logo
Talking points as England continue World Cup qualifying campaign against Andorra

Talking points as England continue World Cup qualifying campaign against Andorra

Yahoo20 hours ago

England continue their World Cup qualifying campaign with an away match against Andorra on Saturday, played in Barcelona.
Here, the PA news agency takes a look at the talking points ahead of the game.
Destination USA
Thomas Tuchel visited the Spanish Grand Prix at the weekend but is taking this match seriously (Bradley Collyer/PA)
Victories over Albania and Latvia in Thomas Tuchel's first two games in charge in March set England on the right path to North America next summer and they currently top Group K after two games, though their biggest rivals Serbia are yet to kick-off their campaign. However, a victory over the minnows in Barcelona will put Tuchel's men one step closer to the World Cup ahead of September's toughest game of the group in Serbia. The German is not taking the game lightly, naming his strongest possible squad, including players who are going to the Club World Cup later this month.
Brothers in arms
Trevoh Chalobah earned his maiden call-up to the senior squad after an impressive season for Chelsea and he has his sights on history. If he is able to get on the pitch against Andorra – or Senegal in next Tuesday's friendly – he will follow in his brother Nathaniel's shoes by representing England, making the Chalobahs the 21st set of brothers to play for England. Only two of them have been post-war, Bobby and Jack Charlton and Phil and Gary Neville, while Trevoh will be hoping his international career lasts longer than the six minutes 54 seconds Nathaniel managed in his one and only appearance in 2018.
The heat is on
England are already preparing for the extreme temperatures they are expected to face in next summer's World Cup and they have spent the week training in the 27-degree heat of Spain rather than at St George's Park. The players have been doing acclimitisation testing this week, consisting of cycling in sauna-like temperatures, and taking scientific tests on their core body temperature and reaction to heat. They will get some in-game experience of it against Andorra as well, with temperatures expected to be in the mid-20s when the match kicks off on Saturday tea-time.
Ivan the great
Most people thought Ivan Toney had sacrificed his England career when he made a money-spinning move to Saudia Arabia last summer, but Thomas Tuchel has brought him back into the squad. The striker scored 23 goals in 30 Saudi Pro League appearances for Al-Ahli, helping the side to win the AFC Champions League Elite competition. With Ollie Watkins also back in the squad after injury, captain Harry Kane has some competition in attack.
Down Andorra out?
England won 5-0 against Andorra last time they met (Nick Potts/PA)
This match is not a question of whether England will win, but how many goals will they score. Andorra are well down the FIFA rankings, in 173rd and below Papa New Guinea and St Vincent and the Grenadines, and have only ever won four World Cup qualifiers – two of them against San Marino. England have a healthy record against them, winning all of their six previous meetings to an aggregate of 25-0 and should strengthen that.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Road reopens after burst water main fixed
Road reopens after burst water main fixed

Yahoo

time26 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Road reopens after burst water main fixed

A busy village road has reopened after a burst water main was repaired. The A600 Tinkers Hill in Shortstown, the main road into the village from Bedford, had been shut since Wednesday but reopened at about 17:00 BST on Friday. Anglian Water confirmed it had fixed the leak. Bedford Borough Council thanked people for their patience - "and Anglian Water for resolving this issue ahead of the weekend". A diversion of about 21 miles (about 35km) had been in place. Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. Water leak on High Street could take days to repair A421 closed until Monday for old bridge demolition Bedford Borough Council

Saka left out of England squad to face Andorra
Saka left out of England squad to face Andorra

Yahoo

time40 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Saka left out of England squad to face Andorra

Arsenal forward Bukayo Saka has been left out of the England squad that will face Andorra in Saturday's (17:00 BST) World Cup qualifier. Atletico Madrid midfielder Conor Gallagher and Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins have also been left out of the matchday squad, with Watkins returning home with a minor injury, Advertisement Speaking on Friday, head coach Thomas Tuchel revealed Saka had only completed one full training session during the week, with his omission from the squad to face Andorra likely to be linked to his fitness. Saka, 23, is yet to play under Tuchel after missing the German's first camp through injury. It remains to be seen whether Saka will play a part in the friendly against Senegal on 10 June, to add to his 43 caps for the Three Lions. The winger missed three months of action between December and April with a hamstring injury, though he returned for the final two months of the campaign. It was confirmed on Friday that Watkins would be leaving the group to return to England as a precaution because of a minor injury. Advertisement It is unclear at this stage whether Gallagher's omission is down to a fitness issue. England are unbeaten in World Cup qualifying, winning both of their opening two matches against Latvia and Albania.

Sir David Beckham? King Charles III to honour football legend with long-awaited knighthood
Sir David Beckham? King Charles III to honour football legend with long-awaited knighthood

News24

time42 minutes ago

  • News24

Sir David Beckham? King Charles III to honour football legend with long-awaited knighthood

David Beckham is set to receive a knighthood from King Charles III next week. Beckham, a former England football captain and current co-owner of Inter Miami, has been in contention for a knighthood for years but was previously impacted by allegations of tax avoidance, from which he was later cleared. His wife, Victoria Beckham, will become Lady Beckham following the honour, with the recognition adding to David's 2003 OBE title and Victoria's fashion industry accolade. David Beckham will be awarded a knighthood by King Charles III next week in recognition of his football career and his charity work, reports said Friday. The former England football captain is set to be named in the King's Birthday Honours List, according to the BBC and other sources. Other sporting figures who have been awarded the title include Beckham's former manager at Manchester United, Alex Ferguson, and British tennis great Andy Murray. The Sun newspaper said he would take the title of 'sir' and his wife Victoria, a former member of the Spice Girls pop group, will be known as Lady Beckham. READ | Brooklyn and Nicola vs The Beckhams: Inside the rumoured family feud Beckham played 115 times for England as well as for a list of high-profile clubs including United and Real Madrid. He is currently the president and co-owner of US team Inter Miami and co-owner of Salford City, who play in the fourth tier of English football. The 50-year-old, who has long been in the running for a knighthood, was appointed an officer of the Order of the British Empire in 2003 - a lower award in Britain's honours system. Victoria later received the same award for services to the fashion industry. David Beckham was last month named in Time magazine's list of the 100 most influential leaders in philanthropy. Paul Grover -He is an official ambassador for The King's Foundation, supporting its education programmes and 'efforts to ensure young people have a greater understanding of nature' and has been a UNICEF goodwill ambassador since 2005. Beckham is understood to have been on the verge of receiving a knighthood after helping London win its bid to host the 2012 Olympic Games. But UK authorities placed a red flag on his nomination due to his involvement in an alleged tax avoidance scheme, according to previous reports. He was subsequently cleared. In 2017, British newspapers printed details of leaked emails in which Beckham criticised the honours system and the honours committee, according to the BBC. A spokesman for Beckham said at the time that the emails were 'hacked', 'doctored' and 'private'.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store