Is Chygerinsky (sp) injured or out of favour?
presume the former
What is Klose like these days, Rocko? Surprised to see him still playing international football, i thought he was to retire after the last World Cup.
Very weak looking Dutch side.
He’s still looking sharp Dunph. There’s a school of thought that he will start for Germany in the summer with Gomez on the bench.
Just looking at that Ukraine team - it’s a wonder they haven’t managed to convert a couple of the Brazilian youngsters that Shakhtar keep signing into Ukrainians.
That is a strong looking German side to be fair, the only thing i am concerned with is their forward unit. Not convinced by Gomez who has little enough mobility and i think it’s a concern they are still relying on Klose at this stage of his career. Don’t rate the Brazilian, Cacau, either.
How far are other countries from naming squads, the likes of France, Germany and the Danes say? Indeed, when do Ireland name their squad?
As an aside, i work with a Swede and he says they are bad. He is very concerned about them defensively in particular.
Tame enough looking Ukrainian squad. Anyone have the skinny on them?
Yulia Tymoshenko
Rumours circulating that Terry will be left out of the England squad.
Should we try and get #callupanton trending?
[size=3]ENGLAND[/url] manager Roy Hodgson increasingly believes that he cannot select both Chelsea’s John Terry and [url=“http://searchtopics.independent.ie/topic/Manchester_United”]Manchester United’s Rio Ferdinand in his European Championship squad and will have to make a choice between the two defenders when he makes his selection a week today.[/size]
[size=3]It is the major issue facing Hodgson and one that he has precious little time to address in detail before he picks his 23 players for the tournament in Poland and Ukraine.[/size]
[size=3]While no final decisions have been made, it is understood that he is considering the possibility of leaving out Terry, whose removal as England captain prefaced Fabio Capello’s departure as manager in February.[/size]
[size=3]Terry’s court case on a charge of racially aggravated abuse of Ferdinand’s brother, Anton, on July 9, looms over the England squad selection, which has been moved to a week today rather than Monday, immediately after the season, in order to give Hodgson more time in making his decision.[/size]
[size=3]PACKED[/size]
[size=3]The England manager did not attend the game between Liverpool and Chelsea at Anfield last night, simply because his schedule is so packed over the next few days.[/size]
[size=3]Hodgson has been given leave by his club West Bromwich Albion to have two to three days this week on England duty ahead of his last game in charge of the club against Arsenal on Sunday.[/size]
[size=3]He is still yet to speak to Terry and Ferdinand about their attitude towards being in the same squad for potentially more than five weeks, as Hodgson said he would in his first press conference as England manager eight days ago. It is not inconceivable he could make the decision without consulting them.[/size]
[size=3]With Ray Lewington already appointed to his staff for the duration of the European Championship, it remains for Hodgson to add one more key name. It is his intention that he will appoint a younger figure, with the most likely candidate beingPhil Neville (35), the Everton captain who has [color=#009900 !important]won 59 caps and played at two European Championships, in 2000 and '04.[/size]
[size=3]The squad that Hodgson picks is expected to be a more experienced, familiar group of players than the one with which he approaches the next World Cup qualification campaign.[/size]
[size=3]He has precious little time to scout players in the 16 days he has between his appointment and picking the squad and has opted to take the safer option.[/size]
[size=3]Ukraine, England’s final Group D opponents, on 19 June in Donetsk, announced their squad for the tournament yesterday. Coach Oleg Blokhin included the 35-year-old Andrei Shevchenko, who scored against England in qualifying for the World Cup in April 2009.[/size]
[size=3][font=Verdana]There was bad news for champions [/font][font=Verdana]Spain[/font][font=Verdana], who face the prospect of being without [/font][font=Verdana]Barcelona[/font][font=Verdana]defender [/font][font=Verdana]Carles Puyo[/font][/size]
I hope Terry goes, you can only imagine the damage Zlatan and Benzema will inflict upon him.
Prandelli will name a 30 man squad on Sunday. Speculation is that Di Natale will be included. :shakefist:
The only real spots that are up for grabs are the two reserve keeper spots which two of Viviano, Sirigu and De Sanctis will occupy and the final striker spot which will go to one of Di Natale, Matri, Borini or Osvaldo. Pazzini is another player who could be on thin ice but it would be very harsh to drop him considering he was a prominent squad member throughout qualification and generally did well when called upon.
I think Di Natale will be brought as Borini’s form has cooled off since an injury, Osvaldo’s discipline has let him down in recent months - indeed he might not even make the 30 man squad due to this - and Matri has struggled to break into the Juve side the past couple of months. Mattia Destro could also be called up to the 30 man squad as he’s been in blistering form of late but I wouldn’t expect him to make the cut.
When do the likes of France and the Danes name their squads.
I decided last night i will be laying the Dutch to qualify from their group at 1/2. I would see Germany as near certainties to qualify and the last spot is between Holland, Portugal and Denmark. That is where one “shock” will come from…
Good choice The Dunph. I think the Dutch are overrated and their breeze through qualification in a relatively easy group masked their weaknesses, the squad is much weaker than the team who made the World Cup final two years, IMO.
I think the French are coming into this tournament highly underrated but I’m not too sure of Blanc as a coach and his squad selection - although I was surprised to hear they are on a mammoth unbeaten run since he took charge, which may lead me to re-evaluate my view. The French attack has plenty of talent - I have a feeling ex-Roma attacker Jeremy Menez will be one of the stars of the tournament.
I believe Di Natale has said he will retire after he wins the Euro’s with Italy. If Traps brave boys cant do it, then I pray he is correct, there would be no greater and deserving winner than the great Antonio.
That cowboy will fuck off into hiding after an anonymous display in the opening game. I hope Prandelli doesn’t make the same mistake of Lippi and Donadoni by including this chancer.
Is Balotelli a likely starter for the Italians, Mr. Totti?
Possibly, Rossi and Cassano or Pazzin and Cassano was the two favoured options during qualifying but with Rossi out and Pazzini struggling with form it’s anyone’s guess. The warm-up friendlies will probably decide who gets the nod in attack.
The majestic Di Natale vastly superior to the other strikers competing for that last slot and it would be a travesty were he to be overlooked.
Your attitude to the sublime and utterly alright sort Antonio is unsettling Totti. I’m sure you will see the light before the trophy is lifted.
+1
Di Natale might be a nice man but he’s failed his country when he’s been asked to step forward. The spot should go to Francesco, he can lead us to glory again.
His time is now Totti, everything points in the direction of Di Natale.
Prandelli has confirmed Cassano, Balotelli and Di Natale will go to the Euros. Oh well, I’m be pretty confident that the other two attackers will be Pazzini and Giovinco. With that in mind this would now be my prediction of the final 23.
Buffon, De Sanctis, Viviano
Maggio, Abate, Barzagli, Chiellini, Bonucci, Ogbonna, Criscito, Balzaretti
De Rossi, Nocerino, Pirlo, Motta, Marchisio, Montolivo, Aquilani
Cassano, Balotelli, Di Natale, Pazzini, Giovinco