Monday 4 June 2012

Euro 2012 Groups

Group A                                Group B
Poland                                    Holland
Greece                                    Denmark
Russia                                    Germany
Czech Republic                      Portugal

Group C                                Group D
Spain                                      Ukraine
Italy                                        France
Ireland                                    England
Croatia                                   Sweeden


Friday 1 June 2012

All 23 of Hodgson's England players train at Wembley

Roy Hodgson finally had some much-needed good news on Friday morning when all 23 members of his reshaped England squad for Euro 2012 were able to begin training at Wembley.

Hodgson has lost Frank Lampard and Gareth Barry from his plans for Poland and Ukraine this week, while there are serious doubts over the form of another central midfielder, Scott Parker.
However, ahead of Saturday's final friendly with Belgium, two other doubts, Glen Johnson (toe) and Danny Welbeck (ankle), were at least able to start training, although Hodgson had previously expressed doubts either man would be fit for his first game at Wembley.

There was a minor scare, when Arsenal's Theo Walcott stopped during the session to have some strapping applied to both feet.
He was eventually able to continue though and will come into contention for the Belgium game.

Thursday 31 May 2012

Clichy form pleases Blanc

The full-back enjoyed a productive debut season at Manchester City in 2011/12, as he got his hands on the Premier League title.He made 35 starts for the Blues in all competitions, with a regular run in a successful side bringing out the best in him.
France are hoping that they will benefit from his form and confidence this summer, as they go in search of European Championship glory.
Clichy will be competing with Manchester United's Patrice Evra for a starting berth, but Blanc's comments will offer him hope in his efforts to edge out his Premier League rival.
"Gael Clichy has shown amazing form," said Blanc.
"He has played very well and, having won the Premier League with Manchester City, he is in a very positive frame of mind."

Today international

USA vs BRAZIL  1 -- 4

Scores USA Gomes

Scores BRAZIL Pato Neymar Marcelo Silva

Blanc stands by Gourcuff axe

Laurent Blanc denies he has taken a gamble by omitting Lyon midfielder Yoann Gourcuff from France's squad for Euro 2012.

Les Bleus' head coach drafted his former Bordeaux protege into his provisional 26-man squad but left him out along with Montpellier defender Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa when he selected his final party of 23. Marseille forward Loic Remy had already been ruled out by injury.
The decision on Gourcuff was a particular surprise to observers craving his creativity but Blanc blamed the injury problems which restricted the 25-year-old to only 13 Ligue 1 appearances, and 10 starts, in the season just finished.
The coach declined to say whether a good performance in the friendly against Iceland, which France won 3-2 with two of their goals coming after Gourcuff's 75th-minute withdrawal, would have changed things.

Wednesday 30 May 2012

Friendly Internationals 30-5-12

Spain 4 - 1   Torres, Cazorla, Negredo, Alonso (pen) -- Kim

Sweden 3 -2 Iceland 

Switzerland 0 - 1 Romania

Holland 2 - 0 Slovakia

Thats a good Result For Spain and Holland,
Thats Iceland Second defeat in two games with a second 3-2 loss

Tuesday 29 May 2012

France 23-man squad: Euro 2012

France 23-man squad:
Carrasso (Bordeaux), Lloris (Lyon), Mandanda (Marseille); Clichy (Man City), Debuchy (Lille), Evra (Man Utd), Koscielny (Arsenal), Mexes (AC Milan), Rami (Valencia), Reveillere (Lyon); Cabaye (Newcastle), Diarra (Marseille), Malouda (Chelsea), Martin (Sochaux), Matuidi (Paris St Germain), M'vila (Rennes), Nasri (Man City); Ben Arfa (Newcastle), Benzema (Real Madrid), Giroud (Montpellier), Menez (Paris St Germain), Ribery (Bayern Munich), Valbuena (Marseille).

Good Squad of Players there, They will Have a good Euro's

Czech Team for Euro 2012

We Understand that

Goalkeepers: Petr Cech (Chelsea), Jaroslav Drobny (Hamburg), Jan Lastuvka (Dnipro).

Defenders: Theodor Gebre Selassie (Slovan Liberec), Roman Hubnik (Hertha Berlin), Michal Kadlec (Bayer Leverkusen), David Limbersky (Viktoria Plzen), Tomas Sivok (Besiktas), Marek Suchy (Spartak Moscow).

Midfielders: Vladimir Darida (Viktoria Plzen), Tomas Hubschman (Shakhtar Donetsk), Petr Jiracek (Wolfsburg), Daniel Kolar (Viktoria Plzen), Milan Petrzela (Viktoria Plzen), Vaclav Pilar (Wolfsburg), Jaroslav Plasil (Bordeaux), Frantisek Rajtoral (Viktoria Plzeo), Tomas Rosicky (Arsenal).

Forwards: Milan Baros (Galatasaray), David Lafata (FK Jablonec), Tomas Necid (CSKA Moscow), Tomas Pekhart (Nurnberg), Jan Rezek (Anorthosis Famagusta).

They are two Englsh Premier Laegue Players in the Czech Team

England Team For Euro2012


England's squad list and numbers for Euro 2012:

1 Hart, 2 Johnson, 3 Cole, 4 Gerrard, 5 Cahill, 6 Terry, 7 Walcott, 8 Lampard, 9 Carroll, 10 Rooney, 11 Young, 12 Baines, 13 Green, 14 Jones, 15 Lescott, 16 Milner, 17 Parker, 18 Jagielka, 19 Downing, 20 Oxlade-Chamberlain, 21 Defoe, 22 Welbeck, 23 Butland.

Monday 28 May 2012

Ireland 2012 Chances

Where do ye think Ireland will finish in Euro 2012?

I think they will get to the Semi-Final.

Italy's 25-man squad: for Euro2012

Italy's 25-man squad: for Euro2012

Goalkeepers: Buffon (Juventus), Sirigu (Paris Saint-Germain), De Sanctis (Napoli).

Defenders: Maggio (Napoli), Abate (AC Milan), Balzaretti (Palermo), Bonucci (Juventus), Barzagli (Juventus), Chiellini (Juventus), Ranocchia (Inter Milan), Ogbonna (Torino).

Midfielders: Pirlo (Juventus), Marchisio (Juventus), Giaccherini (Juventus), De Rossi (Roma), Motta (Paris Saint-Germain), Nocerino (AC Milan), Montolivo (Fiorentina), Diamanti (Bologna).

Strikers: Cassano (AC Milan), Balotelli (Manchester City), Giovinco (Parma), Di Natale (Udinese), Destro (Siena), Borini (Roma).

Criscito out of Euro 2012

Italian Football Federation (FIGC) vice-president Demetrio Albertini announced on Monday afternoon that the Zenit St Petersburg player will not be included in the travelling party.
Criscito was questioned by police on Monday morning at Italy's training headquarters in Coverciano, Florence, as part of an investigation carried out by Cremona prosecutors regarding a match-fixing probe.
"Criscito will not be with us at the European Championship," Albertini said in a press conference.
"He is in a hurry to end this current situation and that is his aim.
"He is disappointed to have caused this situation although he reiterates he has nothing to do with it."
Criscito, a former Genoa player, had been expected to be in Cesare Prandelli's 23-man squad for the tournament in Poland and Ukraine

Selfless goalkeeper wants injured rival to make quick recovery

Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Keiren Westwood is desperate for Shay Given to regain full fitness - even though it would scupper his own Euro 2012 chances.

Sunderland shot-stopper Westwood earned his ninth Republic cap when he started Saturday's 1-0 victory against Bosnia-Herzegovina at Dublin's Aviva Stadium.
The 27-year-old was handed a rare opportunity by Giovanni Trapattoni as regular No.1 Given continues to recover from a knee injury.
Aston Villa's Given is set to resume training this week and Trapattoni expects the 36-year-old to line up between the sticks for Ireland's final warm-up game against Hungary next Monday.

Benzema backs fired-up France

France striker Karim Benzema says Les Bleus have a 'big desire' to succeed at Euro 2012 this summer and feels team-mates Jeremy Menez and Hatem Ben Arfa could be key.

The Real Madrid frontman started for France as they came from two goals down to beat Iceland 3-2 in a friendly on Sunday night and is expected to lead the line in Poland and Ukraine.
Les Bleus will play two more friendlies, against Serbia and Estonia, before their Euro Group D campaign kicks off against England on June 11th.

Hodgson to play two strikers and build a team around Rooney

England manager Roy Hodgson claims he will favour a two-pronged attack at this summer's European Championship.
The Three Lions will be without talismanic frontman Wayne Rooney for their first two fixtures at Euro 2012, with the Manchester United forward due to serve a suspension.
Rooney remains a big part of Hodgson's plans, though, and will be a pivotal figure heading forward.
England's new boss, who began his reign with a 1-0 victory over Norway on Saturday, believes it is important that the Three Lions make the most of Rooney's talents.
That means playing him down the middle, in his favoured role, with a strike partner alongside him to help carry the attacking load.

Sunday 27 May 2012

Friendly Matches 27-5-12

USA VS SCOTLAND
Full-Time 5-1

HONDURAS VS NEW ZEALAND
Full-Time 0-1

ALBANIA VS IRAN
Full-Time 1-0

 FRANCE VS ICELAND
 Full-Time 3-2

MEXICO VS WALES
Full-Time 2-0

McShane sits out training

Paul McShane was forced to sit out of the Republic of Ireland's first training session at their pre-Euro 2012 base in Italy because of an injury.

Hope its not serious cos he is a good player to have in the squad, Hope Given Will be fit to play in the games too,

Spain Squad for Euro 2012

Spain Squad for Euro 2012

Casillas (Real Madrid), Valdes (Barcelona), Reina (Liverpool); Alba (Valencia), Albiol, Arbeloa, Ramos (all Real Madrid), Juanfran (Atletico Madrid), Pique (Barcelona), Martinez (Athletic Bilbao); Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Busquets, Fabregas (all Barcelona), Alonso (Real Madrid), Silva (Manchester City), Cazorla (Villarreal), Navas (Sevilla), Mata (Chelsea); Llorente (Athletic Bilbao), Torres (Chelsea), Negredo (Sevilla), Pedro (Barcelona).

@itvfootball

Saturday 26 May 2012

ireland v bosina

What a great game 1-0 to ireland,
Shane Long got the goal from a header at the back post,
the cross come in for the right from Aiden McGeady

Thursday 24 May 2012

Given 'fine for Euros'

Shay Given is to travel to London on Thursday regarding his knee problem but will stay in the Republic of Ireland squad for Euro 2012.  #eurofootball

Wednesday 23 May 2012

Trapattoni calls up McShane

The Football Association of Ireland has confirmed Paul McShane has been called into the squad for Saturday's friendly against Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Source Sky Sports,

Bent still in Hodgson's plans

England manager Roy Hodgson has given Darren Bent a welcome boost by informing him he will be part of his plans for the 2014 World Cup qualifiers.
@soccerblogireland

Source Skysports

Injury headache for Ireland

Ahead of Saturday's warm-up friendly against Bosnia-Herzegovina, manager Giovanni Trapattoni has injury problems with John O'Shea, Richard Dunne, Sean St Ledger and Kevin Foley.
First-choice goalkeeper Shay Given is also due to see a knee specialist in London on Thursday to assess fitness, although he will stay with Ireland for Euro 2012.
Paul McShane has already been called up to provide cover for O'Shea, Dunne and St Ledger, who will not be risked against Bosnia.

Source http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/19692/7774165/Injury-headache-for-Ireland