International Friendly's

[jimmyt]

Anyone got the odds for the friendlys over the next few days ?

[Napoleon Solo]

[jimmyt]

Whats the French squad looking like tonight ? Anyone got the info as on paper they should whoop the moroccans !!

[junior98]

Beckham to start against Austria

BBC SPORT | Football | Internationals | Beckham to start against Austria

[junior98]

Owen will collect his 88th cap when england face autria in vienna tonight , he will be in lines up with peter crouch in attack
Goalkeeper Carson earns his first cap between the sticks for the Three Lions ahead of the Euro 2008 qualifying match against Croatia at Wembley while Beckham is back in the starting line-up following his return from injury.

Aston Villa captain Gareth Barry is dropped from the XI in favour of Chelsea's in-form Frank Lampard, who could not break back into the side for the matches with Estonia and Russia when he regained fitness.

Chelsea's Wayne Bridge is preferred to club team-mate Ashley Cole at left-back despite the latter's availability after weeks out.

Manchester City's Micah Richards moves out to right-back while Joleon Lescott of Everton and Portsmouth's Sol Campbell make up the centre-half pairing.

Newcastle striker Michael Owen partner's Liverpool goal-getter Peter Crouch up front for the match in Vienna.

McClaren said that Beckham was in shape ahead of the friendly and potentially crucial home clash with Croatia.

"He's kept himself fit," he said. "Tomorrow night's game is very important for him."

On the decision which saw Tottenham shot-stopper Paul Robinson dropped to the bench after only conceding one goal in three club games he said: "Scott Carson has been about the squad for quite a long time.

"He was in the team for the European Championships with the Under-21s and had a busy summer - he did ever so well and his performances for Aston Villa have been very good.

"This game is an ideal opportunity for him to experience international football.

"I know my goalkeeper against Croatia on Wednesday - and when that game comes around we will all know who that is."

The former Middlesbrough boss said that Barry's exclusion was due to Lampard's excellent performances in the Premier League.

"That's the trouble with international football, and especially England - you are always leaving very good players out of the team," he continued.

"It is a friendly match: we are looking at different personnel.

"Gareth Barry performed excellently in three games while Frank Lampard was very unlucky to be left out [when] he came back from injury - but his form for Chelsea recently has been a revelation.

"He's playing some of the best football that I've seen him play."

Asked whether he should receive backing to stay in the job long-term - as suggested by some of his squad this week - he said it was not up to him.

"That's not my decision: it is up to the FA," he answered. "All we are concentrating on is the game tomorrow night.

"Hopefully the [Croatia and Russia] results will go right for us on Saturday night and we will go into the Croatia game still needing a win to qualify [for the finals in Austria and Switzerland next summer].

"It is hypothetical to talk about the future. The first six or eight months were very difficult but in the last six or seven we have made great progress.

"We were unlucky to lose against Russia. The results have been very good and we are playing as a team.

"The pressure is on Russia and there is also pressure on [their weekend opponents] Israel to perform."

[junior98]

England Win by more than single

[junior98]

Austria v England preview

England's finest may be condemned men but ahead of their penultimate supper Steve McClaren is demanding a performance from his side.


All eyes at the weekend will be honed on Russia's trip to Israel but on Friday evening it is Vienna that is the venue for England's friendly encounter against Euro 2008 co-hosts Austria.

For the travelling faithful it could well be a Bullseye moment - 'here's what you could have won' - as they contemplate not returning to the Austrian capital in the summer.

The doom merchants will argue Friday's game is meaningless but given the fact England could be playing Croatia on Wednesday in the knowledge a win would secure their place in the finals, it is understandable McClaren is taking the game seriously.

That said he has elected to name a somewhat experimental side as Scott Carson makes his international bow between the posts.

Paul Robinson's form has been less than impressive of late and the Liverpool man, on loan at Villa, will be desperate to impress as he looks to make the No.1 shirt his own.

In front of Carson a new-look back four will be given its head, as Sol Campbell and Joleon Lescott are flanked by Wayne Bridge and Micah Richards.

Barry bombed


Gareth Barry may have been England's outstanding performer of late but that has not saved him from the axe, as the in-form Frank Lampard makes a return alongside Steven Gerrard.

McClaren has been suitably impressed by David Beckham's showing against a Hollywood XI to hand him his 98th cap, with Joe Cole making up the quartet on the left.

Michael Owen will be looking to build on his return to good form on the international arena as he plays off Peter Crouch, in a partnership he is known to favour.

As hosts, Austria have had to rely on friendlies to shape their side in the absence of qualifiers and they will see the visit of England as being a key fixture in their preparations.

An abductor problem deprives them of the services of Andreas Ibertsberger, while there are doubts over both Martin Stranzl and Martin Hiden.

Roland Linz has been omitted as coach Josef Hickersberger begins to make tough decisions ahead of a busy summer.

It is fair to say England's players will see Friday's game as being a starter to the main course but should Israel falter against Russia then no-one will feel like eating in any case

[ONEDUNME]

Just seen England's team and, to me, it looks a good, well balanced one with enough talent to see Austria off by at least two goals. The only unknown factor is the inevitable "holding back" that the players will understandably do with an eye on next Wednesday's game.

8/11 is a must bet for me.