Tag Futebol

England’s record of never beating Sweden at a major international tournament came to an end on Friday night, as they dramatically captured a 3-2 victory in Kiev. For many England fans, the praise was aimed at Theo Walcott, who came on to change the game and snatch victory from the jaws of defeat with a goal, followed by an assist for Danny Welbeck.

The 23 year-old hasn’t started either of England’s matches so far at Euro 2012, but has appeared from the bench twice to play on the right hand side of England’s midfield. Is it possible that Roy Hodgson sees Walcott best used as an impact sub?

The opening game against France didn’t see him make the headlines as heroically as his antics against Sweden, only appearing for the duration of injury time. As England went 2-1 down to Sweden, Hodgson immediately turned to Walcott to salvage the game. His pace and eagerness to attack an out of shape and tired Swedish back four ultimately made the difference.

Therein lies Walcott’s threat. For Arsenal and England, his attacking prowess is mainly owed to his speed rather than his technical ability. At times, Walcott has baffled many as such a disappointing underperformer. An English youngster who had so much potential but was yet to achieve nor was he appearing to develop at the highest level.

Roy Hodgson is not the only one who may serve to see Walcott as only an impact sub. His club manager Arsene Wenger has at times relied on the ex-Saints man to make the difference from the bench. Even defensively, brining on Walcott can have an impact as his pace terrifies full backs, making them reluctant to push forward for a fear of being caught out on the counter attack.

As England manager, many questions are continuously asked of Roy Hodgson and his team selections are not easy decisions. Choosing James Milner or Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in the starting line up givesEnglanda different dimension to what Walcott can offer. Milner will work hard, spraying passes around midfield whilst staying defensively disciplined. Oxlade-Chamberlain is powerful, direct and intelligent. Walcott offers something completely different, as he charges at defences and makes runs in behind full backs. This change in playing styles with just a substitution can bemuse opponents and turn a game on its head, as Walcott demonstrated in Kiev.

Similarly, if a fresh legged opponent is going into the game with the knowledge Theo Walcott is starting, the playing style Walcott possesses is at times simple and can prove easy to defend. Walcott becomes ineffective and his presence on the pitch is scarcely noticed. As an oncoming substitute, the difference is simple: the players he faces are more fatigued and find him difficult to handle.

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As 23 year old Walcott fights for fitness for the remainder Euro 2012,England fans will be hoping he can be fit as soon as possible, as his impact from the bench has already played a role in their tournament.

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Liverpool finally sealed the deal for Stewart Downing as the Reds took their summer spending through the £50m barrier. Kenny Dalglish clearly believes buying the best of British is the ideal way to restore the club to its former glories, despite the premium cost that comes with it.

In the papers this morning there have been a mixed bag of stories that include; Toure eyes title for Manchester City; Chelsea set to bid £30m+ for Modric, while a friend of Fabregas calls on Arsene Wenger to stop acting like a clown.

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Corinthians make new Tevez offer – Sky Sports

Chelsea to up Modric bid beyond £30m – Guardian

Friend of Fabregas tells Wenger to stop ‘acting like a clown’ – Daily Mail

Just call me Yaya glory – Sun

Downing completes move to Liverpool – Guardian

Peacemaker Barton calms Newcastle louts as violence mars pre-season friendly – Daily Mail

Liverpool urge Uefa to look into City’s Etihad deal – Guardian

Tottenham miss out on their own Chicharito – Mirror

Arsenal on cusp of signing Costa Rica starlet Campbell – Daily Mail

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Chelsea want to buy Parker rather than borrow him – Mirror

United’s Sneijder bid hits rocks – Daily Telegraph

Essien blow gives Josh his chance – Sun

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Newcastle United defender Mike Williamson has signed a new five-and-a-half year contract, keeping him at St James' Park until 2016.

The centre-back has impressed on Tyneside after arriving from Portsmouth in January and he is delighted to have settled his long-term future.

"Playing in the Premier League with a club like Newcastle has been a dream for me, and I was delighted to agree a new contract to continue doing that until 2016," he said.

"I've played in the lower leagues before, so to get the opportunity to play at St. James' Park every other week – and grounds like The Emirates and Old Trafford – is fantastic for me.

"Me and my family have settled here quickly and it's great to know that we'll be staying here for a long time to come."

Magpies manager Chris Hughton added:"Mike has been outstanding for us since he came here. He was somebody who I tracked for a while before we got him, and he has perhaps exceeded even the expectations we had of him.

"He has a brilliant attitude and in my opinion has been one of the best English centre-backs in the league this season. I thoroughly believe that his best years are yet to come, so we're thrilled to have agreed the new contract."

Meanwhile, young striker Nile Ranger has also penned a five-and-a-half year deal.

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"I'm loving it at Newcastle. I really feel I can develop here and I can only learn from some of the players here," he added.

"The fans have been great with me from day one and even though I'd spent my whole life down south until I came here, this feels like home now."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email

England have held their first training session ahead of Euro 2012, with Danny Welbeck and Glen Johnson not able to take part.

The sprightly forward has not played since picking up an ankle injury in the Manchester derby, and Roy Hodgson is now believed to be sweating over the Manchester United attacker’s fitness, according to The Guardian.

Welbeck is expected to lead the line for the Three Lions against France and Sweden in the first two games of the tournament, as club team-mate Wayne Rooney is suspended.

However, it appears that Welbeck faces a race against time to be ready for the competition, and will need further rehabilitation to be able to play.

Johnson meanwhile is nursing a minor injury, and could be a doubt for the international friendly against Norway on Saturday; club colleague Martin Kelly has been called into the contingent as a temporary back-up.

The Three Lions’ boss was given a boost however, as Scott Parker negotiated the 90 minute session at the Etihad Stadium unscathed.

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By Gareth McKnight

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As with any collection of athletes who bare the Three Lions on their chest, the Under-21 branch of English footballers fizzled out of the European Championships in Denmark with late heartache against the Czech Republic a few weeks back. Several individuals within the team are held in high regard and have commanded staggering transfer fees of recent – not unlike their senior counterparts – but Stuart Pearce’s charges scored just twice in three games and returned to these shores having failed to record a single win.

With this debacle still fresh in our minds, here is a list of the ten most promising talents currently making waves for the Under-17s and Under-19s who will be pushing for consideration when the next Under-21 tournament transpires in two years….

Click on Alex Henshall to see the TOP TEN…

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List compiled by Josh Sheridan

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Schalke head coach Felix Magath is confident that he can persuade Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer to remain at the club beyond next summer.

The 24-year-old is out of contract at the end of next season and Neuer is reported to be a target for the likes of Manchester United and Bayern Munich.

Magath told Bild:"There is no doubt I am confident about keeping Manuel Neuer, plus the rest of our key players at our club, even though it looks like future revenue could become more difficult if we are not in any European competition next season.

"We have established the requirements to end up as champions of the Bundesliga in the next couple of seasons.

"Everyone knows that a world-class shot-stopper like Gianluigi Buffon once stayed at Juventus, even though they were a second-tier club for one season.

"I have an obligation to show Manuel Neuer that he has a good future at the club.

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"Just looking at the current Bundesliga table, Manuel Neuer would not be playing in the Champions League with Bayern Munich next season."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email

When past players, punditry panels and onlookers alike look at the current Premier League stadia they will often recall Anfield as one of the most special venues in the land. Whether it’s the steep-sided Kop, the hair-raising ambience of Jerry and the Pacemakers blasting out before kick off or simply the vast history surrounding the place, Anfield truly is one of those magical locations in world football. However, the current Premier League season has been one of toil and struggle for Kenny Dalglish’s Reds and despite lifting the Carling Cup, Liverpool remain frustratingly miles away from where many think they should be realistically challenging in the division.

Despite having one of the best defences in the league, Liverpool have uncharacteristically struggled at home, failing to put many middle-of-the-road sides to the sword and suffering from a distinct lack of goal scoring and an inability to go on a long winning streak. Coupled with this, many of Dalglish’s big money signings have flattered to deceive and have only been used as scapegoats in Liverpool’s disappointing league campaign. Understandably, loyal Reds fans have grown frustrated at the club’s transitional state and have aired their concerns, despite a reluctance to shoulder the blame solely with their idolised manager Dalglish.

But have the Liverpool fans and Dalglish built such a high pressure environment that it is no wonder the players are continuing to struggle? Arguably, yes. Whilst we could embark on an in-depth comparison between whether the team inspires the fans or whether the fans inspire the team, there is no doubt that negative energies in the crowd are usually counterproductive for any team. Anfield has no longer been the intimidating fortress of old this term for opposing players but has seemingly become intimidating in the sense that many Reds’ squad members consistently fail to impress in their expectant and impatient surroundings.

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The groans for a poor Stewart Downing cross and the sighs for a misplaced Jordan Henderson pass have been more deafening than ever, and a large majority of fans are still umming and arring just whether to cut their losses with Andy Carroll or not, who despite playing better of late, still would be more at home in a long ball system. These unanswered questions have undermined Liverpool’s season, and add in Luis Suarez’s conflicts with Evra and you have a very distracted campaign. Manager Dalglish still maintains his ‘us against them’ tact in the media too, with his recent Sky Sports interview with Andy Burton after the Blackburn game representing for the umpteenth time the Scot’s old school attitude and blunt nature that the press are troublemakers and that he won’t work with them and give too much away.

Perhaps a more socially astute manager would deflect further criticism by not making himself an easy target and conveying more honesty instead of a defensive nature when quizzed about the obvious poor performances of his team. In this respect, Dalglish fails to negotiate a mastery of the mass media in the way a Jose Mourinho or Harry Redknapp does.

The ‘us and them’ ideal as enforced by Dalglish can be conceptualised more greatly also. The outsiders in Henderson, Downing, Adam and Carroll are still yet to be truly embraced by their public and are always seemingly one bad performance away from a widespread show of dissent by fans turning on them. Their designation alongside more Liverpool-familiar squad members in Steven Gerrard, Jay Spearing and Jamie Carragher serves to suggest they still need guidance and to learn just what it means to be a Liverpool player. It is not premature to surmise both Charlie Adam and Jordan Henderson have struggled particularly with the so-called step up to a ‘bigger’ club and it should not be underestimated just how much the new daunting surroundings of Anfield can be for an individual. Adam was the star and most technically gifted player at an unfashionable Blackpool outfit but now he finds himself alongside an idol in Steven Gerrard and precocious talents such as Jay Spearing and Jonjo Shelvey. Is it any wonder, his performances have stood out far less?

The very nature and history of Liverpool Football Club means by default that they should be cutting it nearer the top end of the division. In order to get nearer to their targets, this season has to be forgotten and more astuteness and a sensible negotiation of the transfer market has to be the way forward. Liverpool have shown in the past that they can attract the right sort of player with Martin Skrtel, Xabi Alonso and Pepe Reina setting the tone, but failing to reach the Champions League is inevitably going to have negative repercussions. The club just might need to win the FA Cup to truly convince their fans and potential imports that this season has been a one off.

Has the high pressure environment of Anfield had an adverse effect for certain Reds stars? Follow me @ http://twitter.com/Taylor_Will1989

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The United States will enter the CONCACAF Gold Cup on the back of a comprehensive 4-0 defeat to World Cup winners Spain on Saturday.The US were given a lesson by the reigning world and European champions in an international friendly at the Gillette Stadium, Massachusetts.

Real Madrid captain Iker Casillas and Barcelona’s Andres Iniesta began on the bench, while Iniesta’s club teammates Xavi Hernandez and Carlos Puyol were absent.

There was still plenty of talent throughout the team, with Barca’s Champions League winners Gerard Pique, Sergio Busquets and David Villa starting alongside Real Madrid men Xabi Alonso and Sergio Ramos.

But it was two of the less familiar faces who seized their opportunity to impress, with Villarreal’s Santi Cazorla and Sevilla man Alvaro Negredo netting the first three goals between them.

Spain, who dominated from the kick-off, had a goal disallowed in the ninth minute before Negredo hit the crossbar four minutes later.

Manchester City’s David Silva crafted the breakthrough goal on 28 minutes, putting through fellow forward Cazorla for his first international strike since September 2009.

Centre forward Negredo made it 2-0 just four minutes later, picking up a trademark Alonso pass before beating Everton’s Tim Howard in the US goal.

And there was time for a third goal before the break. After waiting 22 months to hit the net again in a Spain shirt, suddenly Cazorla had two, collecting Silva’s cutback to beat Howard at close range.

Chelsea striker Fernando Torres made it 4-0 off Borja Valero’s through ball with 17 minutes remaining in the second half.

In other friendly matches on Saturday, beaten World Cup finalists the Netherlands played out a 0-0 draw away to Brazil.

The hosts finished the match in Goias with 10 men after Chelsea midfielder Ramires recieved a second yellow card 11 minutes from time at the Estadio Serra Dourada.

The Czech Republic also played out a goalless draw in their friendly against Peru in Japan.

After coming off the bench in the 72nd minute with West Ham trailing 1-0 to Stoke on Wednesday night, Mark Noble did more than his fair share to turn defeat into victory and propel the Hammers into the hat for the quarter final draw of the Carling Cup. After a jinking run to the by-line, Noble cut back to allow Manuel Da Costa to slot home to put the Irons into the lead, and an exquisite, cutting through ball allowed Victor Obinna to seal the 3-1 victory deep into extra time. But has the 23 year-old been getting the appreciation and chances he deserves?

Born and raised in east London, Noble is another off the fabled West Ham academy production line, and aged just 17, made his debut for the club in their promotion season from the Championship. After making 13 appearances during the 2004-05 season, Noble was subsequently voted Young Hammer of the Year and came runner-up to Teddy Sheringham in the Hammer of the Year vote.

When the Hammers returned to the big time Noble struggled to force his way into the side, making only 15 league appearances in two seasons, and was loaned out to both Hull City and Ipswich Town respectively. Since then, however, Noble has slotted into the West Ham midfield ably and, under three successive managers in Alan Curbishley, Gianfranco Zola and Avram Grant, has retained his place in the starting eleven, proving himself to be an integral part of the side.

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Since his flurry of awards in his debut season, Noble has continued about his business with an unerring loyalty, passion and commitment to the club, with little reward to show for it, apart from signing a contract extension in April 2009 to keep him at the club until 2013.

People have questioned the former England Under 21 captain’s ability to function at the highest level, including yours truly, but after Wednesday night’s performance, Noble is beginning to prove he can stomach it at the highest level. In Scott Parker, Noble has the perfect foil to allow him to be more adventurous, meaning more offensive play and incisive passing, like we saw against Stoke last night, and less defensive duties. I personally feel the former is where Noble’s strength lies, and although he isn’t one to shy away from a challenge, this does not represent where he is most effective on the pitch.

With the likes of Parker and Radoslav Kovac in the team, Noble is beginning to fulfil the potential he showed as a teenager, and as his performances improve, if West Ham don’t improve on their current league position, the Hammers may find it difficult to hold onto the academy graduate.

If you liked this, then why not read more of my blogs, or follow me on Twitter.

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Another weekend, another flurry of debatable decisions for us to digest, epitomised by Clint Hill’s clear yet not given goal in Saturday’s 2-1 defeat at Bolton. We’ve all been on the receiving end of a controversial decision or two, it’s the nature of the beast but some instances are so blindingly obvious that it’s difficult not to launch into an uncontrollable rage where you try and expel as many expletives as possible in the shortest space of time.

All too often referees seem bereft of any common sense whatsoever, they seem incapable of waving play on, keeping their cards in their pocket or in these examples below, correctly observe the events that unfold before them. It’s impossible to truly know what the impact of these judgments might have had on the outcome of the game, whether they would have inspired a comeback or merely existed as a consolation goal but as we can all appreciate, it’s the ‘what ifs’ in football that hurt the most.

Click on Clive Allen to see the 11 goals that were ridiculously ruled out

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 Got a favourite? Let me know on Twitter @theunusedsub

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