England manager Roy Hodgson has named his squad for the upcoming double-header of qualifiers for FIFA World Cup 2014. England’s qualifying campaign kicks off in Chisinau against Moldova next Friday before playing their first competitive game at Wembley under the new manager. Ukraine are the visitors to London on the evening of September 11th, the second time in a few weeks that England face a fixture against an opponent from UEFA Euro 2012.
Football’s moral malaise and the Olympic Games GOLD RUSH (note the tabloidy uppercase) have collided of late, creating an ungodly smog of righteous posturing, largely from people who will either gleefully return to their football-focused lives today, or middle-class part-time sports “audience” members who aren’t interested in football anyway. It’s been said in many quarters that enthusiasm for the new season is low as a result. Not here – for all of my own criticism of football, footballers and football fans, I can’t wait.
Welcome back to Footballsville, folks. While the stadiums of our great nation will obviously be empty tomorrow afternoon because of all those people making a stand and going to watch rowing or long jump instead, those of us who actually pay attention to our chosen sport (or sports) more than once every four years are just getting on with it. The returns of international football this week and Premier League football weekend naturally bring with them an increase in England-related news and opinion. So, you know, here is some of it.
An England international friendly just half a week before the beginning of the Premier League season was never going to capture the attention of the masses, nor was it going to produce blood and thunder. Nevertheless, Roy Hodgson took his squad to Switzerland for a meeting with Cesare Prandelli’s Italy – England’s most recent opponents thanks to a UEFA Euro 2012 quarter-final – and watching the game was a more than passable way to spend 90 minutes.
The new football season is here, and in some divisions of non-league and countries around Europe the teams are already back in the swing of things and approaching full fitness. But before England’s players get underway in the Premier League, the August international must be negotiated. This year, England are nominally at home but will actually play the match in Bern, the capital of Switzerland. The opponents? None other than Italy, our conquerors in the 12-yard duel in Ukraine at UEFA Euro 2012.
Supporting the England national football team from a fresh perspective.
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