England take on the Czech Republic at Wembley in their first qualifier for Euro 2020 on Friday.
The two sides meet at a time when they are at differing ends of the international landscape.
England, of course, reached the semi-finals of the World Cup last summer, for the first time since 1990. The Czech Republic failed to qualify, finishing behind both Germany and Northern Ireland in qualification Group C.
They do have a hefty international pedigree, however, finishing second at Euro 1996 and reaching the semi-finals of Euro 2004, though those finishes have been the zenith of their run as an international team.
Friday’s encounter, then, promises to be an intriguing one. Football FanCast takes a look at where it could be won and lost…
The key battle – Kaderabek vs Sancho
Soccer Football – Bundesliga – Borussia Dortmund v Hertha BSC – Signal Iduna Park, Dortmund, Germany – October 27, 2018 Borussia Dortmund’s Jadon Sancho applauds fans as he is substituted REUTERS/Leon Kuegeler DFL regulations prohibit any use of photographs as image sequences and/or quasi-video
Jadon Sancho has been in electric form since his move to Borussia Dortmund. This season, he has scored eight goals in 26 Bundesliga appearances, while also laying on 15 assists.
He will come up against another Bundesliga star in Pavel Kaderabek at right-back. The Hoffenheim defender has been in excellent form this season, with his side currently ninth in the German top-flight.
Sancho will know his Czech counterpart well; they both scored when Dortmund and Hoffenheim played out a 3-3 draw earlier this season.
If the 18-year-old can find a way past Kaderabek consistently on Friday, England will have a trusted route to goal and that could well prove decisive.
The deciding factor – England’s defence
Can England maintain focus throughout the 90 minutes?
The Three Lions have kept one clean sheet since the World Cup, in a 0-0 UEFA Nations League draw with Croatia.
Even a thumping win over Spain, in which England took a 3-0 lead, saw the concession of two goals to La Roja.
If Southgate’s side, who also kept just one clean sheet in Russia, in the 2-0 quarter-final stroll against Sweden, can stop their backline from leaking, they should have enough up front to fire their way past the Czechs.
But that is no guarantee; England also conceded to Panama at the tournament. Yes, they were 6-0 up at the time, but it is a very real concern. The Three Lions simply have to stay tight at the back.
The impact subs – Callum Hudson-Odoi vs Matej Vydra
Hudson-Odoi is unlikely to usurp Raheem Sterling in the starting line-up but he has the ability to make a genuine impact off the bench.
His skilful dribbling and precision in the pass means he can hurt pretty much any team and he is primed for a go at international level.
He has worked his way into the Chelsea team and scored four goals in all competitions this season – he could make his international debut here and may well be the saviour if Southgate’s men need one.
As for the Czech Republic, Burnley striker Vydra is likely to be on the bench, with Patrick Schick set to start up front. He has scored just two goals all season and has not netted for his country since 2016.
Loads of Tottenham fans have been reacting to the latest transfer news, with reports claiming Everton want to splash out £20m on Kieran Trippier.
According to The Sun, there could be some serious movement at the right-back spot in north London this summer.
The report claims Mauricio Pochettino is open to replacing both Trippier and Serge Aurier, with the former a target for the Toffees.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Norwich City’s Max Aarons are the names mentioned as potential replacements.
While some fans may still feel Aurier deserves more chances, Trippier has well and truly used up all of his.
The England international became a household name over the summer thanks to his World Cup heroics, but his defensive deficiencies have been sorely exposed on several occasions this season.
Loads of fans have been having their say on the transfer rumours, and their verdicts will not make pretty reading for Trippier.
You can find some of the best Twitter reactions down below…
Loads of Newcastle fans have been reacting to some transfer news, as reports claim a move for summer target Joelinton could now be off the table.
According to The Sunday Mirror (24/3, page 70), Newcastle’s scouts are not convinced Joelinton is a worthwhile investment.
The report claims Hoffenheim will hold out for £40m for their Brazilian starlet.
Check out the video below to see how Brazil fans reacted to being asked how Cristiano Ronaldo would perform for them in a hilarious prank by Pl>ymaker FC…
This would of course blow the record-breaking Miguel Almiron fee out of the water, and it appears as though there are doubts about doing so when the player in question has only just had his breakout season.
The 22 year-old is a versatile attacker capable of playing anywhere across the front three or even as a number ten, and has recorded 11 goals and nine assists in all competitions this season.
While this is better end product that any Newcastle player has mustered, it does not exactly reek of a player who is worth doubling the Almiron fee for.
You can find some of the best Twitter reactions down below, where the overwhelming emotion is disappointment but not surprise…
كشف صحفي إيطالي حقيقة المشادة التي وقعت بين لاعب مانشستر يونايتد برونو فرنانديز، والمدرب أولي جونار سولشاير، خلال مواجهة توتنهام في الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.
وخسر الشياطين الحمر في ملعبه بستة أهداف مقابل هدف، في الجولة الرابعة من البريميرليج.
وذكرت تقارير صحفية أن برونو فرنانديز دخل في مشادة قوية مع سولشاير بين شوطي المباراة المذكورة أمام توتنهام.
وأوضحت تلك التقارير أن برونو فرنانديز كان في حالة غضب شديد، بسبب تأخر مانشستر يونايتد بنتيجة 4-1 في الشوط الأول، واتهم سولشاير وزملائه بالتقاعس (لمطالعة التفاصيل من هنا).
ولكن الصحفي الإيطالي الشهير، فابريزيو رومانو، نفى كل تلك التقارير حيث حسب ما أكد له مصدر مقرب من برونو فرنانديز.
وأوضح المصدر أن شائعات وجود خلاف بين برونو فرنانديز وسولشاير خلال مواجهة توتنهام ليست صحيحة على الإطلاق.
ووصف ذلك المصدر تلك الشائعات بالخاطئة تمامًا، مؤكدًا عدم وجود مشكلة بين الطرفين.
Bradford City’s nightmare season in League One is nearly over.
Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at Charlton Athletic saw them edge ever closer to relegation to the fourth tier with games quickly running out for Gary Bowyer to launch a miraculous recovery.
In a campaign which has produced very little in terms of things to cheer for the Bantams faithful, the form of Eoin Doyle has at least brought an element of positivity to Valley Parade.
The forward has scored 10 goals this season in a side which has struggled throughout to provide an attacking outlet and is one of just a few players who could easily earn a place in League One elsewhere next season. With this in mind, it could be beneficial if Bradford cash in on the 31-year-old as it would provide them funds to rebuild their squad for the 2019/20 campaign.
Doyle’s contract with the Bantams runs out in 2020 (via Transfermarkt) which means that any interest from elsewhere will require a fee to be paid.
Although selling a player as influential as Doyle could potentially backfire on the Bantams, it is incredibly clear that the club needs to make wholesale changes to a squad which has been utterly terrible in League One.
Bowyer will also want to put his own stamp on the Yorkshire-based outfit having taken over as boss in March and so it wouldn’t be at all surprising if he decides to launch a complete overhaul when the transfer window opens in July.
In what is set to be one of the most important periods in recent history for Bradford, it is important that they build a team that is capable of promotion or they could find themselves spending a prolonged period in League Two for the second time in the last ten years.
What do you think Bantams fans? Should Bowyer sacrifice Doyle to rebuild in the summer? Or should the striker stay at Valley Parade? Get in touch below.
أكد طاهر محمد طاهر جناح فريق المقاولون العرب، والمنضم حديثًا لصفوف النادي الأهلي، أنه كان يتمنى أن يلعب بجوار محمود الخطيب ومحمد أبو تريكة، لاعبا القلعة الحمراء، وحازم إمام صانع لعب الزمالك.
طالع | طاهر محمد طاهر: رفضت الأهلي مرتين.. واللعب له احتراف
وقال طاهر في تصريحات تلفزيونية عبر فضائية “أون تايم سبورتس”: “أفضل محترف في الدوري المصري هذا الموسم هو علي معلول، وأفضل مدافع أيمن أشرف، وأفضل لاعب خط وسط هم الثلاثي عمرو السولية وطارق حامد وأليو ديانج”.
وأضاف: “أفضل مهاجم في الدوري هذا الموسم هو مصطفى محمد، بالنسبة لي لاعب متكامل، وأتمنى أن يعود ناصر ماهر للأهلي ويحصل على فرصة، لاعب ممتع ولكن صاحبه سوء حظ في الأهلي، وتألق مع سموحة”.
وتابع: أفضل رقم 7 ولكن ليس لهذا علاقة بكريستيانو رونالدو، بل لعشقي للنجم الإنجليزي ديفيد بيكهام، كما أن تاريخ ميلادي 7 مارس”.
واختتم طاهر: “أسامة جلال لاعب إنبي هو اكثر مدافع كان مزعجًا لي، رغم أنني لم أشارك كثيرًا هذا الموسم، ولكنه لاعب كبير”.
أشاد الحساب الرسمي بمسابقة دوري أبطال أوروبا، عبر موقع التواصل الاجتماعي “تويتر”، بـ أحمد حسن كوكا، مُهاجم منتخب مصر، والمُحترف في صفوف أولمبياكوس اليوناني، بعد هدفه القاتل أمام مارسيليا الفرنسي بالتشامبيونزليج.
كوكا شارك كبديل أمام مارسيليا، وسجّل هدفًا في الدقيقة 90، ليقود أولمبياكوس للفوز على مارسيليا، بالجولة الأولى من دور المجموعات في دوري أبطال أوروبا (طالع تقرير المباراة). شاهد هدف كوكا القاتل فى مرمى مارسيليا
اقرأ أيضًا.. أحمد كوكا بعد هدفه القاتل أمام مارسيليا: ليلة خاصة
وكتب الحساب الرسمي للبطولة عبر “تويتر”: “أحمد حسن = بطل أولمبياكوس”.
🔴⚪️ Ahmed Hassan = Olympiacos hero 😎#UCL https://t.co/5wNG1N6JEs pic.twitter.com/ZaAr32fNvr — UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) October 21, 2020