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ENGLAND 2, NIGERIA 1
WINNING breeds confidence and England’s penultimate game before the finals of the World Cup produced an important Wembley victory against Nigeria.
First-half goals from Gary Cahill and Harry Kane lifted spirits for Gareth Southgate’s side as final preparations are made for their trip to Russia.
ENGLAND 1, ITALY 1
Former Oldham Athletic player James Tarkowski’s remarkable rise and journey from Boundary Park culminated in a first England cap in the draw against Italy at Wembley.
And the 25-year-old Burnley centre-back did not look out of place to stake his claim for a place in the squad for this summer’s World Cup, though he conceded a late penalty to blot an otherwise flawless debut.
Gareth Southgate’s England may have beaten a Netherlands side that failed to reach a second consecutive major football finals but there are signs of green shoots of recovery after a long winter following the sad debacle against Iceland during Euro 2016.
Almost two years after England failed to perform against Iceland in Nice, Southgate has qualified for the 2018 World Cup in Russia and the first of four friendlies will help the young England boss decide who will be on the plane in the summer.
ARGENTINA 2, ITALY 0
Lionel Messi, five times world player of the year, didn’t get to play at Manchester City.
The mercurial Messi failed to feature for Argentina against Italy to the huge disappointment of the 18,000 fans at the Etihad.
Messi was named on the bench but was pictured sat in the stand with City’s injured Argentine striker Sergio Aguero.
And though there were chants of “Messi, Messi” from the fans, there was no way he was going to make even the briefest of cameos.
Nick Cushing has praised two players from his Manchester City Women’s squad who have been called up to the England squad recently and also promised that City would not take the foot off the gas tomorrow despite suggestions that he could field a rotated side with an overwhelming 5-0 advantage from the first leg against […]
