Tag Archives: glory

Can Psycho lead U21s to glory?

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England’s youngsters travel to Denmark this week for the European Under-21 Championships (England 9/4 second favourites tournament outright) but before they have even left manager Stuart Pearce has found himself in the middle of a row over the selection of key players, most notably Arsenal star Jack Wilshere.

The 19-year-old was a regular in the Arsenal team last season, making 49 appearances and picking up the PFA Young Player of the Year award. He also became a regular fixture in the full England side following a successful first start against Denmark in February.

He would have been a great asset for Pearce’s side, adding creativity and guile to the centre of midfield as well as vital experience following his exploits in the Champions League for Arsenal and with Fabio Capello’s senior squad.

Wilshere had previously stated his desire to compete in the tournament and was named in Pearce’s initial 40-man squad, much to his club’s dismay.

The Gunners have been against Wilshere’s inclusion all along and went as far as sending England a medical report showing his increasing fatigue throughout the season and the risk of serious injury and burn-out should he play on into the summer.

Pearce eventually relented and left the midfielder out his squad along with another full international Liverpool striker Andy Carroll. Man City defender Micah Richards, who had been expected to captain the side, then had to pull out with a hamstring injury to be replaced by West Ham defender James Tomkins.

The side play Norway at St Mary’s on Sunday in a final friendly before they jet-off to Scandinavia and will be bidding to improve on a run of three defeats in their last four games – including a shock loss to Iceland last time out.

They are firm 2/5 favourites to beat a Norway side who failed to qualify for the Championships, finishing fourth in their qualifying group. The visitors are 6/1 to record a shock win with the draw 3/1, England are 15/2 to record a convincing 3-0 victory.

England’s first match of the tournament will be against 9/4 tournament favourites Spain on June 12 before facing Ukraine on the 15th and 6/1 third favourites Czech Republic four days later on the 19th in what looks like a tricky Group B.

Hosts Denmark (7/1 outright winners) Switzerland (7/1), Iceland (15/2) and 16/1 tournament outsiders Belarus make up Group A.

Pearce will be hoping his charges can erase painful memories from the last two European Championships. Back in 2007 they reached the semi-finals, drawing 1-1 with hosts Netherlands after 120 minutes and eventually crashing out 13-12 after an epic but ultimately heartbreaking penalty shoot-out.

Two years later they went one better, reaching their first Under-21 final since 1984. But the tournament would once again end in agony as they were crushed 4-0 by the Germany side that included many of the players who starred at last summer’s World Cup.

With both Germany and the Netherlands absent from this tournament Pearce will be hoping this is the time his young side end 27 years of hurt and lift the trophy for a third time in their history.

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Back to business after Euro glory

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London rivals Arsenal and Tottenham both secured memorable European victories last week – with the Gunners seeing off Barcelona at the Emirates and Spurs grabbing a 1-0 win over AC Milan at the San Siro – but  they turn their attentions back to the Premier League this week as Spurs travel to strugglers Blackpool on Tuesday and Arsenal host Stoke on Wednesday (Arsenal 2/1 to win the Premier League title). How will they shape up following their Champions League wins?

Blackpool Vs Tottenham Hotspur

After their fearless, and wholly unexpected, fine start to life in the Premier League in the autumn last year, the Seasiders have slipped down the  table in recent weeks with just one win since the turn of the year and Ian Holloway’s men are now in real danger of dropping out of the top flight (Blackpool 6/5 to be relegated).

Blackpool also travel to Wolves on Saturday in a crucial relegation showdown but Holloway will still have his players focused for the test of Spurs.  Despite Blackpool’s struggles in 2011 it is worth noting that they have pulled out some decent performances despite results not going their way.  The one win they did manage to pick up in January was the notable scalp of Liverpool in a 2-1 win at Bloomfield Road, while they also pushed champions elect Manchester United to the limit before slipping to a 3-2 defeat.

Spurs have a great away record and only Arsenal have recorded more victories on the road than Harry Redknapp’s side. Spurs are the heavy favourites to take all three points but the game could be much closer than many people expect and Blackpool will not roll over easily (match betting – Blackpool 16/5, draw 11/4, Spurs 4/5).

Spurs will be without the influential midfield duo of Rafael Van der Vaart and Gareth Bale for their trip to Bloomfield Road, while Blackpool have just Richard Kingson as their only option in goal and both sides have a few injury problems. Spurs are also without Vedran Corluka, Jonathan Woodgate, Ledley King, Younes Kaboul and Tom Huddlestone.  Blackpool will have to cope without Stephen Crainey and Matt Gilks, who are both a few weeks away from returning to action, for Spurs’ visit.

Charlie Adam has been in fine form of late and, indeed, through the course of the season. After missing out on a deadline-day move to Spurs he will be desperate to impress Redknapp. The Spurs boss has hinted he may reignite his interest in Adam in the summer and the Scottish international can be backed at 10/3 to score at any time in the match.

Both teams have an attacking philosophy and are arguably two of the most attack minded sides in the Premier League, over 2.5 goals is priced at 8/15 and there will be plenty of chances for both sides over the course of the fixture.

Arsenal V Stoke City

Arsenal and Stoke have built up a fierce rivalry in recent years, with the contrasting styles of bosses Arsene Wenger and Tony Pulis seemingly at the route of the problem – as well as a few tasty encounters.

Stoke’s Ryan Shawcross in particular is an unpopular figure at the Emirates Stadium after his challenge on Aaron Ramsey sidelined the midfielder with a broken leg for a significant amount of time and the Potters and boss Pulis are set for a fiery reception when they arrive at the Emirates on Wednesday.

Both sides have virtually fully-fit squads ahead of the meeting.  Arsenal are without Abou Diaby through suspension, while Johan Djourou remains a doubt with a back injury. Stoke’s only concern is winger Matthew Etherington, who has a back problem.

Arsenal have been beaten just three times at the Emirates in the Premier League this season and it will take a big effort from the Potters to get anything out of the game. Pulis’ Stoke side have managed just 10 points and 12 goals from their 13 away days to date and it would take a brave punter to back anything other than an Arsenal victory at the Emirates on Wednesday (match betting – Arsenal 3/10, draw 4/1, Stoke 10/1).

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Pokou plans World Cup glory

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Former Ivory Coast striker Laurent Pokou has called on Africa’s top players to produce their best form in South Africa to give the continent the best chance of success at the World Cup (Ivory Coast – World Cup 2010 Specials).

Pokou, 62, who played for the Ivory Coast for 10 years, is regarded as one of Africa’s all-time best forwards.

And he desperately wants the African players in the World Cup to replicate their club form on the big stage (6/5 Ivory Coast – Top African Team – World Cup 2010).

Until 2008, Pokou was the all-time leading scorer at the African Nations Cup – but his 14-goal tally was overtaken by Samuel Eto’o.

Pokou challenged the likes of countryman Didier Drogba and Cameroon’s forward Eto’o, both of whom will be at this summer’s World Cup finals, to show the form they have for Chelsea and Inter Milan respectively.

“Comparing is not the best way and times have changed,” he told www.cafonline.com. “Today the game is a more scientific and technical game and there is more creativity.

“That is what makes the difference we are talking about. But that does not mean that players should not replicate their club performances with their national teams.

“We saw what he (Eto’o) did with Barcelona and today at Inter.

“Drogba is also doing great with Chelsea. In London, just like in Marseille, he has been exceptional.

“All these performances must be replicated with their national teams.”

The World Cup betting suggests both Ivory Coast and Cameroon are in with a chance of progressing from their groups.

Pokou, who starred in France with both Rennes and Nancy, would like to see more resources put into the local game.

“I think African football has contributed a great deal to the global game,” he continued.

“If you look at European football, there is at least one African in every club. African football is like the bread basket of world football.

“In spite of these there is still the acute lack of infrastructure and those who manage the game should be able to provide the necessary infrastructure so that children could benefit.”

And Pokou called on the African football family to unite in a bid to take the game forward.

He added: “It is not the players who are lacking but we need to do more. It does not suffice to criticise. That is why the managers, federations, players and even journalists have a responsibility to make things work.”

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Camoranesi backs Italy for glory

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Mauro Camoranesi believes that no side will want to play Italy (12-1 to win the tournament) at the World Cup in South Africa this summer.

The Juventus winger has been named in coach Marcello Lippi’s 30-man preliminary list despite having a disappointing qualifying campaign for the Azzurri.

Whether or not he is given the nod for the final 23-man squad remains to be seen but the Argentine-born Italian feels confident that the reigning champions are still the side to beat at the World Cup, four years on from glory in Germany.

“This is a very strong Italy squad for the World Cup and if I look at our opponents, nobody wants to take us on,” he said.

“The other teams know they’d be facing a side that has lifting the trophy as its sole objective.”

Whether or not teams such as Spain (4-1 favourites to lift the trophy), Brazil (5-1) and England (6-1 to win their first World Cup since 1966) will be quaking in their boots following the Juventus’ winger’s comments is open to question but Camoranesi also revealed whom he feels might have a say in proceedings this summer.

“History tells us the favourites for the World Cup are always the same, basically: Germany, Brazil, Argentina, and France,” he added. “On top of them Spain have proved they are very strong by winning Euro 2008 and will fight to the end.”

The 33-year-old also believes that England have a chance with Fabio Capello in charge as they have improved “a great deal” in recent times.

While the market suggests that Italy could have their work cut out to defend their title over the coming weeks, they are 1-14 to make it out of Group F, with Slovakia priced at 5-4, Paraguay on offer at 1-2 and New Zealand the outsiders at 12-1.

Spain have never won the sport’s most prestigious event but are favourites to go all the way this summer and are, not surprisingly, 21-10 favourites to be top European team.

England are next best priced at 13-5, while Holland trade at 13-2, the Italians can be backed at 7-1 with Germany on offer at 15-2.

Many pundits are predicting a wide open contest in southern Africa this time around and Italy’s aging squad might find the conditions catch up with them, despite Camoranesi’s bullish comments heading into the pre-tournament warm-up games.

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Benayoun scents Euro glory

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Yossi BenayounYossi Benayoun has admitted Liverpool have endured a disappointing season but he is determined to finish it on a high by winning the Europa League next month (13/8 with totesport).

Benayoun, who scored the first goal in the Reds’ easy 3-0 Premier League win over West Ham on Monday, says the Merseysiders must secure some silverware to make up for a poor campaign.

They take on Atletico Madrid in the first leg of their Europa semi-final on Thursday (Liverpool 21/10, Atletico 13/10 to win first leg) and will arrive in the Spanish capital following a day-long journey over land, sea and air with flying restrictions still in place across much of Europe due to the volcanic ash cloud.

“We need to finish what has been a disappointing season with a trophy,” Benayoun said.

“Any trophy you win is great and we want to do it.”

Liverpool take on Atletico without star striker Fernando Torres, who is again deprived of playing against his old club due to injury.

Torres missed last season’s Champions League trip to the Vicente Calderon as he was on the sidelines, and he will again have to watch from afar as Rafa Benitez’s side aim to come away from Spain with a positive first-leg result.

Benayoun revealed the Reds squad are aiming to see off the La Liga outfit and go on to lift the trophy for their injured talisman in Hamburg in May.

“I wanted him to play against his old club – he deserves to do it – as it would have been a special moment for him but we need to try and win the game for him,” Benayoun added.

Benitez is expected to make several changes from the side that saw off the Hammers so easily and is definitely without former Atletico star Maxi Rodriguez, who is ineligible.

Alberto Aquilani was an unused substitute against West Ham so he will be pushing for a recall while Javier Mascherano, who came on in Monday’s win in the second half, could also earn a start.