It’s all about to kick-off

With Roy’s announcement of the initial 26 man squad on Monday the feeling that we’re entering into tournament territory, or frenzy, is in the air. The Premier League is over, Leicester deservedly taking the prize, the FA Cup and Champions League finals still to be played, but on Sunday the 3 Lions run out at Wembley to face the first of 3 opponents in their final preparations for Euro 2016.

The surprise, or maybe not, in the extended squad was the inclusion of Man Utd’s wonder Marcus Ashford and the criticism the lack of centre halfs picked by Roy.

This England squad looks like it has goals in it, but it also looks like it can concede them, even with the safest pair of English hands available. With Rashford scoring 7 in 16 appearances for United, and Kane and Vardy being the Premier League top scorers, the ‘weaker’ of the 5 selections on current form are Sturridge and captain Rooney.

So, as usual, it’ll likely be another roller coaster ride for England in this years Euro 2016.

First however, we have Turkey (22/5), Australia (27/5) and Portugal (2/6) to test the 3 Lions and Roy has to submit the final 23 names by the end of May.

Turkey, the opponents on Sunday have never beaten England, in fact have never scored against England, with a couple of 8-0 victories. However Turkey have developed as a footballing national over later years, and our last meeting in 2003 was a 0-0 draw.

What will be interesting over the remaning 21 days (yes, only 3 weeks to go) is to see how the 3 Lions develop as a team before the big test comes. We start the final tournament as the only team to have a 100% record from the qualification phase, however we didn’t have the hardest group.

So, to Sunday, England to maintain their record against Turkey, 2-0, maybe even with Rashford strengthening his bid for a place in the final 23.

Our men in Poland & Ukraine

Gerrard leads the way!

Roy confirmed in the recent FA Press Conference that Steven Gerrard will Captain England, a wise and relatively easy choice.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and John Ruddy are the two new boys to feature in the squad. Ruddy coming in as No. 3 keeper behind Rob Green according to John Ruddy himself, I hope we don’t need to try out Number 2!

Hodgson explained his squad choice as including several players that can play effectively in more than one position, for example having selected only 4 forwards with the backup of Walcott.

During the Press Conference Roy expressed himself with a manner of confidence and conviction, and after a series of questions about the omission of Rio, commented “that’s enough questions about Ferdinand”.

He can, at least, understand all the Press questions.

Now what remains to be seen is how he and his new staff including Gary Neville will get the team to perform in the pre-tournament friendlies.

First up Norway in just over a week