBA vs TBA
15:00Lords
Danny Denhard
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Englands twenty 20 – T20 30 man squad
England name their 30 man squad for the upcoming Twenty 20 world cup cricket.
England captain Andrew Straus is left out.
Kabir Ali – Worcestershire
James Anderson – Lancashire
Gareth Batty – Worcestershire
Ian Bell – Warwickshire
Ravi Bopara – Essex
Tim Bresnan – Yorkshire
Stuart Broad – Nottinghamshire
Paul Collingwood – Durham
Steve Davies – Worcestershire
Joe Denly – Kent
James Foster – Essex
Andrew Flintoff – Lancashire
Steve Harmison – Durham
Robert Key – Kent
Sajid Mahmood – Lancashire
Dimitri Mascarenhas – Hampshire
Eoin Morgan – Middlesex
Graham Napier – Essex
Samit Patel – Nottinghamshire
Kevin Pietersen – Hampshire
Liam Plunkett – Durham
Matt Prior – Sussex
Adil Rashid – Yorkshire
Owais Shah – Middlesex
Ryan Sidebottom – Nottinghamshire
Graeme Swann – Nottinghamshire
Chris Tremlett – Hampshire
Shaun Udal – Middlesex
Chris Woakes – Warwickshire
Luke Wright – SussexIts good to see the big names picked, including real twenty20 specialists such as Dimitri Mascarenhas and Graham Napier.
The question is who will be captain, KP or Freddie Flintoff maybe? Robert Key could be a good choice as he has let Kent to many finals day and is definitely one of the best captains and batsman in English cricket.
Strange to see Eoin Morgan picked as he has played for Ireland and another strange pick to some will be Steve Harmison who is known for taking a real battering in domestic twenty20.
Let me know what you think.Danny Denhard
Betalabs
Crouch does Smithy proud on England celebration
Check out Crouch doing ask told by Smithy in the England win over the Ukraine
Check out the original comic relief Smithy post – link
Danny Denhard
Betalabs
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