The Nation Newspaper

Tag: England

  • No Hart as Southgate approves 3-Lions squad

     

    On-loan West Ham goalie Joe Hart has been told he will not be part of the party to the World cup in Russia even as England coach Gareth Southgate is set to announce his 23-man squad on Wednesday.

    Southgate decided against taking Hart as his third choice goalkeeper behind Stoke City’s Jack Butland and Everton’s Jordan Pickford.

    The development is a huge plus for Burnley’s uncapped keeper Nick Pope who now looks to be in prime position to be named in the squad which heads for Russia on Tuesday, June 12.

    Hart was left out of West Ham’s starting XI by manager David Moyes for their final four games of the season, following their 4-1 defeat to Arsenal at the Emirates in April.

    Gary Neville thinks England manager Gareth Southgate should be concerned about the form of the goalkeepers he has to choose from for the World Cup in Russia.

    The 31-year-old has been England’s first choice goalkeeper for the last three major tournaments and has 75 international caps.

    Swansea’s Alfie Mawson will also not be included in Southgate’s squad for the World Cup after he underwent successful knee surgery on Monday keeping him out for between six weeks and two months. Jack Wilshire is equally likely to miss out of the party according to reports.

    As part of the final phase of preparation before the world cup, the Three Lions will take Nigeria’s Super Eagles in a friendly on June 2nd at the Wembley Stadium. 

    England will open their campaign in Russia on the 18th of June against one of African representatives Tunisia Volgograd Arena. Their next match will be against World cup debutants Panama followed by the last group stage tie against Belgium at the Killingrand Stadium. If statistical permutations are anything to go by, England will win their matches against Tunisia and Panama but will lose the last group match against Belgium by a slim margin.

    The permutations indicate that the Three lions have 71% to 10% chance of defeating Tunisia,81% to 5% chance of defeating Panama but have only 32% chance of defeating Belgium and 29% chance of pulling a draw, while Belgium stand 39% chance of emerging victorious.

  • Breaking: Jlloyd Samuel dies in car crash at 37

     

    Former Aston Villa, Bolton and England Under 21s defender Jlloyd Samuel has died in a car crash at the age of 37.

    The collision occurred near his home in Cheshire on Tuesday morning, shortly after he had dropped his children off at school.

    The news was confirmed by the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association on their official Facebook page just hours later.

    Samuel finished playing top-level football in England back in 2011, moving to Iran, but returned to play non-League in Cheshire as recently as this season.

    It is understood he and fellow former professional Nathan Ellington were player-managers at Egerton FC in the 12th tier of English football.

    The two-vehicle crash involving a van and Samuel’s Range Rover occurred on West Lane in the village of High Legh shortly before 8am, with Cheshire Police closing the road and asking drivers to avoid the area.

    Samuel is survived by his wife Emma and three children – Javarne, Lakyle and Amara – who have been informed of the devastating news.

    The statement by Trinidad and Tobago’s Football Association read: ‘We’ve received some terrible news that former National defender and Ex-Aston Villa and Bolton Wanderers player Jlloyd Samuel died in a car crash this morning in England.

    ‘According to reports, Jlloyd was returning home after dropping his kids off to school and collided with an oncoming vehicle. His vehicle caught fire and his body was discovered burnt.

    ‘The Trinidad and Tobago Football Association and his former national team-mates at this time extends deepest condolences to his family members both in the UK and here in Trinidad and Tobago.’

    It is understood that the man who was driving the van sustained serious injuries and was immediately taken to hospital for treatment.

    Firefighters also attended the crash near Lymm as one of the vehicles was ‘well alight’ near Costcutter.

  • Super Eagles will be ready for pre-World Cup friendlies – Onazi

    Midfielder Ogenyi Onazi has assured that the Super Eagles of Nigeria would be ready to put in their best in pre-World Cup friendlies against the DR Congo, England and the Czech Republic.

    Onazi noted that the team is focused on playing all teams, and not picking special interest in one.

    “We are not focusing on any particular game, and we are getting ready to face all the teams we have to play before the World Cup. It is the right mentality to approach the games.

    “I have been asked several questions about the match against England, but I have been telling people that the England match is very important, just like the other matches that we have to play.

    “What is key for us is to get into the right psychological state to confront every opposition that lie ahead, including those that will be waiting at the FIFA World Cup,” Onazi who plays for Trabzonspor of Turkey Sid to the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF.

    Read Also: Super Eagles ready for England friendly – Mikel

    The former FIFA Under-17 World Cup silver medal-winning midfielder dismissed feelings that the team would be over-confident going into Russia 2018 following victories in friendlies against Argentina and Poland.

    “There is nothing like over-confidence. What I can say is that we are a very ambitious team and we will always be ready to play any team.

    “Yes, we defeated Argentina and Poland, but that has not in any way generated feelings of over-confidence in the camp. We are focused and have our heads on our shoulders.

    “For us, humility and hard work will be the winning words going ahead. Our preparation is going on well and we are happy with that.

    “At the World Cup, we will come up against different teams with different styles and approaches of play. It is important that we are adequately prepared and we appreciate the games that the NFF has lined up for us,” Onazi, who played for Nigeria at the 2014 FIFA World Cup finals in Brazil, said.

    Nigeria host the Leopards of the DR Congo in Port Harcourt on May 28, before a prestige clash with England’s Three Lions at Wembley Stadium in London on June 2.

    They will thereafter go on to have an encounter with the Czech Republic on June 6 at the Rudolf Tonn Stadium, just outside Vienna.

  • Super Eagles ready for England friendly – Mikel

    Midfielder Mikel Obi says the Super Eagles will be at their best for the prestige international friendly match against England at Wembley Stadium in London on June 2.

    “There will be no option for us other than to give our best with the FIFA World Cup fast approaching.

    “The match comes up only two weeks before our first match at the FIFA World Cup.

    “It will be a big occasion and a big match for both teams as we both look forward to our respective first matches in Russia.

    “England is a special place for me, having spent so many years playing there, and it is one country I love to go to,’’ Mikel was quoted as saying on the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) website on Tuesday.

    The former Chelsea FC player said Super Eagles were already talking to themselves and everyone of them was looking forward to the game.

    Reports have it that Nigeria take on Croatia in their first match at the 21st FIFA World Cup finals at the Kaliningrad Stadium on June 16.

    In their other Group D matches, they will then face Iceland at Volgograd on June 22, and Argentina at Saint Petersburg on June 26.

    On the other hand, England will play their first match in Group G against Tunisia at Volgograd on June 18.

    Thereafter, they will face Panama at Nizhny Novgorod on June 24, and Belgium at Kaliningrad on June 28.

    Meanwhile, tickets for the England/Nigeria match are still selling, with the lowest ticket going for 35 pounds.

    NAN

  • Gold Coast 2018: Nigeria reaches Table Tennis team final

    Nigeria’s table tennis team on Monday defeated England 3-2 in the men’s team semi-finals at the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games.

    The News men reports that the team will face India in the final.

    Segun Toriola lost Nigeria’s first match 3-2 ( 14-12, 9-11, 7-11,13-11,7-11 ) to Paul Drinkhall, but in match 2, Bode Abiodun recovered from two sets down to beat Liam Pitchford 3-2 ( 8-11,9-11-4,13-11,11-5 ).

    The pair of Olajide Omotayo and Segun Toriola beat the duo of Samuel Walker and Paul Drinkhall 3-1 ( 2-11, 11-7,12-10,11-7 ) in match 3.

    Read Also: Commonwealth Games: Nigeria’s reach 100m Final

    Although Olajide Omotayo lost 3-2 ( 11-9, 4-11, 8-11, 11-9, 5-11 ) to Liam Pitchford in match 4, Bode Abiodun sealed Nigeria’s place in the final by beating Samuel Walker in match 5 with a nervy 3-2 ( 8-11, 11-8, 11-9, 6-11, 11-8 ) win.

    The Nigerian had defeated host Australia 3-1 in the quarter-finals, as well as Belize 3-0 and Malaysia 3-1 in the group games.

    NAN

  • Tributes pour in as midfield maestro Wikkins dies

     

    Late Former England international Ray Wikkins has been described as one of the finest midfielders of his generation.

    The trio of former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, Gary Lineker and Frank Lampard who paid tribute to the former Chelsea great, maintained that the 61 year old contributed in no small measure to making football a must watch during his playing days.

    ‘Ray was an impressive football talent and had a fantastic career representing some of the biggest clubs in the world including Chelsea, Manchester United, AC Milan and PSG and of course his country, England” said Fergusson

    Wilkins was taken to St George’s Hospital in Tooting, south London last week after suffering a heart attack at his home. He was placed in an induced coma five days ago but never regained consciousness.

    Chelsea-legend Wilkins played for England 84 times, captaining his country on 10 occasions. His playing career spanned three decades and he starred for clubs in four different countries. After retiring from football in 1997, he became a manager and coach, most recently at Aston Villa.

    Figures from across the beautiful game praised his qualities as a player and an interesting fellow  after his family released a statement announcing his death.

    A statement on behalf of Wilkins’ family read: ‘It is with great sadness we announce that Raymond Colin Wilkins passed away this morning.

    ‘We would like to thank St George’s staff for the amazing work they have done to care for our beloved Ray.

    ‘We would also like to say thank you for the many goodwill messages we have received from Ray’s friends, colleagues, and members of the public.

    ‘Ray leaves behind his loving wife, Jackie, daughter Jade, son Ross, and his beautiful grandchildren, Oliver, Frankie, Ava, Freddie, Jake and Archie. We are asking for privacy at this very difficult time.’

    He had carried out media duties on talkSPORT and Sky Sports, performing as a regular pundit on both platforms shortly before suffering the cardiac arrest.

  • Disgraced ex Catholic Cardinal O’Brien dies at 80

    A disgraced former head of the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland who stepped down in 2013 after a sex scandal has died aged 80, the Church said on Monday.

    Cardinal Keith O’Brien, an outspoken critic of gay marriage, resigned after three priests and one former priest complained about incidents of sexual misconduct dating back to the 1980s.

    O’Brien initially denied the allegations but then apologised for sexual conduct he said had “fallen below the standards expected of me”.

    He quit as archbishop of St. Andrews and Edinburgh in 2013 shortly after Pope Benedict shocked the Catholic world with his own resignation.

    O’Brien, once Britain’s most senior Catholic cleric, promised to play no further role in the Church in Scotland and did not take part in the conclave that elected Benedict’s successor, Pope Francis.

    Read Also: Task before Pope Francis

    With the agreement of the Holy See, O’Brien subsequently moved to the north of England, where a statement said he had died surrounded by family.

    The Catholic Church has been embroiled for years in sexual scandals, most notoriously involving the abuse of children in the United States and Ireland, which were covered up by senior clerics.

    “In life, Cardinal O’Brien may have divided opinion,” said Archbishop Leo Cushley of St. Andrews and Edinburgh.

    “In death, however, I think all can be united in praying for the repose of his soul, for comfort for his grieving family and that support and solace be given to those whom he offended, hurt and let down.”

    NAN

  • Ikeme back in Eagles for friendly against England

    Ikeme back in Eagles for friendly against England

    Recuperating Super Eagles goalkeeper, Carl Ikeme will return to the national team to take the traditional kick off before Nigeria’s final World Cup friendly against England in May.

    Gernot Rohr confirmed this while speaking in a BBC World Service programme monitored by Owngoalnigeria.com.

    It means he will once again be back in the Eagles fold for the first time since he was diagnosed with Leukaemia just before the start of pre-season training at English Championship side, Wolverhampton Wanderers.

    The goalkeepers crisis rocking the Eagles became an issue of concern to many Nigerians after first choice goalkeeper, Carl Ikeme was diagnosed with Leukaemia.

    Ikeme’s unfortunate diagnosis left the Super Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr with few options in the goalkeeping department, and after using Daniel Akpeyi for a while, Ikechukwu Ezenwa is now the first choice shot stopper of the team.

    Ezenwa upstaged the Chippa United safe hands after injury ruled him out of Nigeria’s back-to-back 208 World Cup qualifiers against Cameroon in Uyo and Yaounde respectively.

    Despite the performances of the duo Nigerians are still skeptical of their abilities, with many clamouring for Deportivo La Coruna B goalkeeper, Francis Odinaka Uzoho to man the post at the World Cup.

  • SheBelieves Cup: Neville leaves out Eniola Aluko

    SheBelieves Cup: Neville leaves out Eniola Aluko

     

    Three Lioness new coach and former Manchester united ace Phil Neville has released his 23-women team for this year’s SheBelieves Cup.

    Nigeria born England international Eniola Aluko was however conspicuously missing from the list

    Neville who was appointed to the position last month however named Anita Asante in his first England Women squad, with the Chelsea defender called up for the first time since 2015.

    The Ghanaian born defender line up with fellow Chelsea defender Hannah Blundell and Everton’s Gabby George  who could win their first caps in next month’s SheBelieves Cup in the USA.

    Captain Steph Houghton is included in new head coach Neville’s 23-player squad, despite nursing an injured foot.

    Phil however appears to be using the SheBelieves Cup to discover some new players hinting that the door remains open for all the established players ahead of the world Cup qualifiers in 2019.

    Neville’s squad will meet in London this week before jetting out to the USA for the four-Nation contest, comprising the hosts, France, Germany and England.

    ‘I have been really impressed by what I have seen in the past few weeks,’ said Neville, who took charge of England Lionesses last month.

    ‘Some exciting young players have caught my eye, and not just those that have been picked for this squad.

    ‘They will get an opportunity in the coming months to challenge the established players who, of course, deserve big respect for what they have done to take this team to third in the world.

    ‘I also hope this squad shows that the door is not closed to anyone and that those in form will always have a strong chance of being picked.’

    England’s third involvement in the annual contest will form pivotal preparation for April’s 2019 World Cup qualifying clashes against Wales and Bosnia.

    Mo Marley will assist Neville on an interim basis, with a permanent number two not expected to be appointed until the summer.

    Former England captain Casey Stoney will also join Neville’s backroom staff, having this week retired from a playing career that included 130 Lionesses appearances.

    Aluko who has so far made about 102 appearances for England scoring 33 goals  has not been called up to the national team since may 2016. She featured prominently in the probe into allegation of bullying and claims of racism the forced the exit of former coach Mark Simpson

    The SheBelieves Cup is an invitational women’s association football/soccer tournament held annually in March in the United States. In its three first years (2016, 2017, and 2018), it has been contested by the same four teams: the United States, England, France, and Germany. England have finished in the third place in two editions with USA and France winning the first and second editions respectively.

  • One club man Jimmy Armfield dies @ 82

    One club man Jimmy Armfield dies @ 82

     

    Former England captain Jimmy Armfield has died at the age of 82, Blackpool Football Club have confirmed.

    A member of the World Cup-winning squad of 1966, Armfield’s death comes following a battle with cancer.

    Armfield spent his entire club career with Blackpool and made a record 627 appearances over the course of his 17 years at Bloomfield Road, while he represented his country 43 times.

    He did not play in England’s successful World Cup campaign due to injury but was later awarded a winners’ medal as an unused member of the squad.

    Armfield went on to manage Bolton Wanderers and Leeds United during the 1970s, guiding the latter to the European Cup final, where they lost to Bayern Munich.

    He was also a respected broadcaster and worked as a consultant with the Football Association.

    Fellow former England international and broadcaster Gary Lineker led the tributes, tweeting: “Saddened to hear that Jimmy Armfield has passed away.

    “A wonderful footballer and England captain who went on to be a terrific broadcaster of the game he loved, and, most importantly, he was a delightful man.”He’ll be much missed.”

    Armfield who played on the right back position managed Bolton Wanderers and Leads United respectively between 1972–73 and

    1974–75

    Armfield was inducted Blackpool’s Hall of Fame at Bloomfield Road, when it was officially opened by him in April 2006.

    The South Stand at Bloomfield Road, which was opened on 20 March 2010, is named the “Jimmy Armfield South Stand” with ARMFIELD spelled out in white seats amongst the tangerine majority. A statue of Armfield was commissioned by the Blackpool Supporters’ Association in 2009.

    The nine foot high statue, costing £100,000, is located outside the main entrance, behind the West Stand facing Seasiders Way, and was unveiled by Sir Trevor Brooking on 1 May 2011.