Former Arsenal and England midfielder Ray Parlour believes the Three Lions should play to their strengths in Qatar ‘22 and prioritise attack over defence. 

"I wanted Gareth to go with a back four against Iran, so I’m really pleased he did.

"There was a lot of talk before the World Cup that he would go with a three, with wing-backs, but we have so many good attacking players we’re wasting a player going forward with three at the back. 

"I much prefer it when we start on the front foot as we’re a young team."

It’s a young team that has so far greatly impressed, thrashing Iran 6-2 in their opening fixture and doing so with no little style. Saka was sensational. Sterling quietened his critics with a well-taken goal. 

Yet remarkably, standing out from an array of notable performances, at the heart of all that was good about England, was an outstanding and mature display from the youngest member of their squad.

What did the popular Talksport pundit make of Jude Bellingham’s debut on the world stage?

"He’s brilliant isn’t he. I knew that going into the tournament. It’s a big occasion, a World Cup and he’s 19 years old. To just rock up and be unfazed by everything is incredible.

"I like the old-fashioned midfielders like that. My idol growing up was Bryan Robson, a box-to-box midfielder who could do anything. He could pass, tackle, and he had a feisty side to him, which Bellingham has got as well.

"So, he’s going to be some star going forward, so long as he keeps his feet on the ground and keeps learning from players. This could be a huge World Cup for him."

Start as we mean to go on. Good time to finally get my first goal for England. Another dream come true. Let’s keep pushing!🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🙌🏽 pic.twitter.com/NHenrrhwsN

— Jude Bellingham (@BellinghamJude) November 21, 2022

Just as it could be a huge tournament for a certain Harry Kane, who is in contention to become the first ever player to win two Golden Boot awards.

A rare blank fired last Monday, however, suggests this unique feat may be a miracle too far. Parlour though is having none of it.  

"Harry could get a couple in the next game and that’s how quickly things can change. The good thing about Harry against Iran was that he was always involved.

"If he’s not getting on the end of chances, then he’s setting people up. He’s always lively and always wants the ball. He would be a fantastic number nine for any nation so we’re lucky to have him. 

"I can definitely see him bang some goals in and he’s got every chance for a Golden Boot."

Parlour’s fans will be familiar with this infectious optimism and enthusiasm that comes through in every show he does.

And here it extends beyond Kane’s hopes to out-score his peers and focuses on England’s chances in what might very possibly be a wide-open tournament.

"You just have to believe they can do it. That’s what it’s all about. And then it’s all about the old cliché and taking one game at a time. 

"Injuries will be important, and they need a bit of luck along the way. If all of that happens, then England have every chance of reaching the final."

Should the Three Lions go all the way, no doubt their young guns will play a huge part in getting them there, no-one more so than Bukayo Saka who has already shown his worth with two opening day goals.

Does it concern Parlour – a lifelong Gooner - that such eye-catching performances will only add to the transfer speculation that surrounds the 21-year-old? 

"A lot of clubs will be very interested in Saka because he’s been playing so well. I think Arsenal are trying to do a deal at the moment and I hope he looks at it and thinks, we are building something, and we can be successful, and I want to be a part of that. 

"Obviously, if he doesn’t sign there will be lots of clubs interested because he’s such a good little player but that’s football. The best teams will always be interested in the best players.

"We had it when I was a player, with Henry and Bergkamp. But when you start to become successful as a team why would he want to leave? I hope he stays and I’m sure every Arsenal fan will celebrate when he signs that new contract."

Switching our attention to club football, it could be said that the World Cup came at the worst possible time for the Gunners, as they stretched out a lead at the summit of the Premier League against all expectation.

Does he believe Mikel Arteta’s men can maintain their title challenge on their return? And was he surprised by their early burst of form?

💰 “January is going to be important! There might be some money for Arteta.”

🔴 “They need another midfielder like Tielemans or a backup striker for Jesus!”

Ray Parlour explains what #AFC need to do in January to compete for the title 🏆 pic.twitter.com/zy6kLRRvH2

— talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) November 8, 2022

"I knew Arsenal were progressing because I was on their pre-season tour in America. I saw the intensity in training and how the players were really taking in what Mikel was telling them, taking it all on board and doing their jobs very well.

"They’ve done so well and kept it going but this is a strange World Cup, we know that, coming in mid-season. We don’t know what condition the players will come back in and that’s a big problem for all clubs

"If you’re Jesus or Martinelli and you think you’ve had a bad tournament that might knock your confidence. And injuries will be key as well.

"If Arsenal remain competitive, and stay in the hunt then who knows, but they still have to play City twice and they will be the crunch games for both teams."

Ray Parlour quickfire questions:

Score prediction for England v USA

• I’ll go 2-0 to England.

First goalscorer 

• I’ve got to go with Harry Kane.

Team to win World Cup

• Brazil.

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Last week’s ground for concern

All through the week we’ve seen more and more talk about Nicky Henderson’s decision not to run Constitution Hill at Ascot last Saturday.

Personally, I think it’s a pity that so much was made of it and that he’s had to argue his case to such an extent. I, for one, think he made the right decision.

‘Good, good to soft in places’ ground in November is very different from ‘good, good to soft in places’ in March because the latter comes after a whole winter’s worth of rain, and this year the racecourses are coming off a very hot, dry summer.

Good, good to soft in places in November can be like concrete four inches below compared to March, and that’s what does the damage.

Constitution Hill is a big, robust jumping horse – not the sort you would run on a quick surface because he's a totally different animal to smaller, lighter summer racehorses who are bred for quicker ground over shorter trips. Nicky’s judgement was sensible, especially for the horse’s first run of the season.

Protektorat is proving to be something special based on his performance in the Betfair Chase at Haydock last weekend.

A Plus Tard was bitterly disappointing, and that’s obviously not his true running, but, even so, the winner ran a good race. He’s a horse on the up and, if he gets his ground come the Gold Cup, he should be in with a big shout. Definitely one for the short list.

Let’s not forget State Man from last weekend either. He put in a good performance, despite people saying his jumping was a bit big.

He’ll be an exciting one to go over fences with, but I still think he’s a player in the Champion Hurdle division at the minute, particularly with it all going quiet around Vauban’s reappearance.

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Friday

Newbury’s Grade 2 novices’ chase (1:55pm) looks to be competitive, but it’s hard to get away from BEAUPORT and Stage Star.

Beauport really impressed in his first run over fences last month in what was a really solid race and there’s no reason why he won’t do the same again.

Stage Star is the favourite after putting up a good performance in Warwick a few weeks ago, jumping well to beat West Cork, but both horses still have lots of potential over fences and I’ll side with Beauport at the prices.

Then we’ve got the Grade 2 Long Distance Hurdle (3:05pm), which has a quality field. For me, though, it’s CHAMP who has the upper hand.

This is his seasonal debut, and previous form suggests first time up is when you want to catch him. Last year he beat Thyme Hill and Paisley Park at Ascot, and in 2019 he finished second to Sceaux Royal on his reappearance at Newbury.

Proschema, though a good horse, will have to take a big step up to beat Champ here. They all will, yet I think that DASHEL DRASHER is an interesting one and could be a bit of value. He’s got good chase form and is a recent winner over hurdles.

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Saturday

I’m looking forward to the Fighting Fifth Hurdle (2:10pm) at Newcastle this weekend when CONSTITUTION HILL goes up against stablemate Epatante, and I’d have to be with the young pretender.

It goes without saying that Epatante was brilliant last season, but I wouldn’t be alone in saying that what Constitution Hill did in the Supreme was better than anything we have seen in a very long time. Newcastle is a straightforward track and the ground should suit him.

The rest of the field would have to improve significantly to get anywhere close, so he’ll be hard to beat.

On Saturday, the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury (3:05pm) has plenty of quality runners.

I like the chances of both Corach Rambler and Gericault Rock, but FIDDLERONTHEROOF just about gets my vote. He’s a high-class horse, is still only eight and he’s ultra-consistent.

There’s a good buzz around the Joseph O’Brien yard for Busselton too, and if he can win this, he’s a horse with a serious future.

Something to note in the Grade 2 novices’ chase (12:45pm) early on the card is that Harry Cobden is riding Gelino Bello rather than McFabulous, so I’d say that Paul Nicholls expects him to be his best chance in this race.

Gelino Bello, in my opinion, has more potential for improvement than THYME HILL, in addition to carrying three pounds less. T

hyme Hill isn’t the biggest horse in the world, and I’m not convinced he’s going to thrive over fences, whereas Gelino Bello might. My prediction here is that Thyme Hill might just beat Gelino Bello, but Gelino Bello could progress further in time.  

Other runners I’ll be looking out for on Saturday are Seven Barrows representatives LUCCIA (12:15pm) and WALKING ON AIR (1:55pm).

Luccia was so impressive at Sandown last season, winning by 17 lengths, that she should be very hard to beat with the expected natural progression, and I’m expecting similar things from Walking On Air.

It might only be his third start over hurdles, but that won’t be an issue coming from Henderson’s yard. I’d be very sweet on him.

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Sunday

AMERICAN MIKE is one I’ll be watching closely in the Grade 3 Monksfield Novice Hurdle (1:20pm). His winning performance last time out at Down Royal was very impressive, yet he should still improve from that and he looks very hard to oppose.

In the Troytown Chase (2:20pm), The Big Dog must have a good chance. His last outing was a winning run at Limerick in the Munster National where he just beat AIN’T THAT A SHAME by a head.

Ain’t That A Shame made a mistake at the last that day and was only beaten a length, so there’s every chance he can reverse the form. Another contender here is School Boy Hours, who has winning chase form and ought to be well tuned up.

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Whip Rules

Visually, I can see where the BHA are going with this, but the practicality of implementing and abiding by the new rules won’t be easy. The whip is used by jockeys for safety reasons as much as it is encouragement.

They use it to correct the horse and, therefore, prevent some dangers. In addition, it’s very difficult to pull your whip through to the other side from the backhand position. I can see the logic in the decision, but it won’t be that simple in practice.

 

SO far in my blogs during this current World Cup, I have written about a couple of very small international teams that I have seen play – Liechtenstein and Sark.

But I can top this by telling you about matches featuring a tiny ocean-based micronation. It is called The Principality of Sealand and incorporates a population of just two people although this sometimes increases for four!

I have been fortune enough to watch a few of their games:

Sunday 16th June 2013 

• Shalford 5, Sealand 3

• at Witley Recreation Ground, Witley, Surrey 

• Attendance 17

Sunday 19th January 2014

• East London Elite 1, Sealand 6

• at Chase High School, Southend-on-Sea, Essex

• Attendance 17

Monday 4th August 2014

• Dunsfold 2, Sealand 2

• King George V Playing Field, Dunsfold, Surrey

• Attendance 26

So who exactly are Sealand and where are they located? Well this is quite an extraordinary story!

Based on the offshore Roughs Tower platform in the North Sea approximately six and a half miles off the coast of Suffolk, Sealand has claimed to be an independent nation since Roy Bates founded it in the 1960’s.

Measuring 168 feet by 188 feet, it had previously been an abandoned and derelict military defence fort dating back to the Second World War. The Sealand Government web site explains how Mr Bates acquired control: 

“Roy proceeded to occupy Roughs Tower on Christmas Eve 1966…After consulting his lawyers, Roy decided to declare this fortress island the independent state of Sealand, claiming ‘Jus Gentium’ (Law of Nations) over a part of the globe that was ‘Terra Nullius’ (Nobody’s Land)… The founding of this country was marked by the raising of a newly designed flag.” 

Roy Bates passed away in 2012. Nowadays, his son Michael and grandsons James and Liam are the Princes of Sealand.

There is wide-ranging merchandise for sale on their website including Sealand stamps, the Sealand coat of arms, a Sealand identity card, mugs, tee-shirts, key rings, flags and a Sealand history book.

Meanwhile, the Sealand National Football Association have been playing matches since 2004. Guest players are procured from the English mainland. They have included former Bolton Wanderers defender Simon Charlton and actor Ralf Little.

In one of those fixtures I witnessed against East London Elite, Chay Press scored a stunning hat-trick for Sealand to defy all in play Betting!

Chay told me this week: “I became involved because I am good friends with both the younger princes, James and Liam. They invited me to play for their team as they knew of my passion for Sealand and football in general. Other players were recruited via the manager Neil Forsyth and Sealand’s wider community.

“Our team has received great backing from the Sealand Government. They have covered travel expenses for coaches, flights and accommodation as well as supplying kits and tracksuits for the players.

“On a personal note, I’ve enjoyed some highs on the pitch. I was the first man to score a hat trick for Sealand. I also grabbed an injury time equaliser against the Chagos Islands at Crawley Town’s stadium. Overall, I have scored four goals in five appearances - some of which were as a substitute.

“A low point for me though was missing a penalty on my Sealand debut when we played away to Alderney on the Channel Islands in 2012. I skied it over the crossbar in front of what seemed like the entire population of the island.

Local newspaper reporters and BBC News were there too. Much to all my mates’ delight, it was the worst penalty I’ve ever taken and I’ve produced some bad ones in my time!

“All in all, I feel it is a massive honour for me to represent Sealand. I’m pleased that my two friends have been continuing and developing what their grandfather started. It is cool how well recognised Sealand is around the world. I’m also hugely proud of the fact I’m a Baron of Sealand.”

The last Sealand football fixture was back in 2014. Having seen them fulfil three away games in the past, I often wonder what the betting odds would be for me to see a home match at Roughs Tower.

On reflection, that would be extremely problematic. The compact offshore platform is probably only big enough to stage five-a-side action and the match ball would no doubt repeatedly get kicked into the sea!

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*Credit for all of the photos in this article belongs to @TonyIncenzo*

 

FIRST PUBLISHED: 25th November 2022

Argentina’s unbeaten run is over. After 36 games without defeat, the South American giants suffered an embarrassing defeat against Saudi Arabia at the 2022 World Cup.

The Albiceleste were on the brink of tying Italy’s 37-game unbeaten record but a shock loss in Qatar has brought the entire nation crashing down to earth.

Argentina’s incredible run started back in 2019 but it is now dust – much to the dismay of sports betting punters. It truly was one of the biggest shocks in World Cup history…

Here, we look at some of the longest unbeaten streaks in international history – starting with Italy and their unbelievable 37-game run without defeat.

Ironically, Italy’s streak ended against Argentina in 2021 with the Albiceleste in the middle of their own unbeaten run.

The Azzurri had recently won the European Championships but fell short against Argentina and that sparked a major slump in form, with Italy then failing to qualify for the World Cup.

Longest International Unbeaten Runs

As you can see from the list above, some of the biggest nations in world football feature in the list, with Algeria and Argentina proving particularly successful.

Argentina’s run may be over but their chances of justifying World Cup odds are still alive – assuming they can get back to their brilliant best in their next group game.

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*Credit for all of the photos in this article belongs to AP Photo*

 

FIRST PUBLISHED: 23rd November 2022

England are not one of the most successful teams in World Cup history and it’s now 56 years since the Three Lions lifted the Jules Rimet trophy in 1966.

Gareth Southgate’s side reached the semi-finals in Russia four years ago and sports betting punters will fancy England to thrive in Qatar this winter.

FULL-TIME: England kick-off their World Cup campaign with a HUGE win over Iran! ✅🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 pic.twitter.com/Yx2nD4Xll4

— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) November 21, 2022

When England are good, they’re very good. However, consistency has been a major issue for the Three Lions over the years and that remains a real problem for the national side.

However, England got their 2022 World Cup campaign off to the perfect start with a 6-2 win over Iran. That result prompted us to explore England’s biggest victories at a World Cup. So, here we are…

England 3-0 Poland (1986)

England recorded their first three-goal margin of victory at the 1986 World Cup, running out convincing winners against Poland.

A certain Gary Lineker notched an incredible hat-trick as the Three Lions clinched a crucial victory to advance to the knockout stages after poor results against Morocco and Portugal.

England 3-0 Paraguay (1986)

Having recorded a 3-0 victory in the group stages, England built up on that with another three-goal success – this time over Paraguay in the last-16 stage.

It was Lineker once again who bagged a brace, sandwiching a Peter Beardsley effort to enhance his World Cup Golden Boot chances.

England 3-0 Denmark (2002)

16 years later, England were recording another 3-0 victory. Denmark were the unfortunate opponents on that day as the ‘Golden Generation’ notched a statement success.

Rio Ferdinand, Michael Owen and Emile Heskey were the names on the scoresheet that day but a quarter-final exit beckoned after that Ronaldinho free-kick sailed past David Seaman.

England 6-2 Iran (2022)

After a disappointing Nations League campaign, England silenced their critics with a dominant 6-2 victory over Iran to secure the perfect start to the 2022 World Cup.

Bukayo Saka notched a brace, while Jude Bellingham, Raheem Sterling, Marcus Rashford and Jack Grealish also added to the tally. Is Football Coming Home? Let’s wait and see…

England 6-1 Panama (2018)

The summer of 2018 was golden for many reasons and England’s World Cup campaign will live long in the memory – as will the 6-1 defeat of Panama in the group stages.

It was England’s biggest win at a World Cup and Gareth Southgate endeared himself to the Three Lions fans. This was a breakthrough moment for the national team.

World Cup odds have England as genuine contenders for success this winter and we could see the Three Lions record another hefty victory in the coming weeks.

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Cristiano Ronaldo and Manchester United, the story is now over after many difficult days following the big interview to Piers Morgan that changed the feeling around the Portuguese star.

Sources guarantee that right after the first release of the interview, the feeling into the club was already clear: it's over, no way to resolve the situation after Cristiano's comments on the club and more.

Immediately after the first release, Manchester United made clear to Ronaldo and his camp that they didn't want him to return at Carrington after the World Cup and that he was not going to be a Manchester United player anymore.

This was also a kind of protection to the manager, Erik ten Hag; in fact, people into Manchester United board were furious because of Ronaldo's comments on the head coach and wanted to protect the Erik ten Hag project for the present and the future.

Ten Hag himself was described as "disappointed" by Cristiano Ronaldo: he was not expecting the Portuguese star to attack Man United, some young players, manager and the whole club in that way.

The reality is that the issue was there since June, it was not something new for Manchester United as Cristiano Ronaldo wanted to leave in the summer but it was not possible to find the right solution.

Probably, pushing for a new club was the best way for all parties but they decided to try again together and the result was more than disappointing.

Ten Hag, his staff and important people in Man United board decided together to push with the legal team to find a way and resolve the Cristiano Ronaldo situation in a very fast, clear and strong way to allow the club working on future signings, project and not on a complicated issue that was just creating a problem in public, in private and also at Carrington with Manchester United players not in an easy situation.

Meanwhile, sources guarantee again that Cristiano has never created any problem during training sessions or similar situations; not even a problem with the coaching staff, the Portuguese star was just not happy in many cases when he was not playing but also furious after that Tottenham game when he decided to leave the stadium early.

In that case the situation was really tense; but then, never creating any problem to the team or having any issue with the teammates.

Ronaldo has been described as professional in every training session; but 100% unhappy as he thought multiple times Ten Hag was not respecting him.

In the last few days, Cristiano Ronaldo's camp and Manchester United agreed on one important point: both parties wanted a clean break: no fights, no public attacks anymore and a respectful statement on both sides to make sure the history of Cristiano as a Manchester United player in the past remains.

This is why there will be no pay off for Ronaldo, despite having £17m of his salary still valid until June 2023; there are no ongoing strings on either side, Ronaldo and Manchester United have closed this story now looking for completely different challenges.

Now, his agent Jorge Mendes will be working hard to find solutions for Cristiano Ronaldo; his preference goes to European clubs, more than different kind of countries or leagues. Work in progress.