ENGLAND UNDER 21 UEFA TOURNAMENT

The 2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championship is the 24th edition of the biennial international football competition. 

England U21 has looked menacing in their opening group games of the tournament in Georgia and Romania, with Lee Carseley's Young Lions already qualifying for the quarter-finals at the weekend. 

Aston Villa's Jacob Ramsey and Arsenal's Emile Smith Rowe helped England beat Czech Republic 2-0 in their opening game of the tournament. A goal from the latter and Newcastle's Anthony Gordon helped them achieve the same score line against Israel. Germany, meanwhile, have fared a lot worse, and will need to beat England to keep their hopes of progressing to the knockout stages alive. A 1-1 draw against Israel to start with wasn't a disaster for them, but a 2-1 defeat to Czech Republic in their second game certainly was. 

In order to make it out of the groups, Germany will need to beat England and hope that Czech Republic don't beat Israel - if they do, then the young side will be out. Only James Trafford, Noni Madueke and Ben Johnson retain their places in England's starting XI from the side that beat Israel, with Lee Carsley opting to make wholesale changes to give his preferred players a rest. Tommy Doyle is the only outfield player in the squad not to make a start at the tournament as a result. It's by no means weakened, though, with the likes of Harvey Elliott, Jacob Ramsey and Cameron Archer all coming into the line up. Strong performances will leave Carsley with a difficult decision to make in the quarters against Portugal. Meanwhile, Brentford's January signing Kevin Schade leads the line for Germany, and will be hoping to score against England to give his nation the best chance at reaching the knockout rounds.

Through to the quarter-finals so far:

Group A: Georgia*, Portugal     Group B: Spain*, Ukraine     Group C: England* (*Group winners) 

U21 EURO group stage fixtures    

Match Day 1    Wednesday 21 June 

Group A Georgia 2-0 Portugal (Paichadze Stadium, Tbilisi) Belgium 0-0 Netherlands (Meskhi Stadium)

Group B Ukraine 2-0 Croatia (Giulești Stadium, Bucharest) Romania 0-3 Spain (Steaua Stadium) 

Match Day 2    Thursday 22 June 

Group C Czechia 0-2 England (Batumi Arena, Batumi) Germany 1-1 Israel (Shengelia Arena, Kut)

Group D Norway 1-2 Switzerland (CFR Cluj Stadium, Cluj-Napoca) France 2-1 Italy (Cluj Arena)

Match Day 3    Saturday 24 June 

Group A Georgia 2-2 Belgium (Paichadze Stadium, Tbilisi) Portugal 1-1 Netherlands (Meskhi Stadium,

Group B Romania 0-1 Ukraine (Steaua Stadium, Bucharest) Spain 1-0 Croatia (Giulești Stadium,

Match Day 4    Sunday 25 June
Group C Czechia 2-1 Germany (Batumi Arena, Batumi) England 2-0 Israel (Shengelia A)

Group D Switzerland 2-3 Italy (Cluj Arena, Cluj-Napoca) Norway 0-1 France (CFR Cluj Stad)

Match Day 5 Tuesday 27 June 

Group A Netherlands 1-1 Georgia (Paichadze Stadium, Tbilisi), Portugal 2-1 Belgium (Meskhi Stadium, Tbilisi)

Group B Croatia 0-0 Romania (Steaua Stadium, Bucharest), Spain 2-2 Ukraine (Giulești Stadium, Bucharest)

Group C Table: England top 9 pts: Israel 4 pts: Czech Rep 3 pts: Germany 1 pt

Source: UEFA
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

22 June 2023

20:00

Germany	1–1	Israel
Bisseck  26'	Report	Turgeman  20'

Ramaz Shengelia Stadium, Kutaisi

Attendance: 2,442

Referee: Willy Delajod (France)

22 June 2023

20:00

Czech Republic	0–2	England
	Report	Ramsey  47' Smith Rowe  90+4'

Adjarabet Arena, Batumi

Attendance: 8,168

Referee: Horațiu Feşnic (Romania)

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25 June 2023

20:00

England	2–0	Israel
Gordon  15' Smith Rowe  68'	Report

Ramaz Shengelia Stadium, Kutaisi

Attendance: 5,106

Referee: Rade Obrenović (Slovenia)

25 June 2023

20:00

Czech Republic	2–1	Germany
Sejk  33' Vitík  87'	Report	Stiller  70'

Adjarabet Arena, Batumi

Attendance: 5,023

Referee: Espen Eskås (Norway)

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28 June 2023

20:00

England	2–0	Germany
Archer  4' Elliott  21'	Report

Adjarabet Arena, Batumi

Attendance: 9,587

Referee: Aliyar Aghayev (Azerbaijan)

28 June 2023

20:00

Israel	1–0	Czech Republic
Gandelman  82'	Report

Ramaz Shengelia Stadium, Kutaisi

Attendance: 2,175

Referee: Duje Strukan (Croatia)

To come: Quarter-Finals

Saturday: Georgia v Israel: Spain v Switzerland 

Sunday: France v Ukraine: England v Portugal

FOOTBALL IN ISRAEL

80th anniversary In 2008. Around a thousand teams, ranging from young children, youth, adults, both men and women numbering a total of some 30,000 players who are registered at the IFA and take part all year round in domestic competitions (League, State Cup and Toto Cup). The Association is responsible for the organization of all League and State Cup matches, operates Disciplinary Courts, in addition to housing an independent Referees' Union, and is the driving force behind hundreds of matches each week.

The FA’s pinnacle has been the management of all the National teams - from U-16’s to the ‘A’ team both Men and Women, with intensive activity all year round. Since its inception, IFA has always been a member of FIFA, the World Football Governing body. Up until the late 1970’s, Israel played its international matches under the Asian Confederation, both at national and club levels. The Arab boycott led to the ostracizing of Israeli football from the Asian confederation relocating Israel’s World Cup and Olympic Games qualifying competition to the Oceania group. At the time, the IFA continued pursuing its efforts to join the European fold and play under UEFA’s auspices.

Those efforts were deemed successful in the early 90’s were Israel has been accepted by the European football community as a full UEFA member – a fact which sees its national teams of men, women and youth as well as its affiliated clubs play in international competitions organized by UEFA.

The integration into Europe came as a breath of fresh air to Israeli Football but together with it came the difficulties of adapting to a much higher level and requirements.

Since its inception, the Israeli team has played in 436 official games (as of November 2010). These games have resulted in 162 wins, 104 draws, and 170 losses. The team last qualified for a major tournament, the World Cup or European Championships, in 1970, when the World Cup was held in Mexico. The team also won the AFC Asian Cup held in Israel in 1964.

Israel is the only team that has played in more than two regional international competitions—Oceania,  Asia  and Europe. Although Israel belongs to Asia, political tension related to the Arab-Israeli conflict has prevented Muslim and Arab teams from playing against the Israeli national team. Since 1991, Israel has been part of the UEFA, the European soccer federation.

THE FIRST WORLD CUP TIE

Twenty years after the first staging of the World Cup (1930) and the interference of a World War, Brazil kindly hosted the 1950 World Cup following on from the Second World War. FIFA clearly had some work to do and after last minute complications, FIFA was practically begging nations to bring their teams to fill the last three places. Understandably, British teams had not joined in the fun, so the home countries'  watch. 

The reason for not joining in may, not have been entirely blamed on the War! Maybe Snobbism on thre part of our FA! ? Nevertheless FIFA offered places to the winners and runners up of our own Home Championship, which were England and Scotland. The Scots did not want to accept this because they had not won the Home Championship! The England captain, Billy Wright, an international who eventually won 105 caps, along with the Scottish captain, George Young, tried hard to persuade the Scottish FA to accept the invitation. The Scots did not "play ball" and stayed at home. So England went on their own representing GB. 

The first World Cup match was played on June 24th at the Maracana, Brazil 4 v Mexico 0.

The English may have wished they had stayed at home, because having played in Pool 2, they beat Chile 2-0 on June 25th, then crucially lost to the USA amateurs (above) 1-0 on the 29th and then lost to Spain 1-0 on July 2nd. England came runners up in their group, second to Spain (who won 3 out of 3 with a goal tally of 6 for and 1 against). Only one team went forward to the next round, Spain and England went home in disappointment.

Argentina did not join the World Cup due to differences with neighbours Brazil, who apparently had been "rough" in matches between the two countries, played in the 1940s...no change there then? The Czechs declined, the French stayed at home having seen their proposed qualifying matches staged 2,000 miles apart and the Brazilians refused to change the venues. Germany was banned following the war. 13 teams competed, not an easy number to deal with. There were two groups of 4 (Brazil, Yugoslavia, Switzerland and Mexico) and (Spain, England, Chile and the US), one of three (Sweden, Italy Paraguay) and one of two (Uruguay and Bolivia)! Uruguay, who had won the first World Cup in 1930 on their home soil and had not played since, beat Bolivia in ONE match 8-0. 

(A serious note is that Alfred Bickel and Erik Nilsson of Sweden both played in the final stages of the World Cup before and after the Second World War; the only men to do this!)

UNDERDOGS AND "The Bogotá Bandit"

23rd June 2016 was one of the most momentous days in British history – YES!! we voted for Brexit in a referendum. 

It seems that it may have all been Leicester City’s fault! The argument put forward was that with Leicester City being the most successful underdogs ever, having won the Premier League title the previous month, it became acceptable for the public to support the underdog – so we voted for Brexit. Worse still – Leicester’s triumph became well-known the world over and so when the Americans had their Presidential elections in November Donald Trump was voted in for the very same reason, the Yanks supported the underdog. Leicester City have a lot to answer for!!

More associated with our national game, was the transfer of Charlie Mitten  from Manchester United to the Colombian Club, Santa Fe! Mitten, born in Myanmar, had outshone Stanley Matthews when United played Blackpool in the 1948 FA Cup Final (In his four years at United, he helped the club finish as runners-up in the First Division three times and in fourth place once) and as a result the well informed Sante Fe, president phoned Mitten in his New York "tour" hotel room. Neil Franklin and George Mountford had previously been "hooked" from Stoke City by the Santa Fe club. Both players recommended Mitten who was on £8 a week at Stoke (the maximum wage in Britain was £12 a week) and Santa Fe was offering a £10,000 signing on fee. Mitten was also attracted by offer of a new house, maid, chauffeur and car, and couldn't refuse, although he knew that the Colombians were not affiliated to FIFA and so he would become a football "outlaw". 

Mitten flew down to Bogota on June 23rd, from the tour, to seal the deal (£5,000 annual salary, £35 win bonus, passage for family) and when United manager Matt Busby heard of the deal, he was heard to say; "Good God, do they need a manager?"

Mitten scored 25 goals in his first season and also was highly regarded, playing in a "Select" XI against World Cup winners, Uruguay, alongside heroes such as Alfredo di Stefano and Hector Rial (footballing "royalty"), winning 3-1. Sadly for Mitten, FIFA readmitted the DiMayor League with the understanding that "outlaws" would be sent home. Mitten was suspended by United and "sold" with Real Madrid showing an interest, but his wife was "homesick" so he decided to join Fulham instead.

Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1946–1950	Manchester United	142	(50)
1950–1951	Independiente Santa Fe	34	(15)
1951–1955	Fulham	154	(33)
1955–1958	Mansfield Town	100	(25)
Total		396	(121)
Managerial career
1955–1958	Mansfield Town
1958–1961	Newcastle United
1962–1963	Altrincham

KEEPERS AND VILLAINS

On 22nd May 1967 Ron Springett won 33 England caps - he played in the 1962 World Cup finals and was a non-playing member of England's 1966 World Cup winning squad. His brother Peter played for England at both youth and Under 23 level, although never won a full cap.  What was unusual, was that both brothers were goalkeepers and what was unique was that on 22nd May 1967 they were involved in a transfer swap. Ron moved from Sheffield Wednesday back to his former club Queens Park Rangers while younger brother Peter moved in the opposite direction. Sheffield Wednesday also paid QPR £24,000 to complete the deal.

On the same day, 15 years later, in 1982, Scotland and the USSR (now "Russia" and other states!) drew their final group match at the 1982 World Cup Finals, in Spain 2-2, in the scorching heat of Malaga. That result saw Scotland pipped on goal difference by their opponents for a place in the next round, but Scotland were to win a victory in doping control. John Robertson and a Russian player were required to provide an after-match sample but both being severely dehydrated needed to drink plenty of fluids before a sample could be given - and in those days it wasn't just soft drinks that were available to the players but alcohol as well. Northern Ireland sub, Tommy Cassidy revealed in 2010 that he and Gerry Armstrong had to find a solution after being handed an unexpected problem after the game, following their memorable 1-0 victory. "We were sat under armed guards, next to FIFA doctors and officials, and it was just so funny that it took us so long. We simply couldn't pee. We tried and tried, drinking water, lager and even wine to help us. Gerry drank so much alcohol that he was little bit drunk."

The Russian tried to match John Robertson drink for drink, but lost!! He had to be carried out of doping control, somewhat worse for wear singing White Christmas! He was singing Danny Boy and all sorts. It was hilarious! even one of the guards began to sway to his singing. Northern Ireland side below.

PELE AND OWEN!

Pele scored his first World Cup goal on June 19th 1958, against Wales and is also the youngest footballer to have ever scored a goal in the men's FIFA World Cup. He netted this in the quarter-finals of the 1958 World Cup in Sweden, when he was just 17 years and 239 days old. Below-number 10.

A fraction over 12 years later, on 21st June 1970, he scored his last goal in the World Cup. This time the opposition was Italy in the World Cup final, at Mexico City’s, Azteca Stadium, in front of a 107,412 crowd. Pele scored the first goal in Brazil’s 4-1 victory. That victory saw Brazil become the first nation to win the World Cup three times with Pele the only player to appear in each of those three finals. The hat-trick of victories saw Brazil allowed to keep the original World Cup  – the Jules Rimet Trophy – although sadly that was stolen in 1983 and, with no Brazilian equivalent of Pickles the dog, it was never recovered and is believed to have been melted down.https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/62712350

and on June 21st in 2002,
Michael Owen gave England the lead against Brazil in the World Cup quarter-finals in Shizuoka, Japan but goals from Rivaldo and Ronaldinho – a free-kick from over 40 yards which beat David Seaman – saw 10-man Brazil into the semis against Turkey. What might have been!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2gZw-b6ugc

WACKIEST RECORDS???

Bit of a day off  today, (BEEN ON HOLS)....but have a go at this link and enjoy some amusing moments in our great game.

15 of the Wackiest Records & Accolades in Football.

 https://bleacherreport.com/articles/647517-15-of-the-wackiest-records-accolades-in-football#slide11

OR

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/647517-15-of-the-wackiest-records-accolades-in-football#slide11

JUNE 17th SUMMER FOOTBALL?

JUNE 17th 1954 There were a number of challenging international matches for England during 1953 and one of them was at the Moumental Stadium in Buenos Aires against Argentina. Having drawn with the Scots at Wembley in April 2-2, a month later the England team was on tour, playing ambitious matches once a week starting with a tempetuous game against the Argentinians (0-0), which seems to have continued as a feud since....including the Falkland conflict! Torrential rain brought an early end to the game, just as well by all accounts. 

Next, England were in Chile, where Tommy Taylor, a Barnsley lad, who had transferred to Manchester United, scored one, with Bolton's Nat Lofthouse, fresh from the FA Cup Final, on May 2nd, and a defeat by Blackpool, getting the other. An old fashioned centre-foward if ever there was one. 

There next came a 1-2 defeat by Uruguay in Montevideo, which wasn't helped by food poisoning in the England camp and then there was a final farewell to the Americas with a 6-3 win at the Yankee Stadium. 

Only 14 players were used on that tour. Walter Winterbottom, the England "manager" and Stanley Rous, the FA Secretary were up against a selection committee, full of stuffed shirts. Considering their position in the FA hierarchy, it was not easy to make efficient changes to the "selection committee" an independent body who did not ask their manager for help! 

There were World Cup qualifiers to play (v Wales and Ireland) in late 1953 and then a match to celebrate the centenary of the 90th Year of the Football Association founding in 1863; The FA had lined up "The Rest of the World XI" in October 1953, a friendly that ended 4-4. Entertaining stuff but? Having beaten Wales (4-1) in October and Ireland (3-1) in November, England's last game of the year was against the Hungarians on November 25th. 

These were the famous Magyars, with Puskas to the fore and at Wembley with 100,000 watched England soundly beaten 3-6. Before the game the Hungarians, paying attention to fine detail, arranged for a fog machine to be used at their training ground at Lake Bulaton to simulate weather conditions in "foggy" London on November. Scotland in April 1954 put up little resistance at Hampden despite a huge crowd of 134,544, England winning 4-2 with goals from Broadis, R. Allen, Nicholls and Mullen. 

A month later the England team was on tour again to Yugoslavia (0-1) and Hungary (1-7) warming up before the World Cup Finals. In the World Cup qualifiers, England (pictured below) and Italy were "seeded" and so it was deemed that they would not play each other. So England only played two matches in a group of 4, drawing with Belgium 4-4 aet on June 17th and three days later, beat Switzerland at the amusing Wankdorf Stadium in Berne 2-0. 

That was that for World Cup "Finals" group matches with 3 points to England, a win and a draw. Curiously Italy flopped with only one win. Then on the 26th the English played their Quarter-final v Uruguay, a seasoned World Cup team, with another defeat 2-4, despite playing some of their best football but after some erratic goalkeeper by Birmingham's Gil Merrick, their tournament was over. Uruguay lost to Hungary in the semis 4-2 and West Germany beat the Magyars 3-2, again at the Wankdorf! 

View topic - England 1954 | World Cup ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rm9CxBKQtnw almost certainly no sound! How many can you name?