Reading and international games [R]

[prvev]

Doyle comes on for Ireland, lots of energy and running around in his first minute on.

[prvev]

Hunt comes on in the 80th minute to play the "annoy the other team" role.

Doyle hits the post! Damn. That was nice.

[prvev]

Hunt with a nice run and draws a foul. Decent position for the free kick.

Poorly taken.

[prvev]

Still no Murty for Scotland, tied at 1-1 with Georgia. Almost over.

[prvev]

Hunt runs through a tackle, then earns another free kick a little later in the run.

[prvev]

Scotland scores in the 89th to make it 2-1.

Ha, Hunt is fouled again. He looks like he is in a good mood as he talks with the ref.

[prvev]

FT, Ireland 1-0 Wales.

[RichardL]

Appently Doyle & Hunt played decently for Ireland. Long didn't come on. He may get his chance in midweek, and also make that bit of history by being the first player to play at Croke Park in two sports.

[rms5555]

I caught the England v Italy u-21 game this morning and Lita was in the box for all three of Englands goals and would have scored if the ball had made it to him on at least two of them, on the other one the guy with the ball took the shoot intead of passing it to Lita who was wide open all alone right in front of the net. The scorer really was lucky to get passed the goalie on the short side and should of passed it off in my opinion. He was also making a general pest of himself to the Italian defense all game. BTW I always thought U-21 meant under 21. I can only assume that it means 21 and under with the cut off some time in the summer because Lita hasn't been under 21 for over a year.

[pmannion]

Robbie Keane will be suspended vs Slovakia on Wednesday, and Stephen Ireland is doubtful with a groin strain.

I would say (or at least hope) Hunt and Doyle are almost certain to start. Long is very unlikely to be involved, though.

[RichardL]

I caught the England v Italy u-21 game this morning and Lita was in the box for all three of Englands goals and would have scored if the ball had made it to him on at least two of them, on the other one the guy with the ball took the shoot intead of passing it to Lita who was wide open all alone right in front of the net. The scorer really was lucky to get passed the goalie on the short side and should of passed it off in my opinion. He was also making a general pest of himself to the Italian defense all game. BTW I always thought U-21 meant under 21. I can only assume that it means 21 and under with the cut off some time in the summer because Lita hasn't been under 21 for over a year.you are allowed to play a small number of over 21 players (to a degree - not 30 year olds or anything like that) but I think the age limit applies to your age as of a specified date - e.g. 1 July in a season - so if a player is U21 at the start of a season then he can play U21s all season.

[prvev]

Watching Israel-England may have been the biggest waste of 2 hours in my life. Jebus. I honestly think Shorey could have helped to at least provide some attacking strength that Neville couldn't. Its not like Israel were much of a threat at any point.

[rms5555]

you are allowed to play a small number of over 21 players (to a degree - not 30 year olds or anything like that) but I think the age limit applies to your age as of a specified date - e.g. 1 July in a season - so if a player is U21 at the start of a season then he can play U21s all season.

That would make sense, but 11 of the 22 guys listed on the FA's site (http://www.thefa.com/England/U21s/NewsAndFeatures/Postings/2007/03/EngU21_SquadUpdate.htm) as the squad for today are 22, which means that half the squad hasn't been under 21 for over a year. Just when does the "season" start? now only one guy turned 22 before July, Nigel Reo-Coker. So I guess you need to be under 22 before the season starts?

[prvev]

de la Cruz started in the US-Ecuador game. He played pretty well, made some nice runs. Was pretty effective going forward.

[prvev]

Apparently Seol started in South Korea's 2-0 loss to Uruguay. Mixed reviews on his play.

[Deadlock]

That would make sense, but 11 of the 22 guys listed on the FA's site (http://www.thefa.com/England/U21s/NewsAndFeatures/Postings/2007/03/EngU21_SquadUpdate.htm) as the squad for today are 22, which means that half the squad hasn't been under 21 for over a year. Just when does the "season" start? now only one guy turned 22 before July, Nigel Reo-Coker. So I guess you need to be under 22 before the season starts?
You need to be born on or after January 1st 1984 to be able to play in for this year's competition, i.e. 21 or under when qualification started. Bit of an odd system, bit this is UEFA we're talking about.

[mschofield]

You need to be born on or after January 1st 1984 to be able to play in for this year's competition, i.e. 21 or under when qualification started. Bit of an odd system, bit this is UEFA we're talking about.
So is this england team young enough to play in the next olympics? And, as the decision to enter a team when they'er hosting seems to have been made, are they entering a british team this time? Just wondering, because i'd love to see lita with a shot at an olympics.

[prvev]

Doyle started and scored Ireland's only goal in a 1-0 win against Slovakia. Long replaced him in the 74th, becoming the first to play two sports at Croke Park.

Hunt came on in the 70th and apparently injected some life into the team, and gave Long a couple of chances to score. I didn't see the game so I can't really comment any more about it.

[prvev]

Gunnarsson and Ivar both started and went the full 90 for Iceland in a 1-0 loss to Spain.

[RichardL]

So is this england team young enough to play in the next olympics? And, as the decision to enter a team when they'er hosting seems to have been made, are they entering a british team this time? Just wondering, because i'd love to see lita with a shot at an olympics.aren't the Olympics usually in September?* As the leagues don't cancel fixtures for the Olympics usually it would mean Lita not being available for Reading matches.

there's not been a British Olympic team (in football) since 1908, when the FAs of all the home nations split from FIFA after they allowed professional players to play in the Olympics, whereas those forward-thinking radicalists at the FA thought that professionals undermined the olympian ideal.


* or when it's in London they'll be held whenever the stadium's ready. It could be that the winter and summer olympics get to be held the same year for once.