When you consider playing time and impact, the 18-year-old would gain more from the European Under-21 Championship in Italy than the Nations League finals in PortugalThe Nations League groups came to a close this week and it was fantastic to see England continue where they left off against Spain. Now, with the finals taking place next summer shortly before the European Under-21 Championship, Gareth Southgate faces an interesting dilemma about how to use some of his emerging stars such as Jadon Sancho and Trent Alexander-Arnold. Related: ‘Jadon Sancho, a street player with the potential to be England’s Neymar’ Related: Women’s football at a Sikh temple? Meet the pioneer who made it happen Related: Iran opens door to women at football...
The midfielder was born in the UK but his career was made in America. As the US game struggles on the world stage fans need all the comfort they can getHas a call-up to the England Under-21 squad ever caused such a stir? When news broke on Sunday that Jack Harrison had been selected for Aidy Boothroyd’s squad, some of the game’s greats were quick to praise the New York City FC winger for his belated international recognition. “So happy for you,” Frank Lampard wrote on Instagram. “Top man, you deserve it and more.” David Villa went one step further. “Congrats golden boy,” the Spain World Cup winner eulogized on Twitter. “You deserve it, Jack! We are proud of you!” That...
Training for shootouts can deliver escape from the penalty lottery, but England must stop living in the pastAt least this time, an England team made it to a penalty shootout. In recent tournaments, the senior team finished bottom of their 2014 World Cup group, and lost against Iceland in their first Euro 2016 knockout match. So when England Under-21s reached the Euro 2017 semi-final and took a far more experienced Germany team to penalties, that in itself represented progress – until the penalty curse struck again.This was an opportunity for England to exorcise some serious penalty ghosts. The Germany coach was Stefan Kuntz, who had scored Germany’s fifth penalty in the Euro 96 semi-final at Wembley. I spoke to Kuntz in researching my...
Several of the semi-final team can expect regular club matches but the issue facing others is summed up by Chelsea’s Nathaniel Chalobah, who in the past four seasons has played almost as many times for England as for his clubsThe morning after the night before, it was left to Nathaniel Chalobah to sum up just how it feels to lose against Germany in a penalty shootout in the semi-finals of a major international tournament.Chalobah wrote on Twitter: “7 years playing together through the England ranks with @NathanRedmond22. True winner in my eyes. Couldn’t have got where we did if it weren’t for you bro so keep your head up.” The Chelsea midfielder added: “We win as a team & lose...
The podders preview England v Germany in the Euro U-21s. Plus, the latest Confederations Cup news and all you need to know about Mauricio PellegrinoOn today’s Football Weekly, AC Jimbo is joined by Simon Burnton, James Horncastle and Nick Miller to talk about the hottest happenings on Planet Soccerball.First up, we hear from Rafa Honigstein about England’s chances against the Germans in the U-21 European Championship semi-final. Will this be revenge on Stefan Kuntz and his charges for Euro 96? Continue reading...