Football: England sign off for Euro with win
Injury concerns for newly appointed manager Hodgson.
PARIS:
England completed their preparations for Euro 2012 by securing a 1-0 victory over Belgium through a 36th-minute goal by Manchester United striker Danny Welbeck. They open their Euro 2012 campaign against France in Donetsk on June 11.
Having lost Frank Lampard and Gareth Barry to injury earlier this week, England manager Roy Hodgson also saw both his first-choice centre-backs, Gary Cahill (jaw) and John Terry (hamstring), depart the fray early at England’s national stadium.“Gary Cahill is more of a concern because it’s a jaw injury,” said Hodgson. “We hope that the scan doesn’t show any fracture and that he can still play. John Terry felt his hamstring. It wasn’t major but we still need to scan it to be 100 per cent sure.”
In other friendlies, Netherlands trounced Northern Ireland 6-0 while Portugal lost to Turkey by 3-1. Denmark won their preparatory match against Australia 2-0 and Croatia secured a 1-1 draw against Norway. Poland completed their preparations in style, crushing minnows Andorra 4-0 to extend their unbeaten run to four games.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 4th, 2012.
England completed their preparations for Euro 2012 by securing a 1-0 victory over Belgium through a 36th-minute goal by Manchester United striker Danny Welbeck. They open their Euro 2012 campaign against France in Donetsk on June 11.
Having lost Frank Lampard and Gareth Barry to injury earlier this week, England manager Roy Hodgson also saw both his first-choice centre-backs, Gary Cahill (jaw) and John Terry (hamstring), depart the fray early at England’s national stadium.“Gary Cahill is more of a concern because it’s a jaw injury,” said Hodgson. “We hope that the scan doesn’t show any fracture and that he can still play. John Terry felt his hamstring. It wasn’t major but we still need to scan it to be 100 per cent sure.”
In other friendlies, Netherlands trounced Northern Ireland 6-0 while Portugal lost to Turkey by 3-1. Denmark won their preparatory match against Australia 2-0 and Croatia secured a 1-1 draw against Norway. Poland completed their preparations in style, crushing minnows Andorra 4-0 to extend their unbeaten run to four games.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 4th, 2012.