The Euro qualifiers begin (for most teams) next weekend. I know Murty got called up by Scotland and I've seen on their board that some think he may start. I can't tell with Oster and Wales, he's listed on their site as an "A" squad member but there are a lot of players listed and it doesn't seem to necessarily be the squad for their games against the Czech Republic and Brazil. Does anyone know if either Gunnarsson or Ingimarsson are playing for Iceland against Northern Ireland? I don't know if any other countries, such as Cameroon (Bikey), Ecuador (de la Cruz) or South Korea (Seol) have friendlies.
I know that the guys on FSC mentioned that Seol had been called up for the forth coming friendlies, but I don't have any other detals at this time.
They mentioned that bikey would train with reading after returning from int duty. Oster hasn't been playing much for wales. Murty impressed this summer, so he might start. Sonko turned down Senegal, again. Gunn and Ing had started together for iceland last spring, but more recently gunn wasn't called in ( I think it was injury related). Lita was not called in for the U-21s. Doyle has been playing every time out for ireland. Harper turned down ghana, of course, Lita turned down Congo, and Kitson turned down ireland. I think that's the extent of the callup possibilities. (except for the U -Ireland, which takes about half the club).
Had forgotten about him and Ireland. Yes, he's listed on their squad for the Germany match. I knew Kitson had turned down Staunton after her got the Ireland job, so I guess he just doesn't want to play for Ireland. Does Sonko not intend to ever play for Senegal? I know he refused to play for them in the Nations Cup because he wanted to stay with Reading last winter, but I thought he would at some point want to play for them since he did play for their youth teams.
Sonko turned down another call this month. Not sure if it was for a game this weekend or the friendlies a week or two ago. I think he's a player who is totally committed to his career, and realizes his career has much more to do with Reading than Senegal. I have to admit, I've been surprised, both that he keeps turning them down and that they keep calling. he is totally commited to reading, though. That's really something to see. Not sure in the past that Reading has ever had as many players turning down international calls, much less accepting them.
Korea has Asian Cup 2007 Qualifiers to attend to. Korea plays Iran this saturday at Seoul and Seol Ki Hyeon is called up although he is gased out.
Its definately a good position to be in, speaks to the obviously improved quality of the club and at least partially to the players' loyalty to it (although I agree it also has to do with the club having more to do with the career of the players). The fact that Senegal keeps calling on Sonko seems to speak to how highly they think of him, and to the fact that he would probably play a considerable amount for them.
That makes sense, Iran is a pretty difficult opponent for Korea, they're one of the better teams they play in Asian competition. I hope they don't play him the whole match so he can get a bit of a break, although I suspect they probably will.
I don't think he will play the whole match since he's gased and there are others who can play at his position on our NT. So don't worry, just hope that he won't get injured.
Seol iddn't take enough time off after the cup. he was going to, got very excited and stayed right after the signing for a full camp. He needs to rest or break down, and he's too important to have break down. If little is back, I bet he gives seol a couple (light) weeks after the int break.
Sonko is also eligble for France, it's possible he's hpoping to take his career up to the next level and possibly get a call-up for them.
Thanks, did not know this. Does this mean he has a french passport, as well? meaning he's counted as an EU player?
I'd guess so moved to France when he was 6 months old. I think the feeling is that Sonko still has ambitons to play for France, thoguh he played for Senegal U-23s.
That would make sense. Maybe he didn't think he would become as good as he has when he started playing for Senegal, and now that he thinks he has a chance for France he doesn't want to ruin it. And I'd imagine he feels more attached to France, because he lived there so long.
A really decent piece on Reading's ints: http://www.getreading.co.uk/sport/readingfc/2003/2003436/royals_pay_price_for_national_calls
Nice, thanks for the link. By the way, apparently Murty won't be playing tomorrow for Scotland. He may on Wednesday.
Both Ivar and Gunnarsson started today for Iceland, they're up 3-0 now against Northern Ireland. Seol scored Korea's lone goal on a header in a 1-1 tie with Iran.
Yep. Definately good to see Seol score one. Doyle out after 79 minutes for Ireland, in a 1-0 loss to Germany.
For Reading Fans This is the link to Seol's Goal vs. Iran. A towering figure among the white shirts, Reading should try putting Seol as one of the two tops after Little recovers.
Little has recovered and played in reserves, so he should be ready. Seeing as Kitson is just coming back from injury and may not be ready and Lita is a bit in the doghouse for a bar fight, he may well play up top with doyle against man city.
Sky rated Doyle as a 5 for the performance, didn't get to see it, but from what I've read it sounds as if he simply wasn't very involved. Fans rated him a bit higher. Both II and Gunn were rated pretty highly for their thrashing of n ireland.
I got to see a replay of the germany-ireland game. Doyle wasn't bad at all. The sky rating was very harsh. He wasn't great, either. Had a few nice moments, some impressive, mazy runs, and used that drag step thing he does really well on a couple occassions. the announcer noted "several moments of magic from Doyle today" as he left the field. Ireland was not as good as germany _ esp in the second half _ and if there had been more goals, they almost surely would have been German, but he can hardly be blamed for that.
