Morning all.
Football, the Euros, England’s women and thankfully, no Phil Neville this time. Sarina Wiegman is the woman hoping to take England all the way to the final of this summer’s tournament and lifting the big trophy with Arsenal’s Leah Williamson as her captain. The Lionesses take on Austria tonight as the Euros kick off at Old Trafford with a record 74,000 crowd, expected to fill the stadium. I think it’s fantastic for the game, I really do.
Sarina Wiegman took the England job back in September of last year and is yet to experience defeat. 14 matches played, 12 victories and 84 goals scored. That’s impressive. England aren’t favourites to win the Euros, Spain have that label but their best player, probably Europes best player, Alexia Putellas was ruled out of the tournament yesterday after suffering a serious knee injury in training.
So who is England’s manager Sarina Wiegman? Sky Sports have a documentary on her being broadcast throughout the day today if anyone wants to know more about her time in the game and her journey into management but basically, she played in midfield/defence, went into coaching and just a few years ago, took the Netherlands to a Euros final in 2017 and won it, before a World Cup Final in 2019 which ended in defeat at the hands of the USA.
England’s squad in full:
Goalkeepers: Mary Earps (Manchester United), Hannah Hampton (Aston Villa), Ellie Roebuck (Manchester City)
Defenders: Millie Bright (Chelsea), Lucy Bronze (Manchester City), Jess Carter (Chelsea), Rachel Daly (Houston), Alex Greenwood (Manchester City), Demi Stokes (Manchester City), Lotte Wubben-Moy (Arsenal)
Midfielders: Fran Kirby (Chelsea), Jill Scott (Manchester City), Georgia Stanway (Bayern Munich), Ella Toone (Manchester United), Keira Walsh (Manchester City), Leah Williamson (Arsenal)
Forwards: Bethany England (Chelsea), Lauren Hemp (Manchester City), Chloe Kelly (Manchester City), Beth Mead (Arsenal), Nikita Parris (Arsenal), Alessia Russo (Manchester United), Ellen White (Manchester City)
Fixtures:
- England vs Austria, Old Trafford, July 6, 8pm
- England vs Norway, The Amex, July 11, 8pm
- Northern Ireland vs England, St Mary’s, July 15, 8pm
Well, that’s my television viewing sorted for the next few weeks. Lol
Back to the mens game and transfer rumours continue to fill the news, along with will Ronaldo leave Man Utd or not. Who really cares though as it’s not like he’s an up and coming young super star is it? No, he’s 37 years old and slowly edging towards retirement but then I guess that’s why he wants to leave Utd. He wants a few more trophies to add to already vast collection. Love or loathe him, he’s been one of the best footballers on the planet over the last 20 odd years and to think he nearly joined Arsenal. Right!
Paper Stuff:
Arsenal have been told that a £55m is the amount Lazio are asking for their midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, according to reports in the Daily Express. A lot of money indeed but with two years left on his contract, Lazio have every right to expect such an amount.
I read something on Sky Sports, (from The Athletic) this morning which suggested Boubakary Soumare might be on his way out of Leicester City. Just saying…
Youri Tielemans’ name has popped up again too but this could be old rumours regurgitated. Hard to believe I know but it does happen, honest. However, CBS Sports, via The Sun, reckon Arsenal have agreed personal terms with the player. Man Utd are interested in him too according to the same source but Tielemans only has eyes on a move to Arsenal.
Newly relegated Watford have four players who want out of the club according to The Athletic, Ismaila Sarr, Emmanuel Dennis, Danny Rose and Adam Masina. One of them is interesting and no, I don’t mean Danny Rose. Ismaila Sarr, a 24 year old strong, pretty quick and physical winger. I bet Takehiro Tomiyasu remembers him.
That’s my ramble over, good luck England…
See you in the comments.
Good morning Rico, just. 😉
I’m looking forward to the women’s Euros, in many ways the football is truer to it’s roots than the men’s version. Fewer fouls, less diving and played at a less frantic pace. Not to mention the superior refereeing.
Okay it’s afternoon now, so good afternoon all.
When the ball’s in the sky
The game won’t pass him by
That’s Soumare
Afternoon Cicero and Pete, quiet old day then… 😅
Not for Boris Rico,
Ha ha Cicero, the clock is ticking for him I think.
It’s still ticking……….tick tock…………tempos fugit……….time waits for no man……..yep, he’s still there………..tomorrrow and tomorrow, will no one rid us of this man?………. Nope, he’s still in situ…………..You couldn’t make it up!
What has happened to this country???
sounds Like Fulham in for Leno
The long goodbye, Boris to resign but will not stand down until the Autumn.
It’s a few weeks before the long vacation that will last until the end of August. I reckon he wants to stay until the party conference when they will announce his successor. However the rest of the party may want it to move quicker.
Still it beats talking about Arsenal in turmoil because they seem to have got their act together although we can see the odd parallel . We know who needs to go but we we have no idea who is coming.
New post up