Posted May 26, 201312 yr Will anyone be watching this next month? Group A: Italy, England, Norway, Israel Group B: Russia, Germany, Spain, Netherlands England have managed to avoid the "group of death", so I'd expect them to make the semi-final at least England 23 man squad Goalkeepers: Declan Rudd [Norwich], Jack Butland [stoke], Jason Steele [Middlesbrough] Defenders: Steven Caulker [Tottenham], Craig Dawson [West Brom], Tom Lees [Leeds], Andre Wisdom [Liverpool], Nathaniel Clyne [southampton], Adam Smith [Tottenham], Danny Rose [Tottenham], Jack Robinson [Liverpool] Midfielders: Nathaniel Chalobah [Chelsea], Jordan Henderson [Liverpool], Henri Lansbury [Nottingham Forest], Jason Lowe [blackburn], Jonjo Shelvey [Liverpool], Josh McEachran [Chelsea] Forwards: Tom Ince [blackpool], Nathan Redmond [birmingham], Wilfried Zaha [Man United], Connor Wickham [sunderland], Marvin Sordell [bolton], Nathan Delfouneso [Aston Villa]
May 26, 201312 yr I probably will be watching as I am interested to see where Declan Rudd features in the pecking order of the goalkeepers and how Connor Wickham does (used to play for Ipswich Town which is another club near to me).
June 5, 201312 yr Author Draw between Israel and Norway 2-2 England kick off vs. Italy at 7:30. Live on Sky Sports 2 England: Butland Clyne Caulker Dawson Robinson Henderson Lowe Shelvey Redmond Sordell Wickham Italy: Bardi Donati Bianchetti Caldirola Biraghi Verratti Marrone Florenzi Insigne Immobile Borini
June 6, 201312 yr Disappointing start for England. I was hoping he would have selected Rudd ahead of Butland, I thought that Butland wasn't that impressive this season in the games I have seen. Rudd has had a good spell at Preston North End.
June 6, 201312 yr Author It's difficult to expect anything from England with players like Sordell and Lowe in the starting XI Quite sad that we don't seem to take this competition seriously though. Despite already making the move up to the senior squad, it would have still been a good opportunity for players like Welbeck, Jones or Oxlaide-Chamberlain to gain tournament experience. Mata and Martinez were world cup winners when they dropped down to the U21's and then went on to win 2 summers ago Although, it'd probably be best to replace Hodgson and Pearce first before thinking about youth development. Pointless worrying about St Georges Park and teaching the Spanish style of playing when that soon changes to "hoof ball" with both managers
June 7, 201312 yr I'm really hoping that this summers championship will change the perception of tournament football in England, and I'm really glad the media are starting to pick up on Pearce's points about it. You look at some of the squads there and compare it to ours and it's shocking. Alan Dzagoev was the top scorer in Euro 2012 a year ago and has almost 30 caps yet he's in the Russian squad! Pearce might not be the best coach but his record with the U21s is absolutely superb, four consecutive qualifications is more than any other country has managed which given a lot take it more seriously than we do and have produced much better players is truly first class.
June 7, 201312 yr I'm really hoping that this summers championship will change the perception of tournament football in England, and I'm really glad the media are starting to pick up on Pearce's points about it. You look at some of the squads there and compare it to ours and it's shocking. Alan Dzagoev was the top scorer in Euro 2012 a year ago and has almost 30 caps yet he's in the Russian squad! Pearce might not be the best coach but his record with the U21s is absolutely superb, four consecutive qualifications is more than any other country has managed which given a lot take it more seriously than we do and have produced much better players is truly first class. While I don't think Pearce is a great manager, he's made some really good points. In 2011 Spain had 2/3 World Cup winners in their squad as well. Big tournament experience is what these players need, especially if we want to have a chance of winning a major tournament in the next 10-15 years. Injuries/suspensions/Townsend also haven't been exactly kind to Pearce. Think we'll still get out of the group, but we'll come stuck against some of the better sides, just because they have better players than us.
June 7, 201312 yr Pearce is absolutely right to point out the number of players lost to the senior squad. If England had a World Cup qualifier this month then it would be understandable. However, putting a couple friendlies ahead of the U21 tournament is a ridiculous decision.
June 8, 201312 yr Norway had a World Cup qualifier last night and four of that squad have travelled to Israel this morning to be part of the squad which faces England U21 later today! Give your best players as much experience as possible. It's ridiculous that Theo Walcott has played in about 5 tournament games yet could've played in about 7 international tournaments since the World Cup 2006.
June 8, 201312 yr Author England out in the group stages for the 2nd year in a row thanks to a 3-1 defeat to Norway
June 8, 201312 yr Hopefully the bad press will serve as a wake-up call.. although I'm yet to be convinced.
June 8, 201312 yr Author It's difficult to see the mentality in this country changing I can just imagine the outrage if Wilshere was selected. All talk of him suffering from burn out rather than the benefits playing in the competition would have had. Yet he'll be expected to perform in the world cup if we qualify despite having little tournament experience with England Probably the last tournament for Stuart Pearce though. From those that took part in the tournament, the following will be overage in the next campaign and can no longer play for the U21's (after the final group game): Jason Steele, Declan Rudd, Danny Rose, Craig Dawson, Adam Smith, Nathaniel Clyne, Tom Lees, Jordan Henderson, Henri Lansbury, Nathan Delfouneso, Marvin Sordell Realistically, I could only see Rose and Henderson making the step up to the senior squad
June 8, 201312 yr It's difficult to see the mentality in this country changing I can just imagine the outrage if Wilshere was selected. All talk of him suffering from burn out rather than the benefits playing in the competition would have had. Yet he'll be expected to perform in the world cup if we qualify despite having little tournament experience with England Probably the last tournament for Stuart Pearce though. From those that took part in the tournament, the following will be overage in the next campaign and can no longer play for the U21's (after the final group game): Jason Steele, Declan Rudd, Danny Rose, Craig Dawson, Adam Smith, Nathaniel Clyne, Tom Lees, Jordan Henderson, Henri Lansbury, Nathan Delfouneso, Marvin Sordell Realistically, I could only see Rose and Henderson making the step up to the senior squad Part of that, of course, is because of the number who already have graduated to the senior squad. As for Wilshere, Wenger always whinges about him playing for England but then takes him on some meaningless overseas pre-season tour. If he doesn't want international players then let him sell them and make do with non-internationals.
June 10, 201312 yr Author Italy, Spain and Netherlands all through to the semi-finals England, Germany and Russia out. Final space will go to Norway or Israel Part of that, of course, is because of the number who already have graduated to the senior squad I was referring to the fact that the players gaining tournament experience probably won't even make the step up to the senior squad
June 11, 201312 yr Author England lose again to Israel. Finish bottom of Group A with no points and no goals scored in open play Norway are through to the semi finals after a 1-1 draw with Italy
June 11, 201312 yr England lose again to Israel. Finish bottom of Group A with no points and no goals scored in open play Norway are through to the semi finals after a 1-1 draw with Italy Oh dear, how embarrassing. :mellow:
June 13, 201312 yr Oh dear, how embarrassing. :mellow: It is BUT I think in the long run this will be better for the future of football in England. A lot has been made over the past week, and the media/experts are pushing for it. There's this fine line about giving other players tournament experience, but I don't think that will happen under Hodgson. You need a manager with the pragmatic view that the U21s are just as important as the seniors in safeguarding the longevity of the team. Roy is not that type of manager. I can't remember what year Germany performed horribly at the World Cup (2002 maybe?) but their shocking performance basically gave German football the kick up the backside it needed. They're regularly producing 1/2 top prospects for their national side every year and probably only pale in comparison to Spain on paper by the virtue of their players lacking major tournament experience.
June 13, 201312 yr It was Euro 2000 where they finished bottom of the group with 1 point, going out with England. They somehow managed to qualify for the 2002 World Cup final despite being blindingly average.
June 13, 201312 yr Germany did have a very lucky draw in the 2002 World Cup. They pretty much got a bye to the final.
June 13, 201312 yr The German team getting to the final in 2002 was stunningly lucky (as shown by crashing out in 2004), they had the best keeper in the competition in Kahn and Ballack was fantastic but otherwise they were dull as. Could have lost to Ireland, should have lost to the US. Saying that, it could have easily been England. We were no better and yet probably would have won if we'd beaten Brazil.
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