UEFA Euro 2012 Group D (UKR/SWE/FRA/ENG)

[LittleOzzy]

[5DOM]

http://www.thefa.com/TheFA/NewsAndFeatu ... 00412.aspx

Poor Arry lol

[treiz]

If Redknapp got it even after this recent poor run I would've been annoyed. Glad to see Hodgson get approached.

[Yoga]

Go England!!

[AdamTheGreek]

Tough not envisioning France and England (even with their crap) progressing.

[El Turco]

actually i would bet good amount ukraine or sweden progresses.

[Slava]

Roy's system is tough to implement in such a short time but it favors the underdog, which is what England have to play to in international competitions. I think there's a good chance Sweden advances as well but I want Roy to succeed even more after his Liverpool misery.

[5DOM]

I guess playing for Liverpool really helps. Carroll and Downing in the squad with Henderson looking likely to replace Parker if the latter doesn't recover in time.

Pretty good squad if you ask me. Just need a few foreign players.

[treiz]

England's 23-man squad for Euro 2012:

Goalkeepers: Joe Hart (Man City), Rob Green (West Ham), John Ruddy (Norwich)

Defenders: Glen Johnson (Liverpool), Phil Jones (Man United), John Terry (Chelsea), Joleon Lescott (Man City), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Ashley Cole (Chelsea), Leighton Baines (Everton)

Midfielders: Theo Walcott (Arsenal), Stewart Downing (Liverpool), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Arsenal), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Gareth Barry (Man City), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), Scott Parker (Tottenham), Ashley Young (Man United), James Milner (Man City)

Forwards: Wayne Rooney (Man United), Danny Welbeck (Man United), Andy Carroll (Liverpool), Jermain Defoe (Tottenham)

No Micah Richards at RB? Stewart Downing in the squad? Defoe too? I like the team but Micah should be there especially now that Walker is down and questionable, and Downing/Defoe shouldn't be there

[Slava]

Downing over Sturridge, Glen Johnson over Micah Richards, Parker over Carrick are really head scratching decisions.

How can an attacking player that went through an entire league campaign without injuries and ended up with 0 goals and 0 assists make an international squad is beyond me.

[Slava]

"He is a very, very exciting player. He has given one or two performances that have left quite an impression on me, not least of all when Arsenal played Milan at the Emirates and I was there live and saw how well he dealt with Pirlo and Ambrosini in the centre of midfield," Hodgson said at a media conference on Wednesday that was broadcast live on Sky Sports News HD.

Oh.. Woy!

[MaliBrah]

almost choked on the food i was eating when i seen downing on the 23 man list

[Boognish]

Does a 23 man roster seem small to anyone else? Why is there any cap at all?

I thought Carrick had one of his best seasons, seems odd that he's not in the picture.

I was kind of hoping Adam Johnson would get a look, had limited opportunities at City, but I'd rate him over Ox and Downing.

Micah Richards being continually omitted is strange too.

Ah well.

[treiz]

Downing over Sturridge, Glen Johnson over Micah Richards, Parker over Carrick are really head scratching decisions.

How can an attacking player that went through an entire league campaign without injuries and ended up with 0 goals and 0 assists make an international squad is beyond me.

Don't mind Sturridge not getting picked, if anything I hope it can motivate him for next year, but at least have a look at Adam Johnson. He's always done better than Downing for England and he Downing just had a season with 0 goals and 0 assists. Johnson easily surpassed that with much fewer games played.

Don't mind Johnson being there, he's actually played pretty well since he's come back, but for me it's just omitting Richards in general, he definitely deserved a spot for his play this year, probably Leighton Baines since everyone knows that left back spot is Ashley's and get some competition for that RB spot.

Another thing that I agree with, Carrick has been great for you guys and Parker has been terrible since he captained England. I don't even think he's gonna make it to the Euros so Carrick can still get in.

I thought he should've done a preliminary 30 man squad first then trimmed it down at the end of the month to 23, just to increase the competition a bit. Wrong move by Roy

[treiz]

Does a 23 man roster seem small to anyone else? Why is there any cap at all?

I thought Carrick had one of his best seasons, seems odd that he's not in the picture.

I was kind of hoping Adam Johnson would get a look, had limited opportunities at City, but I'd rate him over Ox and Downing.

Micah Richards being continually omitted is strange too.

Ah well.

It's actually just about right, I'd say 25 is the optimal size, they usually do preliminary 30 man squads but for some reason Roy decided to go 23 straight ahead.

[Slava]

Carrick didn't even make the probables list, so don;t think he has a chance. Henderson is next in line if Parker can't make it.

Yes, Jordan Henderson.

[treiz]

Carrick didn't even make the probables list, so don;t think he has a chance. Henderson is next in line if Parker can't make it.

Yes, Jordan Henderson.

Where did you get that from? At this point I'd take Danny Murphy over Henderson

[Slava]

Aside from Parker, whose participation remains in some doubt because of an Achilles problem, all are tried, tested and failed at an international tournament. Total victory aside, it will remain a regret that Paul Scholes, who has only four months in the tank and so probably among the fitter and less-fatigued players in the Premier League, will not be there to control the midfield. Even at 37 he has bested both Gerrard and Lampard this season, while his lieutenant in metronomic passing, Michael Carrick, did not even make the reserve list after his best season in four years.

Carrick had already booked his holidays in the self-knowledge that he has never been the type of player fancied by England managers. Meanwhile, the likes of Barry and James Milner are always trusted for a supposed dependability and versatility.

http://espnfc.com/uk/en/news/1071589/le ... eason/2012

[Boognish]

This explains Carrick being entirely omitted (although he could have a case for starting)

Another potential option, Michael Carrick, was not considered after the 30-year-old had asked not to be included if he was to play only a bit-part role. Carrick is effectively now retired from international football, though he would be available in extremis in future if required. "Michael had made it clear in the past he didn't want to be involved [as a fringe player]," Hodgson said. "As it is, I'd have to be convinced he was better than the four I've selected, and that he'd be happy to come out of retirement, if he was to be considered."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012 ... ry-england

[treiz]

^That's a relief, still can't believe they had Henderson on stand by above him. Don't understand why it's Henderson, could've given Rodwell a shout (although I think he's injured not 100% sure). I guess if they were going for a bit of youth Henderson would be the only choice, which is kind of sad really.

Still missing Huddlestone, Livermore IMO would've been a better option.