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Scotland suffer raft of withdrawals

November 14, 2013 - 20:49 | Football

Gordon Strachan will be without the services of Matt Phillips for Scotland’s friendly against the USA as the QPR winger is injured.

Scotland suffer raft of withdrawals The 22-year-old is the fourth midfielder to drop out of the squad following the withdrawals of James Forrest, Chris Burke and James Morrison.

Leeds United striker Ross McCormack, who scored all four of his team’s goals in Saturday’s 4-2 victory at Charlton Athletic, has been added to the squad following the withdrawal of Blackburn Rovers forward Jordan Rhodes, who picked up an ankle sprain in training.

It’s a really interesting fixture for us.

Mark McGhee

Earlier in the week, Strachan added Dundee United winger Gary Mackay-Steven and Brighton midfielder Craig Conway to his squad because of the absence of Forrest, Burke and Morrison.

Hull City goalkeeper Allan McGregor and Wigan Athletic midfielder Shaun Maloney are also injured while Manchester United midfielder Darren Fletcher is still unavailable. Scotland can be backed at 7/1 to beat the USA 1-0 with Robert Snodgrass available at 11/1 to open the scoring.

Assistant manager Mark McGhee said of the friendly: “It’s a really interesting fixture for us. They have, I think, a different mentality from European teams. We can look at them and see things that will maybe benefit us, that we can learn a little bit from.

“I’m quite excited about this game, even though it’s a friendly. I do expect them to be a better than decent team and opposition.”

Scotland squad: Scott Fox, Matt Gilks, David Marshall, Christophe Berra, Gordon Greer, Grant Hanley, Alan Hutton, Russell Martin, Charlie Mulgrew, Lee Wallace, Steven Whittaker, Charlie Adam, Ikechi Anya, Barry Bannan, Scott Brown, Craig Bryson, Craig Conway, Gary Mackay-Steven, James McArthur, Robert Snodgrass, Steven Fletcher, Steven Naismith, Ross McCormack.

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Rickie Lambert wins first England call-up

August 8, 2013 - 17:35 | Football

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Rickie Lambert scored 15 Premier League goals for Southampton last season.

Rickie Lambert wins first England call-up

Southampton striker Rickie Lambert has been included in Roy Hodgson’s England squad for the friendly international against Scotland at Wembley on 14th August.

The 31-year-old Saints star, who scored 15 Premier League goals last term, has never been included in a senior England squad before.

He has found the net 93 times in 170 league appearances for Southampton, helping the club climb from League One to the Premier League.

He plied his trade in the lower leagues with Macclesfield Town, Stockport County, Rochdale and Bristol Rovers before sealing a £1million switch to St Mary’s four years ago.

Jermain Defoe, Wayne Rooney and Danny Welbeck are the other three strikers named in the 25-man squad while Manchester United’s recent signing from Crystal Palace, Wilfried Zaha, who featured for the Under-21s at Euro 2013 this summer, is also included.

Zaha made his senior debut nine months ago in the friendly defeat to Sweden.

Steven Gerrard and Jack Wilshere return to the squad after missing the friendlies against Republic of Ireland and Brazil because of injury.

The visit of Scotland to Wembley will be the first time the two sides have met since 1999 when England won a two-legged play-off for Euro 2000.

In the 110 matches between the two sides, England have won 45, Scotland 41 and there have been 24 draws.

England squad for the Scotland game:

Goalkeepers
Ben Foster, Joe Hart, John Ruddy

Defenders
Leighton Baines, Gary Cahill, Ashley Cole, Phil Jagielka, Glen Johnson, Phil Jones, Chris Smalling, Kyle Walker

Midfielders
Michael Carrick, Tom Cleverley, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, Jack Wilshere

Wingers
James Milner, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Theo Walcott, Ashley Young, Wilfried Zaha

Forwards
Jermain Defoe, Rickie Lambert, Wayne Rooney, Danny Welbeck

England are rated at 22/1 to win the 2014 World Cup, with hosts Brazil available at 16/5.

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Six Nations – Youngs demands final push

March 16, 2013 - 13:59 | Rugby

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Six Nations - Youngs demands final push

England scrum-half Ben Youngs says there will be no repeat of the performance against Italy in the final match of the 2013 RBS Six Nations against Wales.

While the Red Rose will go into Sunday’s Millennium Stadium showdown with the potential to win a first Grand Slam since 2003, they will concede the title should the Dragons emerge victorious by eight points. England are quoted 5/6 to win in 80 minutes and 3/10 to win the 2013 RBS 6 Nations outright.

After accomplished victories in the first two encounters, Stuart Lancaster’s men were tested by France and were unconvincing against the Italians.

The previous display has put Rob Howley’s side as favourites in some quarters, but Youngs is adamant they won’t be that disappointing again.

“I know this side, we turned up against New Zealand, we turned up against Scotland and many other teams, I’ve no doubts that we will get it right and it will be a great game of rugby,” he said.

“2015 is the ultimate goal, it’s always been the goal with the World Cup being here. To win that you have to go through highs and lows, but I’m hoping it will be a high today.”

Youngs also believes it will be different to the Ireland game in 2011 when, having won their opening four matches, England succumbed meekly to the Emerald Isle.

He added: “With both teams having to win, I think at least you’re going to have two teams trying to play and hopefully that will create more opportunities, rather than one team trying to stop the other.

“That’s what happened in 2011 with Ireland. They didn’t have anything to play for, it was more to stop us winning the Grand Slam and that’s what they did.”

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Six Nations Rugby – England warned to be wary of France

February 21, 2013 - 20:26 | Football

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James Haskell has praised the team culture and work ethic Stuart Lancaster has instilled in the England side as they prepare to take on France on Saturday in the Six Nations Rugby.

Under the previous regime there were several off-field indiscretions, but Lancaster has produced a positive outlook which has seen the players remain grounded.

France are waiting for a massive game to get themselves together and, when they do, they can beat anyone in the world.

James Haskell

And Haskell has paid tribute to the teamwork and the side’s mental fortitude, saying: “Gone are the days where you have specific guys, a number seven for example, going after the ball. Everyone needs to be able to do that and everyone needs to be able to tackle.

“We take positives out of games but we don’t get too excited about it, we’ve just got to go away and work and strive to get better.

“You’ve got guys in this team that are consistently working on their core skills, their breakdown work, their passing so guys can step up to the mark.”

England are 2/7 to beat France at Twickenham and 10/11 to go on and win a Grand Slam, but Haskell, who spent two years at Stade Francais, says they are a dangerous prospect.

He added: “In the professional era the people who can get the best out of them, the likes of Toulouse, Toulon and Clermont, if you can harness that energy then you can put them in the right direction with a good structure, and I think France have that with Philipe Saint-Andre.

“We’ll do a lot of analysis, but I think they’re waiting for a massive game to get themselves together and when they do, they can beat anyone in the world.”

England have made three changes to their team with Manu Tuilagi, Courtney Lawes and Dylan Hartley coming in for Billy Twelvetrees, Haskell, who has had flu, and Tom Youngs.

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Six Nations Rugby – Twelvetrees aims to make an impact

February 1, 2013 - 19:04 | Rugby

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Centre Billy Twelvetrees hopes he can impose his game on the international scene after being handed a start for England’s Six Nations clash with Scotland.

Six Nations Rugby - Twelvetrees aims to make an impact

The Gloucester player received his first call-up to Stuart Lancaster’s Elite Player Squad three weeks ago and is in line to make his debut at Twickenham.

I’ve got to add something otherwise there’s no point me being in the squad.

Billy Twelvetrees

Having moved from Leicester Tigers to the West Country outfit for the start of the current season, the back has impressed throughout and Twelvetrees is looking to continue his progress.

He said: “From a personal point of view it’s been about getting my head down, but also imposing myself in training to make sure that I managed to stick my hand up.

“Also, it’s about getting the boys to have faith in me and trust me. I’ve got to add something otherwise there’s no point me being in the squad.”

Manu Tuilagi was ruled out of the Scotland game earlier in the week which has given Twelvetrees an opportunity to impress.

Once Tuilagi returns, the 24-year-old believes they will have several different options to call upon in midfield.

“I think what’s good here is that all the centres are different players and I think they all bring different attributes,” he added. “My skillset is slightly different than the next person. I’ve got my own ambitions and beliefs in my own ability.

“I really want to enforce them in the England team and that’s something I think I’ve been doing for Gloucester this year alongside Freddie (Burns) and the other boys.”

England are 1/14 to make a winning start against Scotland and are 11/4 to go on and secure the Triple Crown, while they are 9/2 to complete a Grand Slam.

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7/4 Scotland have a Gord chance of reaching Euro 2016

January 16, 2013 - 18:51 | Football

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Gordon Strachan has been unveiled as the new manager of Scotland and his country are 7/4 to reach the Euro 2016 showpiece in France.

7/4 Scotland have a Gord chance of reaching Euro 2016

bet365 spokesman Steve Freeth said: “With Scotland currently sitting at the bottom of Group A you’d suspect a trip to Brazil looks beyond them, but the expansion of Euro 2016 has us going just 7/4 about Strachan’s side making it to France.”

Scotland Specials

To Qualify for 2014 World Cup Finals

Yes 40/1
No 1/250

To Qualify for Euro 2016 Finals

Yes 7/4
No 2/5

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Edgy England reach last eight

October 1, 2011 - 21:18 | Rugby

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England set up a World Cup quarter-final clash with France with a nervy 16-12 victory over Scotland in Auckland.

Martin Johnson’s men laboured for the whole of the first half at Eden Park and went in at the interval 9-3 behind and in danger of suffering a World Cup exit themselves.

It’s another win – that’s all we’re here for and that’s all that matters.

Lewis Moody

However, they improved after the restart and eventually won the game thanks to a late, converted try from winger Chris Ashton.

The result leaves Scotland needing Georgia to shock Argentina on Sunday to avoid missing out on the knockout stages.

England, meanwhile, are 1/2 to see off France and reach the semi-finals and 6/4 to reach a third consecutive World Cup final.

England captain Lewis Moody admitted that his side need to do better in the knockout stages, but said that the win was all that mattered.

He told ITV Sport: “Full credit to Scotland. It was an incredibly tough day, they played a tremendous game.

“But we can only win the games in front of us and we’ve done that. We’ve come out on the right side of the result, but it was a tough game.

“It’s another win – that’s all we’re here for and that’s all that matters.”

France head into the showdown with England on the back of a shambolic 19-14 defeat to Tonga in their final group game.

Head coach Marc Lievremont accepts that there is much to improve on if his side are to test England, saying: “Never has qualification tasted as bitter as this. What we say tonight and throughout the week will be very important.

“We have to think about our qualification after two defeats in four matches. We have to refocus on the quarter-finals and talk about our pride, solidarity and honesty.”

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