England Review: A Changing of the Guard Is in Order for Roy Hodgson’s Side

In 2006, everything had seemed so good. England were qualified for the World Cup in Germany, just two years removed from an impressive European Campaign in Portugal (they’d lost on penalties to Portugal in the quarterfinals) that had seen 18-year-old Wayne Rooney become a star and a number of very, very good individual performers show their merits as they headed into the primes of their careers. It... 

Moldova vs England: 5 Things to Watch for from the Three Lions on Friday

England will contest their first competitive international fixture this Friday, heading across Europe to Moldova where they will kick off World Cup 2014 qualification. Manager Roy Hodgson—named to the post weeks before the past European Championships,e where England bowed out on penalties to Italy in the quarterfinals—has named a strong 23-man side for the set of two games (England face... 

Euro 2012: French Players Sound off on Their 1-1 Draw with England

France entered Euro 2012 much as they did the World Cup two years previously: with the heavy burden that accompanies being tagged as favorites to win their group. Back in South Africa, Les Bleus had been considered locks to emerge from Group A, considered among the “weaker” groups in the competition and comprising of Uruguay, Mexico and the host, Bafana Bafana. But as the great poet Robert... 

5 Key Observations from France’s 4-0 Demolition of Estonia

Back in January 2011, when Nike first unveiled its debut collection of France national football team products, former international Christophe Dugarry, a member of the World Cup ’98 and Euro 2000 winning sides, took part in an ad campaign for the new line. “What do we like in football?” Dugarry began by asking the viewer. “It’s creativity, pleasure, dribbling and technical... 

France Euro 2012 Roster: Latest on Team’s Starting 11 and More

Most fans at the Stade Auguste-Delaune Thursday night had probably barely taken their seat before they were subjected to a throat-clutching, stomach-churning moment. Yann M’Vila, French manager Laurent Blanc‘s first choice for months now at the position of central defensive midfielder—so crucial to the 4-2-3-1 formation the former Bordeaux boss has instilled for the national side—rolled... 

Euro 2012: Yoann Gourcuff Left out of France’s Final 23-Man Roster

Rene Girard, the manager of 2011-12 Ligue 1 champions Montpellier, made an excellent point on Tuesday morning when he told L’Equipe he was “surprised” that 25-year-old midfielder Yoann Gourcuff had not been selected to France manager Laurent Blanc’s final roster of 23 players ahead of next month’s European Championships.  Blanc announced his the list, which had previously... 

Euro 2012: Olivier Giroud Makes Case to Start for France This Summer

The heralded “1987 generation” consisting of Jeremy Menez, Hatem ben Arfa, Karim Benzema and Samir Nasri—all born in that year—shared the bulk of the praise following Sunday’s France—Ireland friendly. The friendly in Valenciennes marked the first time those four had shared the pitch together at the senior level, and their potentials were on full display. Ben Arfa,... 

Euro 2012 Players to Watch: Yohan Cabaye of France

That Yohan Cabaye was signed for just £4.8 million from Lille last summer should have had Michel Seydoux, president of Les Dogues, stomping about in fury. With the 2011-12 season as a reference point, Seydoux should have gotten about triple that price for his former midfielder. Somewhere, former Liverpool Director of Strategy Damien Comolli is shifting nervously as he realizes that he spent far... 

Euro 2012 Players to Watch: Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain of England

Going from unknown commodity—a teenage one at that—with no Premier League experience to the toast of English football—and doing it within nine months’ time at that is quite the feat. But that’s exactly what 18-year-old Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain did in 2011-12. Signed by Arsenal from Southampton last August for a reported £10 million fee, the youngster wasted little... 

Euro 2012: 5 Stars Who Need a Confidence Boost This Summer

Summer competitions can provide the perfect exclamation point for stellar club seasons. One look at the terrific performances of Wesley Sneijder (coming off a treble-winning season with Inter Milan) and Diego Forlan (winner of the Europa League with Atletico Madrid) at the 2010 World Cup is testament enough to that. They can also provide the platform upon which players with foundering confidence levels—see:... 

Next Page »

Latest News

• Former England Manager Graham Taylor Dies at Age 72
• Bruce Arena Names USMNT January Camp Invitees
• Karamoko Dembele Makes England U15s Debut After Playing for Scotland in November
• USMNT Watch: Bobby Wood Nets 1st Bundesliga Goal Since September
• Rugby Player Bruno Andres Doglioli Banned 3 Years for Tackling Female Referee