The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Euro 2020 qualifiers

  • Philip Billing set to debut for Denmark against Swiss

    Nigeria born Philip Anyanwu Billing is set to make a debut for Denmark Saturday’s Euro 2020 qualifiers against Switzerland.

    The 23 year old midfielder who has hitherto played for Danes Under 19 and 21 sides is currently a key player with Premier league side AFC Bournemouth. He has been named in the 23-man Denmark side to face Switzerland at the Telia Parken on Saturday.

    Should the former Huddersfield Town ace play against the Swiss on Saturday he would have earned a senior cap putting paid to talks about his switching allegiance to Nigeria.

    Billing only recently confirmed that he had a chart with Super Eagles ace and Everton forward Alex Iwobi during which the former Arsenal man reportedly told him to consider playing for the Eagles.

    Billing who has become a key player in the Bournemouth line up after agreeing a £15million summer move from Huddersfield was in action for 90 minutes against Everton last month with Bournemouth emerging victorious.

    Billing confirmed in a chat with Danish publication BT that Iwobi did suggest that adding that mere suggesting it is an indication that he is doing well.

    “It wasn’t until when we (Cherries) were going to play against Everton a couple of weeks ago when Alex Iwobi asked if I might be interested in coming and playing for Nigeria.

    Alex Iwobi (l) and Phillip Billing (r), will he play for Denmark on Saturday

    “He said the coach had asked me. It was the first time I heard anything concrete myself. He added: “It’s a pat on the back that another country would like you to play for them. I just take that as a shrug and proof that you are doing well, “he enthused

    Billing’s father is from Nigeria while the mother is from Denmark where he has been brought up.

    This is however not the first time the issue of Billing playing for Nigeria would crop up. In November 2018, Billing turned down an approach to switch his international allegiance to the Nigeria national team. It would not also be the first time he will be called up by Denmark. He did receive first call up in March 2019 but did not make a debut.

    The story will however change if he plays Saturday against Switzerland.

    Two Nigerian born players Tammy Abraham and Fikayo Tomori who has since joined England will be hoping to play against Czech Republic tonight in the Euro qualifiers.

  • Tammy Abraham, Tomori hit England camp for Czech clash

     

    Nigeria born duo Tammy Abraham and Fikayo Tomori have linked up with Three Lions following their call up for the Euro 2020 qualifiers against Czech Republic and Bulgaria respectively.

    The two Chelsea stars had prior to their call up been subjects of debate over which of the national teams they will join between the Three Lions and the Super Falcons.

    Twenty two year old Tammy has so far made 10 appearances for Chelsea scoring 8 goals in the bargain. Tomori who plays in the defence  on his part has made six appearances for the Blues with a goal to his credit .

    Abraham is in the England squad for a second time, while 21-year-old defender Tomori is set to make his debut after a strong start to the Premier League season under Frank Lampard.

    Blues midfielders Mason Mount and Ross Barkley are also in Gareth Southgate’s 24-man squad.

    The call-up is reward for a fine start to the season for both Abraham and Tomori, with the former at the top of the Premier League goal scoring charts with eight, alongside Sergio Aguero.

    Tammy Abraham and Fikayo Tomori in training in Lions camp

    Tomori has also impressed with several astute defensive displays and he himself got among the goals, firing in a fine long range effort against Wolves, a game in which Abraham bagged three.

    Speaking ahead of Sunday’s clash with Southampton, Lampard revealed that the pair had ‘big smiles on their faces’ at training after their call ups were announced.

    But the Chelsea boss warned them: ‘It is great news for them, but as I keep saying that it is just the start. The minute any standards drop or complacency kicks in then they will all suffer.

    ‘I am pleased they smile, they need to take this now, something to add to their armoury and say, ‘Okay I am an England player, I am in the England squad. I need to show even more, game in and game out for us’.’

    England are aiming to maintain their perfect qualifying record so far this campaign.

    After four games, the Three Lions are top of the group and three points clear of Czech Republic in second.