Ingurrrland 'B' International.

[all_funkt_up]

Must say I am rather looking forward to this tonight. I cant remember the last time I say a 'B' game, must have been back in the days of John Scales. Those were the days my friend.

Anyway, decent line up assured as most of Sven's squad have played fuck all football this year and need match fitness.

Will be interested to see how Lennon fares and how England's finest defender (Old Carra) performs against the might of Belarus.

Come on England !!!!!!!

Originally Posted by the beeb

Skipper Owen to start for England

England B v Belarus
Madejski Stadium, Thursday 25 May, 2005 BST
Live commentary on BBC Radio Five Live Owen will start up front against Belarus alongside Peter Crouch

Michael Owen will captain the England B team against Belarus on Thursday.

Coach Sven-Goran Eriksson starts with Owen in attack alongside Peter Crouch to test out their partnership, while Theo Walcott will come off the bench.

Ashley Cole and Sol Campbell start in defence as they continue their return to full fitness after injury.

Owen Hargreaves is at right-back, while Michael Carrick and Jermaine Jenas play in central midfield and Aaron Lennon and Stewart Downing are on the wings.



Interview: Michael Owen

David James has been given the nod over Robert Green in goal.

The game was originally organised to give England's fringe players a run-out, but with several players short of match fitness, Eriksson has revised his plans.

Owen said: "It's beneficial but if the World Cup was tomorrow I'd still feel I could play and you wouldn't notice I've been out for a while.

"I don't think in training that I've lost a bit of my touch or anything else. I know where the goal is and I've been scoring a few and playing well.

"It's a nice game and an important one for a lot of players. I'm not seeing it as a test or a trial or anything like that."

Cole, who missed much of the season with foot and ankle injuries, told told BBC Five Live: "I need a few more games to get full match fitness.

"I've had three starts for Arsenal and trained hard over the last week so hopefully I'll be alright for England."

Hargreaves fills in for first-choice right-back Gary Neville, while Jamie Carragher and Campbell pair up in central defence.

The five players on the stand-by list for England's World Cup squad - Phil Neville, Michael Dawson, Jermain Defoe, Andy Johnson and Scott Carson - all join Walcott, Green, Joe Cole and Wayne Bridge on the bench.

The game at Reading's 24,000-capacity Madejski Stadium is a sell-out.

England will play two more friendlies before their first World Cup game against Paraguay on 10 June.

Hungary visit Old Trafford on 30 May, with Jamaica to follow on 3 June.



England B: James (Man City), Hargreaves (Bayern Munich), A Cole (Arsenal), Carrick (Tottenham), Carragher (Liverpool), Campbell (Arsenal), Lennon (Tottenham), Jenas (Tottenham), Crouch (Liverpool), Owen (Newcastle), Downing (Middlesbrough).
Substitutes: Bridge (Chelsea), Green (Norwich), P Neville (Everton), Dawson (Tottenham), J Cole (Chelsea), Defoe (Tottenham), Johnson (Crystal Palace), Walcott (Arsenal), Carson (Liverpool).

[all_funkt_up]

Its got the country gripped then obviously...........

[keemanan]

I'll be watching AFU , I'll have my eye on carrick.
If Rooney isn't gonna be ready then I'll want to see Gerrard up top with Owen which could work. We can then have Becks on the right , Lamps storming forward and Cole on the left leaving an oopening for a ball winner like Carrick.

Also Lennon will have to shine to get ahead of anyone, I think he'll ultimately use Crouch as a plan B sub role and Walcott as cover for owen.

I dont see him starting with out and out wingers which is a throwback to 1966 when England won the world cup at wembley beating W Germany 4-2 after extra time making US the world champions in 1966

[all_funkt_up]

World Champions? Champions of the World? The best football team on the planet? England? When?

When did Scotland win the World Cup dad?

[keemanan]

no no you're getting confused little fella, scotchland won the womens curling once.
They also invented the television so they could watch England in the world cup , although in 1966 when England won the world cup (4-2/wembley/w.germany/world champs) they had to watch in black and white!

[Bigkegman]

Originally Posted by all_funkt_up

When did Scotland win the World Cup dad?

We showed your guys and the WORLD what the missed in the 66 world cup when we showed them how to play in 1967 though !!

[Bigkegman]

Guy on the radio this morning phoned in and said the because Tony Blair was wanting a public holiday on 11th July to celebrate England winning the World Cup he
thought Jack McConnell should arrange a public holiday for when England get knocked out - had tears rolling down my face as I was getting ready to leave the house !!

[Bigkegman]

20 World Cup rules and proceedures that must be adhered to at all times

1 - Within 1 minute of kick off in the opening match (Germany v Costa
Rica), the commentator must mention England.

2 - Regardless of what two teams are contesting the final, England
have to be mentioned within the first minute.

3 - The commentator shall refer to the Falkland Isles in passing at
some point in the match if England play Argentina.

4 - Whenever a hat trick is scored, comparisons with Geoff Hurst will
be made within seconds of the third goal hitting the net.

5 - Should England wear their red jerseys, then '1966' should be
mentioned approximately 20 times.

6 - 1966 will be mentioned approximately 10 times a match, or only on
4 or 5 occasions for matches not involving England.

7 - Prior to the captain of the winning team lifting the trophy, the
commentator will mention Bobby Moore. And 1966.

8 - When Germany are playing, they must be referred to as being
arrogant by the commentator on at least 14 occasions. This must refer
to their style, their passing, their haircuts and their general
footballing ability.

9 - Should England play Germany, mentions of Winston Churchill,
Dambusters, The Luftwaffe and Adolf Hitler will be compulsory. And
1966.

10 - All Scottish members of our commentary team must continue to
refer to England as "we" and "us".

11 - We must ensure that nationalistic stereotypes are adhered to. Of
course, the Germans are arrogant. The Spanish are bottlers, The Ivory
Coast are fast but bad at defending, The Angolans are disorganised,
The Argentinians are cheats and the French are only good because
their best players play in England.

12 - For matches not involving England, we must only discuss the
players that are playing in England. (eg Holland v Argentina should
be referred to as Van Nistelrooy v Crespo).

13 - The mythical "bulldog spirit" phrase should be used as often as
possible.

14 - Each match involving England should begin with the
phrase "England Expects."

15 - Should any player be involved in an injury that involves the
loss of teeth, then references to Nobby Stiles and 1966 are
compulsory.

16 - If in doubt, mention 1966.

17 - Praise all of the stunning new stadiums in Germany but emphasise
that they lack the presence of Wembley, the spiritual home of
football since 1966.

18 - Commentators should feel free to imitate the style of Kenneth
Wolstenholme, the hero of 1966.

19 - Should any team feature brothers playing together, then Jackie
and Bobby Charlton should be mentioned.

20 - When England bow out after the first stage, we must emphasise
that it is a massive blow to football and a serious loss to the World
Cup.