England
‘So happy’, ‘Improving’: Some Chelsea fans praise 22-year-old’s display on int’l duty
A selection of Chelsea fans were delighted with Mason Mount’s display during England’s 2-0 win over Albania in a World Cup qualifier on Sunday. The 22-year-old had come for criticism from some Blues supporters in the past for his inability to convert chances in the final third of the pitch. However, he showed a significant improvement in that aspect and prior to the international break, he registered three goals from six league starts. Mount recently bagged an assist in the Three Lions’ 5-0 triumph over San Marino. He created eight chances in his 45-minute appearance, which was the most in a World Cup qualifier since Xavi for Spain in 2008. He carried his fine form into the Albania game where he scored after the hour mark to make it 2-0 for Gareth Southgate’s side. Harry Kane, who opened t...
Gary Lineker describes Tottenham man in one word after latest display
Gary Lineker has praised Harry Kane as England won 2-0 against Albania to continue their perfect winning start to the World Cup 2022 qualifying campaign. The England skipper scored one and provided the other for Mason Mount to round off an impressive individual performance. Gareth Southgate’s side looked flat before Kane produced a rare moment of quality to direct Luke Shaw’s cross into the far corner of the net. Lineker took to Twitter to express his reaction to Kane’s goal. He has described the Spurs striker as “irrepressible”. Another goal for the irrepressible @HKane. — Gary Lineker 💙 (@GaryLineker) March 28, 2021 The Tottenham striker also hit the bar from close range. Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount scored the second goal of the game with a composed finish after a pa...
Luke Ayling sends seven-word message to Leeds star on Twitter after latest display
Leeds United defender Luke Ayling has sent a brilliant message to Kalvin Phillips on social networking site Twitter. Phillips played the entire game as England won 5-0 against San Marino in a World Cup qualifier at Wembley on Thursday. Dominic Calvert-Lewin scored twice, while James Ward-Prowse, Raheem Sterling and Ollie Watkins also got on the scoresheet as England dominated throughout the game. The 25-year-old midfielder is gradually establishing himself as a regular member of the England squad. Ayling made his feelings known on Twitter. It’s really great to see my man 💙💙💙 https://t.co/6IIp3YCzlh — Luke Ayling (@lukeayling_8) March 26, 2021 Phillips has been simply outstanding for Leeds this season. It is a matter of pride for all the Whites fans that he represent...
Albania vs England – World Cup Qualifier Preview, Team News & Predicted Line-ups
Loro-Borici Stadium is the venue as Albania and England battle it out for top place in FIFA World Cup Qualification Group I on Sunday afternoon. Both sides got their campaigns off to a flying start, but Gareth Southgate’s men head into Sunday proceedings as odds-on favourites to prevail. Though it has been precisely 20 years since England last met Albania on foreign soil, the visitors still harbour some pleasant memories of their previous trip to Tirana. The last time England went to the Balkans to take on this opposition, they ran out 3-1 victors in March 2001. Albania Preview A closely-contested 1-0 victory against Andorra means Albania have started their third consecutive World Cup qualifying series with a win. The Albanians will now be looking to begin their World Cup qualifying w...
Blow for England and Liverpool as inspirational leader faces more time out
Gareth Southgate has confirmed that he is unsure whether Jordan Henderson will be fit for the delayed 2020 European Championship tournament. The Liverpool captain suffered a serious groin injury in the Merseyside derby on February 20. Per Sky Sports, he was expected to be ruled out for a minimum of five weeks following surgery to fix the issue. However, his international coach has now hinted that he may be absent for much longer. Speaking ahead of the Three Lions’ game against Albania on Sunday, Southgate said: “We know it’s going to be close to the end of the season, and we will have to see how it goes. “In terms of promises, we can only say that Hendo himself is very optimistic about how the operation went. “There are a lot of things to take into consideration but, at the moment, that is...
Calvert-Lewin scores twice as England breeze past San Marino
In Gareth Southgate’s 50th game in charge, England beat San Marino 5-0 at Wembley to kick start their hunt for 2022 World Cup qualification. Goals from Dominic Calvert-Lewin (2), James Ward-Prowse, Raheem Sterling and Ollie Watkins ensured a comfortable evening for the Three Lions against a country with the worst FIFA ranking in the world. Manager Southgate named a very different looking side for the game than the one that we have become accustomed to recently. He became the first person to manage and play for England 50 times and made 10 changes to his starting 11 from the last international run-out, a 4-0 triumph over Iceland in the Nations League last November. Injuries to current number one goalkeeper Jordan Pickford and Aston Villa’s Jack Grealish kept the pair out of this round of in...
Arsenal star down with hamstring knock, to miss country’s game tomorrow
Arsenal midfielder Bukayo Saka will miss England’s World Cup qualifying clash against San Marino tomorrow as a precautionary measure. Bukayo Saka misses #eng v San Marino. Still at #afc having assessment on hamstring. Southgate hopes Saka will link up at Pennyhill Park later this week. Rashford #mufc not out training this morning, continuing (ankle) rehab indoors; tbh should have been rested from this squad. — Henry Winter (@henrywinter) March 24, 2021 The youngster is currently with the Gunners as he is still having an assessment on his hamstring, and Three Lions manager Gareth Southgate is hoping that he will join up with the rest of the squad later this week. England are in Group I of the European qualifiers for Qatar 2022 World Cup, and they face San Marino, Albania and Poland this mon...
England vs San Marino – World Cup 2022 Qualifier Preview, Team News & Predicted Line-ups
England’s World Cup 2022 Qualification campaign gets underway on Thursday as they welcome FIFA’s worst-ranked nation San Marino to Wembley Stadium. Gareth Southgate will become the seventh manager in history to reach a 50-game milestone as the England national team head coach. He will be eager to celebrate it with an injury-free victory against San Marino. The 50-year-old guided the Three Lions to the final four in the 2018 World Cup and will be looking to do a repeat or improve open this in Qatar next year. Widely considered as favourites to finish top of Group I, England will have to overcome Poland, Hungary, Albania, Andorra and San Marino to advance to the final tournament. England Preview England have thoroughly outclassed San Marino in their previous six competitive meetings, winning...
Germany banking on victories to regain support
Germany will seek redemption for November’s humiliating thrashing against Spain as Joachim Loew’s squad look to get the fans back behind them by winning their first three World Cup qualifiers. Germany host Iceland in Duisburg on Thursday before facing Romania away on Sunday, then play North Macedonia three days later back in Duisburg. “We want to start the European championship year with an exclamation mark and please our fans again,” Loew said after naming teenagers Jamal Musiala, 18, and Florian Wirtz, 17, in his squad. “Our ambition and goal is to get ourselves into a good starting position with three wins.” A fortnight ago, Loew announced he will step down, after 15 years in charge, following the European championships, due to take place from June 11-July 11. He badly needs convincing ...
Chelsea owner takes legal action over ‘Putin’s People’ book
Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has launched legal action for defamation over the book Putin’s People. The Blues owner’s case relates to “a number of false and defamatory claims made about our client in the book published by HarperCollins.” The book was written by author Caterine Belton and contains a number of claims about Abramovich and others close to Russia president Vladimir Putin. Abramovich’s statement, published on Chelsea’s club website, says: “Today my legal representatives have issued legal proceedings in England in relation to a book that was published in the UK. The book contains a number of false and defamatory statements about me, including about my purchase, and the activities, of Chelsea Football Club. “Today’s action was not taken lightly. It has never been my ambition to ...
5 games to watch during the international break
It’s international break time, much to the dismay of fantasy football players all around the world. The international break tends to divide opinion. There are some who love watching their national side, while others just can’t wait for club football to return. If you’re on the latter side of that debate, maybe these games are something you ought to be keeping an eye on. Here are five games to watch over the international break. Belgium vs Wales (Wednesday 24th March, 19:45 GMT) Wales pulled off one of the shocks of the tournament, knocking out Belgium World Cup qualifying in Europe is tougher than it seems. While it feels like the usual suspects make it through with ease every time, there’s always potential for an upset. There are ten qualifying groups, and only the group winners gain auto...
British premier says no reason to change coronavirus unlocking plans
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Saturday said he saw nothing in the COVID-19 data to change his plans for a piecemeal easing of lockdown in England, with the next major steps due to take place next month. Johnson said he looked forward to getting his hair cut and having a pint of beer in the garden of a pub, among the activities permitted if stage two of his unlocking plan proceeds on April 12. All non-essential shops are also due to reopen from that date. On Monday, there will be a smaller change, allowing groups of 6 to meet up outside. Foreign travel will be banned until at least May 17, which is also the earliest date indoor hospitality and performance venues might re-open. Although Johnson has outlined dates at which he plans to ease restrictions, he has been clear that it is ...