England - News and Rumours

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England will have to play at Wembley for the next eight to nine years until FA is debt free

* England will have to play at Wembley for the next eight to nine years according to Club England managing director Adrian Bevington
* Bevington says this is because the FA are in debt due to cost of Wembley
* England play Norway on Wednesday with an expected crowd of 35,000-40,000 people from the 90,000 capacity stadium

England will have to play their home games at Wembley for the next eight to nine years until the Football Association is debt free for the payment of the stadium, according to Club England managing director Adrian Bevington.

The Three Lions host Norway on Wednesday with what is expected to be the lowest attendance for an international match at the new Wembley.

The top-tier of the 90,000-capacity venue will be shut for the friendly with a crowd of 35,000-40,000 predicted to arrived to watch the clash.

Germany wear four stars for the first time as 2014 World Cup winners commemorate their summer glory against Argentina


Staying put: England will have to play at Wembley for the next eight to nine years, says Adrian Bevington


Small crowd: Wembley stadium is expected have it's lowest attendance for an England match on Wednesday

The small crowd is a knock-on effect of England's disappointing World Cup campaign where they finished bottom of their group with two defeats and a draw from three matches.

In addition, the lack of high-profile opponents for the Euro 2016 qualifying campaign has also led to concerns about filling the 90,000-capacity venue in the future.

Bevington said on his Twitter account: 'People asking to take games around the country. Fair question, but fact is FA has contract with Wembley to play all home games there.

'Re Wembley. It has to be paid for. Reality is FA has to put events calendar on to do this.'

England's Wembley attendances

83,578 - 30 May 2014: England 3-0 Peru
68,573 - 5 March 2014: England 1-0 Denmark
85,934 - 19 November 2013: England 0-1 Germany
62,693 - 15 November 2013: England 0-2 Chile
80,485 - 14 August 2013: England 3-2 Scotland

Bevington accepts that work was needed to 'regain support and rebuild excitement with England' after the disappointment of the World Cup, but pointed out that several England games at the old Wembley in the build-up to Euro 96 had attendances of well under 30,000.

Last week, FA general secretary Alex Horne announced England will play four prestige friendlies against world champions Germany, Spain, Italy and France over the next two years - some home and some away.

The previous lowest crowd for an international at the stadium was the 48,876 for a friendly against Sweden in 2011.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2742346/England-play-Wembley-eight-nine-years-FA-debt-free.html

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Wayne Rooney overtakes Michael Owen to become England's fourth highest all-time top scorer after netting winner against Norway

* The Manchester United man scored his 41st goal for the Three Lions
* Rooney was level with Michael Owen on 40 goals going into the game
* England's new captain remains behind Jimmy Greaves, Gary Lineker and Sir Bobby Charlton

Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney became England's fourth highest all-time top scorer by netting the winner against Norway.

Rooney, who captained England for the first time since being handed the armband on a permanent basis, scored from the penalty spot in the 68th minute.

The goal saw him overtake former Manchester United team-mate Michael Owen in the Three Lions' highest scorer goal charts.


Delighted: Wayne Rooney celebrates after scoring his 41st goal for the Three Lions against Norway

ENGLAND’S TOP SCORERS

1. Bobby Charlton (49)
2. Gary Lineker (48)
3. Jimmy Greaves (44)
4. Wayne Rooney (41*)
5. Michael Owen (40)
*Rooney is the only player in the top five who can add to to his current total

Rooney. who was replaced by Arsenal new boy Danny Welbeck in the 70th minute, is now just three goals behind Jimmy Greaves.

Gary Lineker and Sir Bobby Charlton continue to lead the way with 48 and 49 goals respectively.

Rooney will be hoping to close the gap on Manchester United legend Charlton when England face Switzerland in their opening Euro 2016 qualifying match on Monday.


Leading the way: Sir Bobby Charlton, pictured with Rooney, is England's top scorer with 49 goals

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2742706/Wayne-Rooney-overtakes-Michael-Owen-England-s-fourth-highest-time-scorer-netting-winner-against-Norway.html

come on Roo, tinggal 9 gol lagi untuk melewati rekor gol opa Bobby

[zudomiriku]

England must remain at Wembley and need to make our ancestral home a fortress again

* Only 40,181 supporters turned up to watch England face Norway
* Fans voted with their feet after a poor World Cup and high ticket prices
* Martin Keown believes patience, good ticket deals and steady improvements in the playing performances will get Wembley rocking again

Though the atmosphere at Wembley on Wednesday was not too bad, it was not good to see so many empty seats but you can understand the fans’ frustration after such a poor World Cup.

Some people say England should go back out on the road, playing matches at grounds around the country, but Wembley is our ancestral home. It’s where young kids dream of playing and we need to make it a fortress again.

Playing for the national team can be hard for young or inexperienced players. When you come through the ranks at a club, you are viewed by the fans as one of their own and can be carried through by the feel-good factor. With England fans coming together from all corners of the country, you are expected to be the best.


Protest: Players line up in front of empty stands for England's international friendly against Norway


Empty seats: Only 40,181 supporters turned up to watch England face Norway in Wednesday's friendly

At tournaments, there is a sense of fans supporting England as one, but sometimes it can be hard to put club loyalties to one side when they arrive at Wembley.

That can make for a difficult atmosphere. Even experienced players come under huge pressure — as James Milner found out when he was ironically cheered for a wayward pass against Norway.

You cannot ask fans to adjust their behaviour and they rightly expect to see more from England, but in this rebuilding phase there has to be greater patience.

Much of that atmosphere comes down to how the team plays but having empty seats does not help. What we need is a Wembley stadium with as many bums on seats as possible, with fans roaring on Roy Hodgson’s team.

Whether that means special prices for family tickets or getting in kids for a quid, you want as many people in the stands as possible to generate a positive atmosphere.

With a bit of patience, some good ticket deals and steady improvements in the performances, England can get Wembley rocking once more.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/article-2744075/England-remain-Wembley-need-make-ancestral-home-fortress-again.html

[stamansa]

Sekali lagi pertandingan yg membosankan ditampilkan timnas Inggris. Lebih parahnya, berapa kali salah umpan oleh Milner & Rooney (sangat memalukan)

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Wayne Rooney: Raheem Sterling reminds me of Marc Overmars... he can be just as good as the Dutchman

*Raheem Sterling has the potential to be as good as Marc Overmars according to Wayne Rooney
* The Manchester United striker showed Sterling videos of the Dutchman prior to the World Cup
* Overmars enjoyed a glittering career with the likes of Arsenal, Ajax and Barcelona before retiring in 2009
* Roy Hodgson could be without Jordan Henderson on Monday
* The Three Lions begin their Euro 2016 qualifying campaign against Switzerland at St Jakob-Park in Basle
* Hodgson believes his squad is full of versatile players capable of playing in different positions

At a time when England manager Roy Hodgson badly needs a speedy start to this Euro 2016 campaign, his captain tried to lift the mood by summoning the spirit of a flying Dutchman.

Wayne Rooney was discussing the destructive qualities of Raheem Sterling when he likened him to Marc Overmars, and told how he had taken aside England's teen star to study clips of the former Arsenal and Holland striker.

'Before the World Cup I showed him videos of Marc Overmars because he reminded me of him,' said Rooney. 'He has the potential to be as good as Overmars.


Similar: Wayne Rooney believes Sterling (left) shares some of the same qualities as Marc Overmars (right)

'Raheem is a fantastic and quite an unusual player. He can play right across the front line, out wide. Although he's a small lad, he's really strong. The potential he's shown is incredible. He'll be a massive player for us over the next 10 to 15 years and, unfortunately, for Liverpool.'

Overmars had terrifying speed and a clinical instinct. Sterling arguably has a greater range of weaponry, but is still only 19 and developing. He is, nevertheless, the brightest spark in Hodgson's post-World Cup gloom.

At the St Jakob-Park stadium here on Monday night, England will look to him for creativity. Four years ago, Fabio Capello's England arrived at the same stadium in similar circumstances. The World Cup in South Africa had gone badly and this was the first test for his team away from Wembley.

Rooney was mired in front-page scandal at the time but he responded with the opening goal in a 3-1 win, which put Capello in control on the road to Euro 2012. Hodgson could do with the same on his return to Switzerland, where he is still feted for taking them to their first World Cup finals in 28 years in 1994.

'Winning this game does not make a great team in 2016,' said Hodgson. 'Neither does losing it make us a poor team in 2016. We are not in an embryonic stage — we are carrying on — but it is an early stage. We have to make sure after these next two years we are very, very strong.'

Wednesday's 1-0 home win over Norway was not enough in itself to settle the anxieties that emerged in Brazil. It is nearly two years since England actually beat any of the teams who qualified for the World Cup.

HAVE THE SWISS GOT ENGLAND'S NUMBER?

63.6% - England’s win percentage against Switzerland. They have won 14 of their 22 contests, drawing five and losing just three. They are also unbeaten in their last eight games against the Swiss.

1 - Good news for Roy Hodgson — England have lost just one of their last 13 international matches away from home.

192 - Some bad news for Hodgson. In 192 minutes of football, England have only managed three shots on target with their one goal coming from the penalty spot.

3 - Wayne Rooney looks a good bet to score at any time. The England captain has scored in each of his three appearances against Switzerland.

2 - Only two players have survived from England’s last game against the Swiss — Joe Hart and Jack Wilshere both started that match at Wembley in 2011.

17 - England like playing in Basel. They have won four out of five games in the city and scored 17 goals at an average of 3.4 per game. That includes an 8-1 victory in 1963.

9 - Switzerland have not lost at home for nine matches. Their last defeat on home soil came against Romania in May 2012.

As ever, injuries have eaten into the squad. Striker Daniel Sturridge's withdrawal on Friday was more damaging than the loss of midfield rookie Jack Colback or back-up keeper Ben Foster but at least Hodgson has Danny Welbeck ready to step in.

If Jordan Henderson is not fit after twisting an ankle in training on Sunday night it will bring another thorny problem — not least because England have brought only 17 outfield players — and challenge Hodgson's theory that the nation is producing a breed of footballer no longer bound by positions.

'Very few are classic number nines, or tens or sevens or fours or sixes,' Hodgson said.

'They're not stereotyped. They're capable of different things. I've seen the Under-20s play twice and when you watch them you do see a way in which English football is changing. I think back to the academy at Blackburn 20 years ago and the type of players coming through now are different.

'It's difficult to look at an England team at any level and find a player who is not pacey, even a centre back. In the past we had stereotypical players who got by on the quality of their play. Not now.'

By the same token, he likes to think the style of his team is less predictable. 'The players we have are very different to the ones we had in 2012,' the manager added. 'We were a passing team. Now we're a dribbling team. We're not a long-ball team any more. We try to pass through the midfield and create openings. We're athletic and pacey and technique is getting better.'

Hodgson refuted the accompanying theory that a 67-year-old coach might not be best-equipped to coach such modern footballers.



Stepping up: Danny Welbeck looks set to start for the Three Lions after an injury to Daniel Sturridge


All smiles: Arsenal team-mates Calum Chambers (left) and Jack Wilshere (centre) share a joke in training

THIS IS UEFA'S WEEK OF FOOTBALL

England will play on a Monday for only the 10th time in 45 years when they face Switzerland next week. UEFA have spread out the qualification matches for EURO 2016 as part of their new ‘Week of Football’ concept, with games taking place from Thursday to Tuesday. That means 33 per cent of games now take place at weekends as opposed to just 10 per cent in 2012 qualifying.

The final set of fixtures in each group — scheduled for October 2015 — will still kick off simultaneously.

England have only played nine Monday games since 1966, but prior to that they were a regular occurrence.

Between 1880 and 1927, England played Wales alone 33 times on a Monday. The good news for England fans is their record is good...

P...55 W...37 D...11 L...7 Win %...67.3

'Either you're a good coach or you're not,' he rapped back. 'Either you know how to put your approach across or not. You just try to make sure the best players are in important places, and those around them complement them. That's how it's been since I started. I don't see any difference at all now to that.'

And so, to the puzzle of where precisely to deploy Sterling, who was so impressive at the tip of a diamond in the final 20 minutes against Norway, after Rooney had been replaced. Does he keep him there or move him back to the wing, albeit with freedom to float?

The team practised with the diamond midfield at times last week while at St George's Park and, in the absence of Sturridge, England can more easily revert to 4-2-3-1 without threatening Rooney's place.

'There are options,' said Hodgson. 'It's up to us to perform and play well. Is it enough to come here and play 10 behind the ball and sneak a 0-0? No, I'd say it isn't.'

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2747084/Wayne-Rooney-Raheem-Sterling-reminds-Marc-Overmars.html

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Wayne Rooney sets his sights on Sir Bobby Charlton's England goalscoring record

* Sir Bobby Charlton is England's top goalscorer with 49
* Wayne Rooney scored his 41st goal for the Three Lions against Norway
* That moved him above Michael Owen and into fourth place
* The Manchester United striker says he'd be a 'fool' not to feel capable of beating Charlton's record

Wayne Rooney admitted Sir Bobby Charlton's goalscoring records for club and country are in his sights after leapfrogging Michael Owen with his 41st strike for England.

Charlton scored 49 for England and 249 for Manchester United during his distinguished playing career. Rooney, who will earn his 97th cap tonight, scored against Norway at Wembley on Wednesday in his first official game as captain. The 28-year-old has also scored 217 times for United.

'I'd be a fool if I didn't look at Sir Bobby Charlton's record and feel capable of passing him.


Looking ahead: Wayne Rooney is aiming to become England's leading goalscorer before he retires


Legend: Sir Bobby Charlton (left), pictured scoring against Austria in 1965, is England's leading goalscorer

'It's in my sights. I want to do it. Hopefully one day I can.

'Both records have stood for a long time, and a lot of players have attempted to break them. Now they're in touching distance, the two of them.

'It's something I'd love to do. I feel I'm capable of doing it. Hopefully one day I'll hold the two records. I'm confident that I can.'

Rooney is now fourth on the list of all-time leading goalscorers for England behind Charlton, Gary Lineker (48) and Jimmy Greaves (44).

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2747071/Wayne-Rooney-sets-sights-Sir-Bobby-Charlton-s-England-goalscoring-record.html

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Wayne Rooney could follow Eden Hazard's lead and do the dishes or mow the lawn... but Michael Owen says England fans' trust won't be restored so easily

* Eden Hazard did household chores for fans as part of a Belgian initiative
* The idea worked for Belgium before the World Cup and Wayne Rooney could take part in a similar scheme for the 'Together for England' campaign
* Former England striker Michael Owen says it will take at least two years - at * Euro 2016 in France - before fans’ trust is restored though
* Owen: 'I don’t think England fans will fully believe in their team until we do something at a major tournament. We have all lost belief’

England may try to improve their rapport with supporters by copying a Belgian initiative which saw stars such as Eden Hazard doing household chores for fans.

The idea worked for Belgium before the World Cup and the FA won’t rule out the chance of Wayne Rooney popping over to do the dishes or mow the lawn for a competition winner as part of the ‘Together for England’ campaign.

Of course, it will be easier if the team are winning and the FA hope the 2-0 victory in Switzerland will help inspire a new generation of fans as they embark on a bland schedule of qualifiers for Euro 2016.


Campaign: England may try to improve their rapport with supporters by copying a used Belgian scheme


Passion: The FA won’t rule out the chance of Wayne Rooney popping over to do the dishes or mow the lawn


Equals: The FA hope the 2-0 victory in Switzerland will help inspire a new generation of fans towards Euros

Manager Roy Hodgson took to the streets on an impromptu walk-about in Basle before the game and chatted with some 200 fans during the course of two hours.

The charm offensive does not extend to offering free Wembley seats for qualifiers against San Marino next month and Slovenia in November, but tickets are going cheap - starting at £10 for children.

At the heart of the proactive drive will be the new England Supporters Club, which has more than 70,000 members despite a poor World Cup.

But former England striker Michael Owen pricked any new optimism by saying it will take at least two years - at Euro 2016 in France - before fans’ trust is restored.

Speaking at the Soccerex convention in Manchester, Owen said that the win in Switzerland was irrelevant compared with World Cup failure in South Africa and Brazil.

‘I don’t think England fans will fully believe in their team until we do something at a major tournament,’ Owen said. ‘We qualify all the time (but) everyone, the fans, us, we have all lost belief.’

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2749852/Wayne-Rooney-follow-Belgium-s-Eden-Hazard-s-lead-Together-England-campaign.html

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Wayne Rooney is up for the challenge as England skipper sets his eyes firmly on Sir Bobby Charlton's all-time top scorer crown

* Wayne Rooney is currently the fourth-highest goalscorer for England
* Manchester United forward is just eight away from Charlton's record of 49
* Rooney will captain England against San Marino at Wembley on Thursday

Wayne Rooney is confident of becoming England’s all-time top scorer and believes that Sir Bobby Charlton’s record is there for the taking.

Rooney is England’s fourth-highest goalscorer on 41; three behind Jimmy Greaves, seven behind Gary Lineker and eight away from Charlton’s 49.

Rooney, who is still only 28, lines up as captain against San Marino at Wembley on Thursday night. He said: ‘It’s there for me to overtake them all. I feel I’m capable of doing that. That would be a huge honour. Until I’ve beaten the record, and hopefully I’ll do that, I’ve never thought I have to do that.


Sir Bobby Charlton (right, with brother Jack) is England's current all-time top goalscorer with 49 goals


England captain Wayne Rooney is just 28 years old and trails Charlton by eight with 41 international goals

‘I’m confident in myself and believe I will do it, but the game against San Marino is more important than me scoring four or five.’

England’s opponents in their next two Euro 2016 qualifiers, at home to San Marino on Thursday evening and away to Estonia on Sunday, should provide ample opportunity for him to get on the scoresheet.

It is 11 years since Rooney scored his first goal for England, in a 2-1 win in Macedonia which made him the youngest player to score for the national team at 17 years and 317 days.

‘I’d never have thought when I came into this England team that I would be top goalscorer,’ Rooney added. ‘It would be massive for me and make my family proud. I want to do it. But for a footballer, you’re in this game for your team-mates. There’s nothing better than winning a trophy.’

Rooney’s captaincy credentials were called into question when he was sent off for kicking West Ham’s Stewart Downing last week. Rooney insisted it was not malicious, and that he mistimed a challenge trying to stop a counter-attack. ‘I’ve grown up in the last couple of years,’ he said.

‘I’ve made errors in the past. I came into the football world as a young lad, and you’re going to make mistakes. The older you get, the wiser you get. You mature. I’m in a comfortable position now.’

Meanwhile, Roy Hodgson believes England could win all their qualifiers. He said: ‘It would be nice to go through this campaign unbeaten. If we get two good results [this week], we’ll target winning all the games.’

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2785641/Wayne-Rooney-challenge-England-skipper-sets-eyes-firmly-Sir-Bobby-Charlton-s-time-scorer-crown.html

[zudomiriku]

Wayne Rooney Must Take Chance to Chase England Goals Record and Prove Leadership



Wayne Rooney was perhaps not a unanimously approved selection to be the new captain of England's national team, but the Manchester United star is Roy Hodgson's choice to go forward as the leader of the side over the forthcoming Euro 2016 campaign and has an opportunity, over the next week, to show why his qualities made him the right call.

While England face two sides who won't necessarily pose any definitive answers for the longer term due to their relative weaknesses, San Marino and Estonia can be the ammunition Rooney in particular needs to stop further questioning headed his way.

Goals Galore?

Rooney is, over the next two years or so, likely to become England's all-time record goalscorer. He currently sits on 41 international goals, fourth in the list but just eight behind Sir Bobby Charlton—nobody has yet reached the half-century wearing the Three Lions badge.

It has become customary for players or managers to start sentences about expecting a win over such teams to begin, "With all due respect..."—but the truth is that San Marino are atrocious, and if England were to be capable of sustaining pressure, bringing a good tempo and some creativity to the game, they should easily win by seven or eight goals.

Past results against San Marino have seen England win by 6-0 and 7-1 (1993), 5-0 (2012) and 8-0 (2013).

There is nothing to suggest that kind of record should stop for Thursday's Euro 2016 qualifier, and with Rooney set to start up front alongside Danny Welbeck, a hat-trick—which would take Rooney level with Jimmy Greaves in third—shouldn't be out of the question.

England ✔
@england
After overtaking @themichaelowen in England scoring charts @WayneRooney targets Sir Bobby Charlton's record http://the-fa.com/hhllER #SwivEng

Estonia, the next opponents, will be tougher to break down, but they still conceded 20 in 10 games in qualifying for World Cup 2014 and will not be likely to trouble those looking for qualification to the finals.

It's a game England should be looking to win, and which the forwards in particular should be naturally looking to score in. There is no real reason why Rooney should not be coming out of these two international matches in third place in his own right in England's all-time scorers list, quieting the questions from those who have consistently doubted his efforts in the national shirt.

Impact on Attack

It's not just scoring that Rooney is required for, though; with England's team currently lacking much of an identity—in style, formation or midfield approach play, it could be argued—there is ever more expected of him as a creator as well as a scorer.

Rooney started in attack, but it was Welbeck who scored the goals against Switzerland in England's tough away opener, with Raheem Sterling involved in creating both strikes.

The new England captain, however, created plenty of chances before the second of those goals, with his four key passes the most in the game, per BBC Sport.

Against the packed, deep and rigid San Marino defence in particular, Rooney's movement and incisiveness in his play will be key in unlocking a frustrating opponent, so expect to see him dipping out of the forward line, picking possession up outside the box and looking to swap passes on the run to open up the lines of blue.

Once more, it should be acknowledged that success in this regard against San Marino, and even Estonia, will not necessarily bring huge praise for Rooney, but the failure to do so will certainly bring unwanted questioning.

Group Leaders, but One Captain

The most recent revelation from Hodgson's England squad has been the appointment of Gary Cahill, Jordan Henderson and Daniel Sturridge as "unit leaders" of the defence, midfield and forwards, respectively, per Sam Cunningham of the Daily Mail.

Each of these players is to be responsible for ensuring the different areas of the side know their roles and jobs on the pitch—but the head of the XI is still the captain, still Wayne Rooney.

The United man has been boosted by Adam Lallana saying there is a "great feeling" around the squad with Rooney as skipper, per BBC Sport, while Hodgson has also stated that Rooney has the right temperament for the job.

In two upcoming games now, Rooney has to show that.

They will be, in as much as any top-level game is, "easy"—but they still have to be won, and in a manner which befits a team which should in all honesty now go through the entire qualification phase with a 100 percent record. England's group is not tough, and they have already won their trickiest fixture.

If Rooney can guide the team through in that manner, if he can perform in front of goal and make an impact on the team's all-round attacking play, then vociferous manner or not, he will have vindicated the choice to make him captain and be an awful lot closer to being the country's all-time top scorer to boot.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2224538-wayne-rooney-must-take-chance-to-chase-england-goals-record-and-prove-leadership

[stamansa]

Lawan Inggris (San Marino) adalah lawan yg tak sepadan. Karena 11 pemain inti San Marino hanya 1 pemain profesional. Laga ini di atas kertas milik Inggris.
Memalukan jika hanya 1 gol yg di cetak Inggris di pertandingan ini