He is a full back. Hodgson chose him over calling Ferdinand. Micah Richards turned down being on the backup list, so thats why Martin Kelly was on it. Smalling, Dawson injured. Phil Jones, Jagielka are CB backups. Lescott will likely start.
I was actually looking forward to seeing Wilshere and Rooney play together until the former got injured.
Wilshire's been injured for like a year, and Rooney suspended since about 8 months ago. You started looking forward to watching England play a year in advance of the actual game?
Good article, however the part about bare hands and not attacking ordinary people is not an unbreakable rule - there are still some thugs who takes knuckles/knives/machetes when heading to the fight and there was some loud cases when some groups of masked hools attacked "enemy" clubs kid's teams (and their parents) when they were playing matches. But generally it is not as bad as was portrayed in the BBC film. I liked the joke that someone could make a similar film against London Olympics based on the last year riots; it would be the same level of generalisation.
I saw the football factory doc on Krakow hooligan groups and those guys were absolute scumbags. Used knives and bats on one another which is a huge no-no in Russian football. If you guys have the time check it out as well as the Russian one, then contrast the two nations ultras groups. Difference is startling.
Yes, you have got to admit, Russian and Ukrainian hoolie fights do have some rules that the members are made to follow, such as no weapons and not attacking the fallen. I am not saying that it makes these behaviors acceptable, I am just pointing out that there is soome code, which seems lacking from the Polish hooligans.
The Polish hools are like criminal gangs. They control their own housing estates and the hate over there between fan groups is vicious.
Frankly is a bunch of idiots want to go out and crack skulls in the middle of the forest and they don't touch anybody else, have it.
I meant russia I assumed pyatov would start, by far the most experienced. I think with how vunerable England look Ukraine might just have a decent chance at getting out of the group..especially at home.
I took at that roster and came to the conclusion that this is easily the worst England squad playing in a WC or Euro championship that I can ever remember. Of course, other than Spain and maybe Germany, there's a lot of teams that are perennial powerhouses that at first glance have less than overwhelming talent on their rosters this go 'round - Italy, France, Portugal, the Dutch, just to name a few. Of course, I will be once again pulling for Russia and the Dutch, but I think when it comes to pick a winner in my pool, I think I'm going with the Krauts. But I wouldn't be surprised at all this year if a darkhorse team pulls off an upset, for the simple reason that so many of the usual big gun suspects look a bit underwhelming this year, with a clear lack of depth.
Generally agree its the Germans and Spanish above the rest and that leaves it open for a dark horse from anywhere, be it from Russia to Portugal
I'd have them fourth behind France. Of course the favorites never all make it to the semis and we'll probably see some a surprise there like Russia, Poland, Ukraine, or Croatia.