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Post by bowranger on Nov 30, 2012 22:40:20 GMT
m.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/nov/30/footballers-u21-european-championship-israelArticle is linked above so won't bother copy and pasting it - but here's the QPR relevant part: Several former Premier League players have also signed the letter, including Didier Drogba and Frédéric Kanouté, both of whom now play in China. Players with QPR, Stoke, Blackburn and Ipswich are among the signatories along with footballers in France, Spain, Italy, Portugal and Turkey.Not sure who the QPR player(s?) from QPR who signed this, not been able to find out online, but interested to know who it was. Anyone know? In short, the letter was sent, signed by numerous premier league footballers, arguing that Israel was not a suitable choice of host for the U21 European Championships. This is on the basis that the Israeli government continues to hold two Palestinian footballers in prison without charge or trial date and in condemnation of the bombing of the Gaza football stadium, killing four young footballers. I know we could probably talk for hours on the ins and outs of the conflict, I know I could, but i'll try and focus on the footballing and QPR relevance of the story if you will.
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Post by mfnc on Nov 30, 2012 23:00:25 GMT
you cant just extract the QPR relevance without getting into the whole issue.
if you can bow then give it a go.
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Post by Macmoish on Dec 1, 2012 0:21:34 GMT
If you insist...
Statement & Signatories (including from QPR) EUROPEAN FOOTBALLERS DECLARE SUPPORT FOR PALESTINE 29.Nov.2012 We, as European football players, express our solidarity with the people of Gaza who are living under siege and denied basic human dignity and freedom. The latest Israeli bombardment of Gaza, resulting in the death of over a hundred civilians, was yet another stain on the world's conscience.
We are informed that on 10 November 2012 the Israeli army bombed a sports stadium in Gaza, resulting in the death of four young people playing football, Mohamed Harara and Ahmed Harara, 16 and 17 years old; Matar Rahman and Ahmed Al Dirdissawi, 18 years old.
We are also informed that since February 2012 two footballers with the club Al Amari, Omar Rowis, 23, and Mohammed Nemer, 22, have been detained in Israel without charge or trial.
It is unacceptable that children are killed while they play football. Israel hosting the UEFA Under-21 European Championship, in these circumstances, will be seen as a reward for actions that are contrary to sporting values.
Despite the recent ceasefire, Palestinians are still forced to endure a desperate existence under occupation, they must be protected by the international community. All people have the right to a life of dignity, freedom and security. We hope that a just settlement will finally emerge.
Signed by:
Gael Angoula, Bastia Sporting Club (France) Karim Ait-Fana, Montpellier HSC (France) André Ayew, Olympique de Marseille (France) Jordan Ayew, Olympique de Marseille (France) Demba Ba, Newcastle United (UK) Abdoulaye Baldé, AC Lumezzane (Italia) Chahir Belghazouani, AC Ajaccio (France) Leon Best, Blackburn Rovers Football Club (UK) Ryad Boudebouz, Football Club Sochaux Montbéliard (France) Yacine Brahimi, Granada Football Club (Spain) Jonathan Bru, Melbourne Victory (Australia) Yohan Cabaye, Newcastle United (UK) Aatif Chahechouche, Sivasspor Kulübü (Turkey) Pascal Chimbonda, Doncaster Rovers Football Club (UK) Papiss Cissé, Newcastle United (UK) Omar Daf, Football Club Sochaux Montbéliard (France) Issiar Dia, Lekhwiya (Qatar) Abou Diaby, Arsenal Football Club (UK) Alou Diarra, Olympique de Marseille (France) Soulaymane Diawara, Olympique de Marseille (France) Samba Diakité, Queens Park Rangers (UK) Pape Diop, West Ham United (UK) Abdoulaye Doucouré, Stade Rennais Football Club (France) Didier Drogba, Shanghaï Shenhua (China) Ibrahim Duplus, Football Club Sochaux Montbéliard (France) Soudani El-Arabi Hilal, Vitoria Sport Club Guimares (Portugal) Jires Kembo Ekoko, Al Ain Football Club (United Arab Emirates) Nathan Ellington, Ipswich Town Football Club (UK) Rod Fanni, Olympique de Marseille (France) Doudou Jacques Faty, Sivassport Kulübü (Turkey) Ricardo Faty, AC Ajaccio (France) Chris Gadi, Olympique de Marseille (France) Remi Gomis, FC Valenciennes (France) Florent Hanin, SC Braga (Portugal) Eden Hazard, Chelsea Football Club (UK) Charles Kaboré, Olympique de Marseille (France) Diomansy Kamara, Eskisehispor Kulübü (Turkey) Frédéric Kanouté, Beijin Guoan (China) Anthony Le Tallec, AJ Auxerre (France) Djamal Mahamat, Sporting Braga (Portugal) Steve Mandanda, Olympique de Marseille (France) Kader Manganne, Al Hilal Riyad Football Club (Saudi Arabia) Sylvain Marveaux, Newcastle United (UK) Nicolas Maurice-Belay, FC Girondins de Bordeaux (France) Cheikh M’bengué, Toulouse Football Club (France) Jérémy Menez, Paris Saint-Germain Football Club (France) Arnold Mvuemba, Olympique Lyonnais (France) Laurent Nardol, Chartres Football Club (France) Mahamadou N’diaye, Vitoria Sport Club Guimares (Portugal) Mamadou Niang, Al-Sadd SC (Qatar) Mbaye Niang, SM Caen (France) Fabrice Numeric, FK Slovan Duslo Sala (Slovakia) Billel Omrani, Olympique de Marseille (France) Lamine Sané, FC Girondins de Bordeaux (France) Mamady Sidibé, Stoke City Football Club (UK) Momo Sissoko, Paris Saint-Germain Football Club (France) Cheikh Tioté, Newcastle United (UK) AdamaTraoré, Melbourne Victory (Australia) Armand Traoré, Queen Park Rangers FC (UK) Djimi Traore, Olympique de Marseille (France) Moussa Sow, Fenerbahçe Spor Kulübü (Turkey) Hassan Yebda, Granada Football Club (Spain)
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Post by mfnc on Dec 1, 2012 0:55:01 GMT
lot of traore's?
i hate this kind of thread on a football site.
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Post by bowranger on Dec 1, 2012 2:23:49 GMT
lot of traore's? i hate this kind of thread on a football site. What, threads involving QPR players in the public eye? We have threads about current and ex players saying anything and everything, threads about racism, homophobia and anti-semitism without anything explicitly to do with QPR whatsoever. If Barton's accent or a player who's never played for us going to prison etc. are ok, I have no idea why a group of footballers, largely from the same division we play in, of which two are regular QPR starting 11 players (Diakite and Traore), putting their names to an important political statement covered by the mainstream media is not. I even stated that I don't seek a political discussion on it - I wanted to know who the QPR players were and I thought it was interesting. You know, being a follower of QPR and all. But whatever, you're the one with the mod privileges - if you hate it, delete it. But if you hate a "thread like this on a football site", i'd say you must probably hate a fair chunk of this website.
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Post by Macmoish on Dec 1, 2012 7:48:49 GMT
I think it's fair/legitimate and within the "Guidelines" of this Messageboard to have posted this is what some footballers, - especially since they're a couple of QPR players - are saying/urging...on this subject. But what we're NOT going to get into on this board - unlike some threads I've seen on other boards (and even got involved in the past) is a debate into the Arab-Israel conflict - or any other political subject. [*See the "Welcome" to this Board Guidelines qprreport.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=general&action=display&thread=8
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Post by cpr on Dec 1, 2012 9:06:53 GMT
Tournament will be held in England anyway.
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Post by bowranger on Dec 1, 2012 11:45:03 GMT
I think it's fair/legitimate and within the "Guidelines" of this Messageboard to have posted this is what some footballers, - especially since they're a couple of QPR players - are saying/urging...on this subject. But what we're NOT going to get into on this board - unlike some threads I've seen on other boards (and even got involved in the past) is a debate into the Arab-Israel conflict - or any other political subject. [*See the "Welcome" to this Board Guidelines qprreport.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=general&action=display&thread=8 Why are you giving me the rules to read? Before you even said anything my first post makes it abundantly clear that it wasn't intended to be a political thread - that's what the whole bottom line of the OP was. I know the rules, that's why I reiterated it. Don't recall you felt the need to repost the rules when you were bringing up Tony Fernandes making a similar statement? You even went so far as to say you were "surprised and disappointed" by him doing that whereas I just asked a question and repeated a news story. I didn't "insist" at all - but thanks for answering my question on who the QPR players were.
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Post by Macmoish on Dec 1, 2012 11:50:23 GMT
Apologies if you misunderstood: You're being oversensitive... I was being facetious re the "Since you insist" -
If I didn't want this thread to remain, I'd have locked it/move it - or even in Extremis, deleted it.
Clearly I didn't
I reposted the rules link - Not just for you - but as part of my explanation why posting this was within the parameters of this board. And what it should not then move on to - i.e. Discussing the merits/getting into the Middle East situation, etc...
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Post by bowranger on Dec 1, 2012 11:51:11 GMT
Apologies if you misunderstood: You're being oversensitive... I was being facetious re the "Since you insist" - If I didn't want this thread to remain, I'd have locked it/move it - or even in Extremis, deleted it. Clearly I didn't I reposted the rules link - Not just for you - but as part of my explanation why posting this was within the parameters of this board. And what it should not then move on to - i.e. Discussing the merits/getting into the Middle East situation, etc... Legit, understood.
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Post by Macmoish on Dec 3, 2012 23:28:57 GMT
Scratch one of the signatories, so he claims AP Yohan Cabaye denies signing footballers' petition protesting against Israel as U21 Euro host NEWCASTLE, England — France midfielder Yohan Cabaye says he did not sign a footballers' petition protesting against UEFA's choice of Israel as 2013 European Under-21 Championship host. The Newcastle player was among 62 players who were listed on a petition last Friday supporting Palestinian groups organized by former Tottenham and Sevilla striker Frederic Kanoute. Cabaye says on his website that he "has never been a signatory" to the campaign which responded to Israel's recent military offensive in Gaza. Didier Drogba and Eden Hazard were also named beneath a statement on Kanoute's website that Israel was being rewarded "for actions that are contrary to sporting values." Cabaye says he was called by a teammate and just expressed his "sadness and compassion" for the families of young players who had been killed. www.greenfieldreporter.com/view/story/dca9e6910f144a2a8430401aeb5e40e6/SOC--Euro-U21-Protest-Cabaye
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Post by Macmoish on Dec 3, 2012 23:30:31 GMT
Independent Robert Earnshaw: 'I saw two rockets come across the sky' Despite being caught up in the recent conflict in Israel, Maccabi's Robert Earnshaw tells Simon Hart in Tel Aviv that the choice of the country to host next summer's European U21 Championship is a good one Simon Hart Robert Earnshaw stands on the hotel balcony, 11 floors up, and surveys the city spread out before him. On his left is a sparkling sliver of Mediterranean Sea, on his right a sprawl of pastel-coloured apartment blocks. In the mid-distance, he points out the sleek, high-rise tower he currently calls home; some 30 kilometres away, in the hazy backcloth, is the West Bank. This is Tel Aviv, the place where the Cardiff City and Wales striker came in search of first-team football and where, for a few disquieting days in November, with missiles toing and froing between Gaza and Israel, he gained a taste of the fear that can be a recurring companion in this ancient, troubled corner of the globe. On the day we meet, though, there is no sign of the recent hostilities that claimed six Israeli and more than 150 Palestinian lives – not here at the Hilton Hotel, with the sun shining and the cappuccinos served. "You look at it now and people don't think of Israel like this," Earnshaw reflects. For all the negative images, this is a place where "you've got the beach, you've got parks, you've got malls – you've got so much to do". This is the Israel that Uefa hopes we will see at the European Under-21 Championship next June. It was at the Hilton that last Wednesday's draw took place – putting England in the easier group alongside the hosts, Italy and Norway, and away from Spain – and it is Earnshaw's belief that Stuart Pearce's England have nothing to fear off the pitch either from the first major football tournament on Israeli soil. "This is the normality in Tel Aviv as you see it now. I don't think they've got anything to worry about," he says. "They are big on security [and] when there is a tournament like that here they'll be even stricter. I am sure this is the Tel Aviv that they'll see – the beach, the outgoing people." The choice of Israel as tournament venue prompted a condemnatory letter last week signed by a cluster of footballers from Europe and beyond, including Chelsea's Eden Hazard, Arsenal's Abou Diaby, five players from Newcastle, and Didier Drogba. The ethical argument may well go on but from a footballing viewpoint, Earnshaw considers Israel fit for purpose. Maccabi's own Bloomfield Stadium is one of the four venues along with Jerusalem, Netanya and Petah Tikva, and the Welshman says: "Some of the stadiums are not so great but then you've got some really nice ones. The new one in Netanya is a really nice stadium and the thing is the pitches are unbelievable – a really high standard." Earnshaw has also seen for himself the determination of the Israeli FA to ensure the show goes on next summer. He recounts an aborted trip to watch Maccabi's home match against Bnei Yehuda on Saturday 17 November. "I got on to the motorway and started to hear the sirens go off. All the cars started stopping and I saw two rockets come across the sky. I thought they were missiles but they were actually the intercepters from the Iron Dome. I thought, 'God what am I seeing here in the sky?' My sister and son [two-year-old Silva] were here and they started calling straight away and were a little bit panicky so I went back home." While Earnshaw, injured at the time, headed home, the fixture went ahead despite the misgivings of the club's Spanish management team, taking place at the behest of IFA president Avraham Luzon who, it has been suggested, did not want Uefa to see the abandonment of a high-profile fixture so close to the draw. That incident came three days into a conflict in which the air-raid sirens sounded in Tel Aviv for the first time since the 1991 Gulf War. Up to then, the region's tensions had felt "far away" for Earnshaw, but not any longer. "We were training and the siren goes off," he recalls. "The Israeli guys went off towards the building; we were asking, 'Why is there a siren?' I thought it was a drill or a precaution, then about a minute later we heard a big boom, and it was real. "You take cover for 10 minutes, go under shelter, and then after 10 minutes you come out," he adds. "For about five days, it was every day. The Iron Dome, the defence system here, is very good but it's not 100 per cent, that's the thing, so when you hear all these things going off, it is not a great experience to go through." There was a bus bombing five minutes from his home yet amid it all, he discovered, life went on. "It is rockets, missiles, and then half an hour later everybody is in a restaurant or coffee shop, and I'm thinking, 'Is this the same place I was at half an hour ago?'." Earnshaw arrived in Israel in September, lured by the promise of regular football denied him at Cardiff and by the "appealing" picture that general manager Jordi Cruyff, once a Manchester United player, sold him of arguably "the biggest club in Israel". The prospect of working with coach Oscar Garcia, previously in charge of Barcelona's youth team, and thus gaining an insight into the methods of La Masia – "all the habits, the football, the small-sided games" – was another persuasive factor. He continues: "Coming abroad is not for me going off the radar – it is actually getting on the radar. Maccabi Tel Aviv were in the Europa League last year. Playing at Cardiff I wouldn't be looking at the possibility of European football. People have to realise that I could be in the Champions League in six months' time – that was a big factor, to try and get the club into it." Injuries have limited his contribution for the Ligat ha'Al leaders, though he scored his second goal in a cup tie against Hapoel Haifa last Tuesday. "It is a season-long loan. In January there are possibilities it could carry on till the end of the season or not, but we'll see." Whatever happens, this has been an eye-opening experience for the 31-year-old, whose career began at Cardiff and includes spells at West Bromwich, Norwich, Derby and Nottingham Forest, with 166 league goals. He is enjoying the buzz of Israel's commercial capital, home to some 400,000 people. "After one game we went to a restaurant, it was about one in the morning and the place was packed. It is always busy, no matter what time of day, and the food is incredible." Sightseeing trips have proved memorable too, not least one to Jerusalem. "We went into the old city where Jesus was taken from the cross and laid out [the Church of the Holy Sepulchre], and the Wailing Wall, where everybody is praying and you get all the different religions together. I'm not really religious but when you go there, you feel the religion. "The Dead Sea was the craziest thing ever," he adds. "It is so weird when you go in the sea and can't go down and you float – the water keeps you up." Weird is the least of it in Earnshaw's life outside the comfort zone. My other life I've always been into clothing and style. My interest started a long time ago, and I've now started to design clothes under the label Mr Msongo, a name from Zambia where I was born, including the grey hoodie I'm wearing (see pic). I work on the clothes myself together with help from a designer, and sell them online. Up to speed: Spanish lessons in Tel Aviv Working with Spanish coaches, it's a more thinking game and there's a lot of things I've picked up on which have made me a better player already – very small points that maybe you overlook when you play in England sometimes. They're very big on movement. A lot of people think you have to run around as much as you can, but sometimes you have to stand still, get the right ball; it's about the movement, where you move, why you're moving there. You're thinking before you move. When Gary Speed had the Wales job, that's what we started to do and it's good that I had some experience of that and it's great I have it again now. At Wales we improved dramatically under Gary Speed and it has been very similar here. I might become a manager or coach one day and if I do these are the things I'm going to look back on. www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/robert-earnshaw-i-saw-two--rockets-come-across-the-sky-8376470.html
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Post by CookesPie&Mash on Dec 4, 2012 15:42:50 GMT
Not in Israel.......... i mean come on that would be a really bad choice for the tournament !!! who the hell thinks up these things ?? they need to get real [glow=red,2,300][/glow].
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Post by Macmoish on Dec 6, 2012 19:39:21 GMT
For what it's worth -From the (pro-Israel) CAMERADecember 06, 2012 Ten Fake Signatures on Shrinking Soccer Petition? Frédéric Kanouté's anti-Israel soccer petition is shrinking. Maybe that shouldn't be a surprise — if the text of the petition is inaccurate, why wouldn't many of the signatures be, too? Initial news stories claimed 62 players signed the petition. But then Didier Drogba and Yohan Cabaye, whose names appeared on the petition, announced that they didn't actually sign it. Yesterday, we counted 59 names Kanouté's petition page — we didn't get a screen shot — suggesting that a third player's name was added without permission. As of this writing, there are 52 names. The following ten "signatories" apparently never signed, and perhaps never even saw, the petition, as their names have been removed: André Ayew, Olympique de Marseille (France) Jordan Ayew, Olympique de Marseille (France) Yohan Cabaye, Newcastle United (UK) Soulaymane Diawara, Olympique de Marseille (France) Didier Drogba, Shanghaï Shenhua (China) Rod Fanni, Olympique de Marseille (France) Charles Kaboré, Olympique de Marseille (France) Anthony Le Tallec, AJ Auxerre (France) Steve Mandanda, Olympique de Marseille (France) Arnold Mvuemba, Olympique Lyonnais (France) blog.camera.org/archives/2012/12/ten_fake_signatures_on_shrinki_1.html
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Post by cpr on Dec 11, 2012 9:12:42 GMT
Chelsea forward Hazard the victim of anti-Israel riddleBy Charles Sale PUBLISHED: 22:30, 10 December 2012 | UPDATED: 22:30, 10 December 2012 ..Chelsea, whose season has been overshadowed by the John Terry and Mark Clattenburg racism issues, have been caught up in another sensitive controversy involving Eden Hazard's political views. The Belgium forward was alleged to have put his signature to a statement signed by 62 footballers protesting against Israel hosting the European Under 21 Championship next year. The pro-Palestine petition claims Israel staging the tournament following their military offensive in Gaza will be 'seen as a reward for actions that are contrary to sporting values'. Hazard's believed involvement in the protest led to 81 of Chelsea's Jewish supporters, including a number of high-profile lawyers, putting their names on an email to the club's chief executive Ron Gourlay outlining their concern. The letter, copied to FA chairman David Bernstein, said it was inappropriate for Hazard to use his platform as a Chelsea footballer to air such sensitive political opinions and that he should apologise for the offence caused to some of the club's supporters. However, it emerged yesterday that Hazard had not contributed to the petition. His agent John Bico said: 'Eden never speaks about his political opinions and he certainly never signed anything.' Former Chelsea star Didier Drogba had earlier strongly denied endorsing UEFA stripping Israel of the tournament. Drogba had been one of the marquee players listed along with Hazard as having done so on the website of former Tottenham striker Frederic Kanoute Read more: www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/article-2246076/Chelsea-star-Eden-Hazard-caught-anti-Israel-riddle--Charles-Sale.html#ixzz2EjVNVke1 Follow us: @mailonline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook
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Post by Macmoish on Dec 11, 2012 9:27:37 GMT
Interesting
Another player saying he hadn't signed onto this statement
I of course disagree with the statement. And I think supporters of any club who disagree with what one of their players says (or what the Chairman says or does) on this or any issue should express themselves however they want on boards or in letters. Just as I have
BUT as long as players are permitted to speak out on any issue and take any side, I don't think it's appropriate for fans to contact the club and say a player shouldn't be allowed to say it. They have that right.
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Post by bowranger on Dec 12, 2012 2:33:57 GMT
Interesting Another player saying he hadn't signed onto this statement I of course disagree with the statement. And I think supporters of any club who disagree with what one of their players says (or what the Chairman says or does) on this or any issue should express themselves however they want on boards or in letters. Just as I have BUT as long as players are permitted to speak out on any issue and take any side, I don't think it's appropriate for fans to contact the club and say a player shouldn't be allowed to say it. They have that right. Yeah - despite coming from the other side of the debate, I think you've hit the nail on the head there. It seems odd to complain to the club about a players' view on it considering it's a political viewpoint on a current affair that's substantiated (by using that word I mean that it's materially based, not that it is "right" or "wrong", nor extreme or with the purpose of generating hatred. The views expressed in the statement are pretty mainstream in the political sphere - Amnesty International recently released a statement with similar focus/wording for example). It's not cut and dry like an issue of racism or homophobia in terms of being designed towards hate or oppression - and crucially it does not affect their ability to play football against different people and show them respect. To me it seems as ludicrous to say a player expressing their view on Palestinian solidarity should not be allowed as it would be to censor them for not liking nuclear power, or being vegetarian, or voting Labour/Conservative. By all means, disagree, but it seems weird for people to imply that they shouldn't have the right to hold that view. It's not hurting anyone. Also agree that it's interesting to see so many names dropping off the letter. My take on it would be a mixture of two main factors. Firstly, from what some articles and blogs are saying, it seems that the organisers canvassed opinion on the subject - but didn't make a proper distinction between those who were sympathetic and those willing to put their name on a public letter. So players who picked up the phone and essentially said "yeah, I sympathise with that view" ended up getting put on the list when they actually did not want to do that - which is at best a bit negligent and at worst really manipulative. Like any political issue, I would imagine it's the age old case of organisers being too keen to get people publicly on-board and not being disciplined and stringent about that. Secondly, I would imagine that the media coverage the letter got put some of the signatories off. There's a difference between having a view and wanting to deal with that in a big public forum. I can only guess, but I'd imagine that the fallout from this would make some of the players think that whilst they agree, they do not want to deal with the drama of making a political statement and were fearful for the impact it could end up having on their career. As in, you could imagine the chairman/woman saying "we're getting letters from fans on this, don't rock the boat". Which, whether you agree with the letter or not, seems a bit of a shame to me.
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Post by londonranger on Dec 12, 2012 4:02:52 GMT
Never get into a discussion of religion nor politics. Always deteriorates into a donneybrook.
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Post by Macmoish on Dec 18, 2012 12:05:11 GMT
FA
STUART PEARCE'S UNDER-21S WILL KICK OFF EURO 2013 FINALS AGAINST ITALY IN TEL AVIV
England Under-21s will begin their UEFA European Championship Finals drive against Italy in Tel Aviv.
The draw for Israel 2013 last month saw Stuart Pearce’s side grouped with the Italians, Norway and the hosts in the eight-team tournament.
Now the fixtures schedule has been confirmed and the Azzurrini will be the first Group A test for the Young Lions at Bloomfield Stadium on Wednesday 5 June.
England have faced Italy three times since Pearce took the reigns as Under-21s boss, drawing in the first game at the new Wembley Stadium as well as at the Finals of Euro 2007 in Holland.
However, most recently in a friendly away in Empoli in February 2011, a late Federico Macheda penalty consigned the Three Lions to a 1-0 defeat.
Three days after the opener with Italy, England will face their qualifying group opponents Norway at the Ha Moshava Stadium in Petach Tikva.
Pearce has a decent record against Norway of late. Having won both meetings earlier this campaign that saw his team top the group, in the other two head-to-heads with the Norwegians, both friendlies, England have won 5-0 and 2-0.
The Three Lions will be hoping they can secure their place in the last four when they line up against Israel at Jerusalem’s Teddy Stadium on Tuesday 11 June, their third and final Group A fixture.
Though England have played Israel only twice at Under-21s level, the two nations last came together at Barnsley for a friendly encounter in September 2011.
The visitors took a 1-0 lead into the break, but a much-improved second-half performance from Pearce’s men saw them run out 4-1 winners.
In Group B, the last three champions of this competition, Spain, Germany and Holland, are joined by Russia. The top two in each section go into the Semi-Finals. The Final will be played on Tuesday 18 June at Teddy Stadium.
England’s Fixtures 5 June – England v Italy, KO 9.30pm (7.30pm BST) at Bloomfield Stadium, Tel Aviv 8 June – England v Norway, KO 7pm (5pm BST) at Ha Moshava Stadium, Petach Tikva 11 June – Israel v England, KO 7pm (5pm BST) at Teddy Stadium, Jerusalem
Click here for the full list of Group A fixtures
STUART PEARCE'S UNDER-21S WILL KICK OFF EURO 2013 FINALS AGAINST ITALY IN TEL AVIV
England Under-21s will begin their UEFA European Championship Finals drive against Italy in Tel Aviv.
The draw for Israel 2013 last month saw Stuart Pearce’s side grouped with the Italians, Norway and the hosts in the eight-team tournament.
Now the fixtures schedule has been confirmed and the Azzurrini will be the first Group A test for the Young Lions at Bloomfield Stadium on Wednesday 5 June.
England have faced Italy three times since Pearce took the reigns as Under-21s boss, drawing in the first game at the new Wembley Stadium as well as at the Finals of Euro 2007 in Holland.
However, most recently in a friendly away in Empoli in February 2011, a late Federico Macheda penalty consigned the Three Lions to a 1-0 defeat.
Three days after the opener with Italy, England will face their qualifying group opponents Norway at the Ha Moshava Stadium in Petach Tikva.
Pearce has a decent record against Norway of late. Having won both meetings earlier this campaign that saw his team top the group, in the other two head-to-heads with the Norwegians, both friendlies, England have won 5-0 and 2-0.
The Three Lions will be hoping they can secure their place in the last four when they line up against Israel at Jerusalem’s Teddy Stadium on Tuesday 11 June, their third and final Group A fixture.
Though England have played Israel only twice at Under-21s level, the two nations last came together at Barnsley for a friendly encounter in September 2011.
The visitors took a 1-0 lead into the break, but a much-improved second-half performance from Pearce’s men saw them run out 4-1 winners.
In Group B, the last three champions of this competition, Spain, Germany and Holland, are joined by Russia. The top two in each section go into the Semi-Finals. The Final will be played on Tuesday 18 June at Teddy Stadium.
England’s Fixtures 5 June – England v Italy, KO 9.30pm (7.30pm BST) at Bloomfield Stadium, Tel Aviv 8 June – England v Norway, KO 7pm (5pm BST) at Ha Moshava Stadium, Petach Tikva 11 June – Israel v England, KO 7pm (5pm BST) at Teddy Stadium, Jerusalem
Click here for the full list of Group A fixtures
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Post by Deleted on Dec 18, 2012 12:56:08 GMT
I am sure the competition will pass without any safety fears, plenty of countries here in Europe which are probably more dangerous for the players.
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