Choosing to stage Euro 2020 in 12 different countries is a decision that seems to be lacking in common senseImagine a series of outline maps spanning England, Europe and, perhaps even, the world. They feature clearly highlighted contours and country boundaries but the neatly printed place names which customarily adorn atlases and globes are missing.It is safe to assume that, asked to fill in the blanks and pinpoint specific towns and cities, a lot of people might make some embarrassingly bad guesses. But what price football fans proving the geographically literate exceptions? Related: Euro 2020 qualifying roundup: Spain cling on, Italy rally and Pukki scores Related: Harry Kane hits hat-trick in England’s demolition of blundering Bulgaria Continue reading...
The England manager was questioning himself over his reaction to Monday’s racist abuse while his Montenegrin counterpart denied it had happened. Uefa cannot do likewisePerhaps the most depressing part about what happened in the Podgorica City Stadium is that, by now, those of us who have followed English teams on their foreign excursions have been in this position – expressing outrage, demanding tougher sanctions and all the other noise in this familiar pattern – more times than we can probably remember.Over time what you learn is that it does not get any easier hearing the primitive “ooh-oohing” that assailed Danny Rose, for example, when he was impudent enough to commit a foul, wearing an England shirt, and parts of the...
Gareth Southgate’s attack of Raheem Sterling, Harry Kane and Jadon Sancho complemented each other to great effect in England’s exciting victory over Czech RepublicThree perfect touches at the end of twenty-five. The opening goal of a room temperature qualifier at a fidgety Wembley stadium might not be the kind of moment around international mini-eras are built around.But England’s opener here, at the end of a move involving ten players, was special for various reasons. Not least as confirmation that Gareth Southgate is able to draw new elements and new rhythms from his team. So many England managers have stuck to a script, grown fat on the job. Sven Goran Eriksson sat scratching his chin watching his England team play the...
Giggs’s credentials under the microscope, Berahino’s Burundi opportunity and another international debut for RiceSpeaking to the Elis James Feast Of Football podcast last week, Ryan Giggs admitted Slovakia are his Wales side’s main rivals to qualify alongside Croatia from a group in which Hungary and and Azerbaijan are likely to do little more than make up the numbers. Despite having Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey on board, along with an influx of several exciting young prospects, their best performance under Giggs remains a 4-1 demolition of a dire Republic of Ireland side last September that perhaps gave fans unrealistic expectations of similar things to follow. They haven’t and Nations League defeats at home and away against Denmark, along with friendly...