Wayne Rooney - The England Debate Rages

Englands recent friendly game against Germany at the weekend proved one thing, we do have reliable goalscorers in our country and sometimes all they need is the right opportunity. Now we have talk that maybe Rooney isn't the greatest striker we have and maybe, just maybe, his name should not be the first one on the team sheet. Selecting by merit rather than name, now there is a concept. Will Wayne Rooney be selected for the Euros? I think he still will but the talk now is not as it was four years ago as he must go for England to compete. Just over four years ago, when Mello Capello was still in charge, I wrote this on the Rooney selection debate, and the general England boys club where the same names are selected each tournament and expecting different results.

Lionesses Are One Game Away

England and Manchester City captain, Steph Houghton has said that the Lionesses reaching the Semi Final of the Women’s World Cup is the biggest game in England women’s football history. While I agree with Houghton I would like to go further and say it is the biggest game in England’s football history, period. Certainly it is the furthest either the senior sides have reached for a quarter of a century when the Men’s side were eliminated from the same position in 1990 in Italy.

Pennsylvania And The World Cup

Soccer in the USA has been steadily growing for many years now. The MLS is in its 20th season and the men’s National side has performed well in the last two World Cups. But the countries association with what the rest of the world calls football goes a lot further than that, not hurt by the fact that an American led investigation into FIFA which has its members scurrying away to a dark corner.

When Will We Theo Again?

When the young Arsenal winger was taken off in the FA Cup against Tottenham Hotspur all the focus was on his gesture to the traveling fans. Illustrating the scoreline of 2-0 caused such an uproar resulting in the FA just reminding Theo Walcott of his responsibilities. It was not thought his injury was all that serious as he sat smiling on the stretcher.