England and Spain primed for battle

A huge test awaits England at Wembley this Saturday when World and European Champions Spain take to the hallowed turf.  Both squads have now been announced, with it being the home side who have caused the most talking points.

The biggest of which has caused consternation throughout the blue side of Manchester and beyond, and concerns Micah Richards.  Manchester City's right-back has been in red hot form this season, putting in a number of eye catching displays but not it seems to Fabio Capello.  Glen Johnson returns, while Phil Jones, who has been operating in that position for Richards cross city rivals Manchester United, is also included as is Tottenham full back Kyle Walker.  Following the announcement Richards took to twitter to voice his feelings saying "Well well well!!!! Disappointed is an understatement!!," Before refusing to spit his dummy and vow to work harder, later tweeting "Oh well better look next time! Roll the sleeves up and work harder!"  Phone in's up and down the country have been inundated with baffled fans, while Richard's ex-City team mate Joey Barton also took to twitter to voice his views, adding "Don't understand Eng Squad. No Newcastle players?? No Micah Richards?? Surely he has to be Man City 5 pts clear, MoM at Old T and skipper??"

With England seemingly going through a period of transition, surely it would have made sense to try out some new faces, or those that haven't featured for a while, ahead of next years European Championships in Poland and Ukraine.  This isn't to say there aren't new faces in the squad, Jack Rodwell has been promoted from the under-21s and while Daniel Sturridge could also earn his first cap, while Gabriel Agbonlahor is also to be given a chance to shine.  Richards however has been one of the stand out performers in this seasons Premier League, and it does very much seem to be a baffling absence.

Liverpool striker Andy Carroll's omission on the other hand is less puzzling.  The £35m forward is struggling to live up to his billing at Anfield, and the chance missed at the weekend, when hitting the bar, and a gilt edged headed chance he put wide against Norwich City have probably hampered his claim.  It may be a new regime on the red half of Merseyside, but Carroll very much needs to start firing if he is to live up to the hefty price tag Kenny Dalglish splashed out to bring him to the club during the January transfer window.

Spain have announced a strong squad for the match, and have included the bulk of the players that helped the side to their Euro and World Cup triumphs.  Four Premier league players could potentially feature, while over half the squad is made up of players from the nations big two clubs of Real Madrid and Barcelona.  Vicente Del Bosque's world beaters will no doubt head in as favourites, a tag you can't argue with, and barring a tremendous effort from The Three Lions, will prove to be far too strong.

England squad in full:

Joe Hart (Man City), Scott Carson (Bursaspor), David Stockdale (Ipswich); Glen Johnson (Liverpool), Phil Jones (Man Utd), Gary Cahill (Bolton), John Terry (Chelsea), Ashley Cole (Chelsea), Leighton Baines (Everton), Phil Jagielka (Everton), Joleon Lescott (Man City), Kyle Walker (Tottenham); Frank Lampard (Chelsea), Jack Rodwell (Everton), Stewart Downing (Liverpool), Gareth Barry (Man City), Adam Johnson (Man City), James Milner (Man City), Scott Parker (Tottenham), Theo Walcott (Arsenal); Darren Bent (Aston Villa), Daniel Sturridge (Chelsea), Gabriel Agbonlahor (Aston Villa), Bobby Zamora (Fulham), Danny Welbeck (Man Utd)

Spain squad in full:

Iker Casillas (Real Madrid), Jose Reina (Liverpool), Victor Valdes (Barcelona); Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid), Alvaro Arbeloa (Real Madrid), Carles Puyol (Barcelona), Gerard Pique (Barcelona), Jordi Alba (Valencia), Raul Albiol (Real Madrid), Nacho Monreal (Malaga); Xavi (Barcelona), Xabi Alonso (Real Madrid), Sergio Busquets (Barcelona), Santi Cazorla (Malaga), Javi Martinez (Athletic Bilbao), Cesc Fabregas (Barcelona), Andres Iniesta (Barcelona); David Villa (Barcelona), David Silva (Manchester City), Fernando Torres (Chelsea), Fernando Llorente (Athletic Bilbao), Juan Mata (Chelsea), Jesus Navas (Sevilla)

Sharks look to bounce back

Sale Sharks head to Vicarage Road this weekend off the back of a second half humiliation handed out by the dominant Leicester Tigers.  Sharks executive director of sport Steve Diamond admitted it was a "reality check," after his side conceded 31 unanswered points after leading 13-3 at half time.

Tom Brady scored his sides solitary try as the game ebbed towards half time, but in reality the Edgeley Park outfit could and possibly should have headed into the break with a bigger margin.  Mark Cueto broke down the left wing but was unable to break through, while on more than one occasion shoddy handling skills or ill discipline cost them.  A late tackle prevented Rob Miller from going over, while Brady was denied by the television match official after beating a dawdling Geordan Murphy.

The opening try however was a very well worked move, initiated by the quick thinking Dwayne Peel.  The Welsh Scrum Half took a quick penalty and released Miller, who in turn fed Brady for a deserved score.
Following this though it was all downhill.  A different Leicester emerged in the Second half, with a pack that dominated for a full 40 minutes.  Including two tries as a direct result of driving mauls.  Toby Flood added 16 of his 19 points in this period of the game, as a startled Sale side saw first hand the standard that has to be met to compete at the highest level in The Aviva Premiership.

Saracens are the focus this weekend, who sit one place and seven points over the Stockport based side.  A whole host of sides are now breathing down the neck of Sale hoping to knock them down the league, a scenario that is more than likely going to materialise sooner rather than later.  Atleast the Sale fan's can look forward to a season minus relegation scrap, something that has been all to familiar in recent season.

Speaking to the club's official website, Diamond said:  "It's a long time ago since I left Saracens. They have created a super franchise. They are now going away from home and winning at Gloucester, so we know that we are up against a top side on Sunday.
 
" In the end it's all about our performance this weekend. If we get it right in our set piece and defence then we stand a chance of getting something out of the game. They are one of the top super clubs in England right now and if you get anything from them away from home, then you are doing well."

Below is the Sale Sharks side in full for Sunday's clash


15.Rob Miller, 14.Will Addison, 13.Johnny Leota, 12.Sam Tuitupou (capt), 11.Mark Cueto, 10.Nick Macleod, 9.Will Cliff, 1.Alasdair Dickinson, 2.Tommy Taylor, 3.Henry Thomas, 4.Fraser McKenzie, 5.James Gaskell, 6.Richie Vernon. 7.David Seymour, 8.Andy Powell

Replacements 

16.Marc Jones, 17.Vadim Cobilas, 18.Tony Buckley, 19.Kearnan Myall, 20.Mark Easter, 21.Cillian Willis, 22.Tasesa Lavea, 23.Tom Brady

Future stars - M'Baye Niang

A striking prodigy at just 16 years of age, SM Caen's M'Baye Niang has the world at his feet.  Already valued at €8 minimum and attracting the interest of many a Premier League team, see Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham, in addition to many other big names all over Europe.  However he is the latest in a long line to be hailed as the next great saviour of French football, so will he fall to the way side like so many others in this position or continue to progress and become one of the most feared strikers on the planet?


After initially being signed up as a 13-year-old following a tip off, Niang excelled in the academy and was eventually awarded a senior contract earlier this year.  It was also rumoured that some of France's big guns were interested, but Caen beat off competition to sign the youngster.

Niang exploded on to the scene last season, becoming the youngest man to represent Caen in a senior match and also the second youngest to score in Ligue 1.  This was as he went on his way to scoring three goals in just seven appearances, four starts and three from the bench, making the world sit up and take note.  He has also represented France at under-16, under-17 and under-21, with the national progression of senior squad surely not too far away.

It is not too hard to see why so many teams are already beginning tentative steps to lure Niang away, with a strong physical presence but plenty of athletic ability with it, is there a league around in which he couldn't develop into a major force.  However all this talk of the future is far too premature, and this best thing at the moment would be for him to stay and progress.  A move at an early stage could be detrimental to his progression, and the best thing is for him to continue to get first team football where he is.

Transfer flops: Florin Raducioiu

You know you've had a bad time of it when a footballer himself describes an ill fated spell at one of his many clubs as a "disaster."  Cue Florin Raducioiu who used those exact words when describing the time he spent plying his trade at West Ham United.  So just how did a Seria A and Champions League winner with AC Milan end up at Upton Park, and what made the spell one to forget.

Raducioiu began his career in his native Romania where he was a product of the Dinamo Bucharest academy, and went on to play for the club for four years after being given his chance at the tender age of just 17.  A four year jaunt in Italy followed this, where he initially joined Bari, before moving on to Verona, Brescia and then Milan.  The trophy haul though doesn't reflect a happy and glistening time at the San Siro, in fact he managed only a handful of games before being shipped off to another country.

It was Espanyol where he found himself this time, but after just two years it was off to Euro 96 in England where a certain Harry Redknapp sat up and took note as he netted his countries only goal of the finals in a 2-1 defeat by Spain.  His time spent in the Premiership didn't exactly go to plan though, with the double figure mark of appearance just being topped and only two league goals to his name.  He will perhaps be remembered for off field controversy, something vehemently denied by the player, when it was alleged he went shopping at Harvey Nichols leaving his side one striker short.  Falling out with your manager is never a good idea, in any walk of life, and it wasn't long before Raducioiu was back off to Barcelona and old club Espanyol.

In the next seven, and final, years of his career, Raducioiu pilled up quite a list of clubs.  After leaving Spain for the second time it was on to Germany and a one year spell with VfB Stuttgart, before heading back to another old club and Brescia.  After two years home comforts lured the right winger/striker to first club Dinamo Bucharest, but it wasn't long before bags were packed once again and he jetted off to pastures new.  This time France was the destination, where Monaco aquired his services for a season, before one final hurrrah came at Creteil-Lusitanos and finally retirement in 2004 which brought an end to an 18 year career.

Radicioiu may have been far from a hit in London, and at many of his club for that matter, but on his jet-set career of Europe he did set an incredible feat.  He is only one of two players, along with Christian Poulsen, to have plied his trade in Europe's big five leagues (England, France, Germany, Italy and Spain.)

No more years of hurt for New Zealand

After 24 long and painful years, containing near misses and tragic failures, New Zealand finally have their hands on the Webb Ellis Trophy once again.  All those years ago France were once again the victims, but this time around it was much closer and Les Blues came mighty close to spoiling the party.

The 8-7 scoreline highlights how The All Blacks were nearly pipped to the post.  Amongst the post match celebration, relief must have been a huge factor.  Tony Woodcock's early try seemed like it would settle the hosts, but the underdogs, overwhelmingly beaten by New Zealand in the group stage and also suffering a loss to Tonga, refused to be beaten.

Thierry Dusautoir, today named International Rugby Board player of the year as some consolation, as he and his forwards pressed at the scrum and line out.  When the captain slid in under the posts and Francois Trinh-Duc converted, a stadium was stunned and a tense last half hour followed.

It was left to Stephen Donald to slot over a late penalty, and some late defensive heroics to seal the win.  The 27-year-old had started the tournament way down the pecking order, and only last week was on a fishing trip, and he couldn't quite believe it after the final whistle.  Talking to the BBC he said: 
"My preparation wasn't ideal but it was an unreal experience.
"To pretty much come from nowhere just feels funny. It hasn't sunk in yet."
He added:  "You always dream about things like playing in World Cups, but as number four in line you start to give that up a bit. But when I got the call I felt like the dream just got that much closer to reality again.
"To pretty much come from nowhere and find yourself playing in a World Cup final is an unreal experience - it just feels funny. It hasn't sunk in yet, and it's the same for the rest of the guys. They were just sitting around the changing room, not moving much and not saying much.
"The coaches said to me to be ready because it could come down to me having to kick the winning goal, and that is exactly how it panned out."

Following the injury to inspirational Fly-Half Dan Carter earlier in the tournament, some doubted whether this side could fulfill it's years of planning to triumph on home soil.  These doubts were heightened when Captain Richie McCaw fell to injury, luckily though it wasn't too serious and he was able to return to lead his side in the knockout faze.  Piri Weepu performed heroics in the semi-final victory over Australia, taking on the tactical nous of Carter, but found himself a little out of his depth in the final but crucially New Zealand had the supplies to call on to get over the line.

Many sides had huge hopes coming into this tournament, and true the trophy could have gone back to any number of countries.  Australia and South Africa are always strong, England always confident but marred by off field antics, Ireland played some excellent rugby and defeated The Wallabies but were undone by a Wales side unlucky to have Sam Warbuton sent off in their semi-final loss to the runners up.

It is now on to England 2015, and while there's room for improvement in hosting a tournement they do have a huge act to follow.  New Zealand will no doubt head over as favourties, and Red Rose amongst others have some growing up to do, but right now it's about a nation that will celebrate a victory that is long long over due.

All Blacks near date with destiny

In the early hours of Sunday morning (GMT) New Zealand have what they have been searching for for 16 years.  A Rugby World Cup final appearance, and they hoping they can replicate their only triumph in the tournament some 24 years ago in 1987 also held on home soil.

Like most World Cups since they have been hotly tipped to win and steam rolled all before them, but what is different this time is that they haven't imploded.  Despite injuries to Captain Richie McCaw, who has since returned, and Dan Carter who was ruled out of the tournement at the group stage.  In what was their toughest match of the tournament against Australia at the Semi-Final stage, they looked as dominant as ever and produced a wonderful all round performance.

Ma'a Nonu went over early and the All Blacks never looked back, the Centre and Winger one of five southern hemisphere players on the International Rugby Board (IRB) player of the year.  Two other kiwi's, namely Piri Weepu, who in Carter's ansence has been largely trusted with kicking duties, and Jerome Kaino.  David Pocock and Will Genia of Australia are the other's from the southern hemisphere, while France can take some hope from the fact the man making up the list is their captain Thierry Dusautoir.

No one really gives Les Blues a chance, which could just work in their favour.  Many quarters claim they don't deserve to be in the final, while Fly-Half Morgan Parra say's it is "France against the World."

It has not always been plain sailing in this tournament though, if fact some might say far from it.  Coach Marc Lievremont has come out with some rather interesting comments throughout the tournament, after group stage defeats to New Zealand and Tongo, Quarter-Final victory over England and in this week's build up.

However could this negativity have really helped, after all this is their first final appearance in 12 years.  Dimitri Yachvili, French Scrum-Half, claims this side is now like a family, while Vincent Clerc has pleaded not too underestimate this France side.

Despite this though it is nard to look past the hosts, who have threw a terrific World Cup, and whose only victory in a final on the World Stage was against France at Eden Park, this site of the years finale.  Coach Graham Henry is stepping down after the final, it is almost like it is written in the stars.

Come back next week for a World Cup round up, while Sports Portal will also be making it's first trip to take in Guinnes Premiership action.

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Sports Portal has been on a little break lately on the west coast of America, so apologies in the huge gulf of no posts.  We will however be back up and running in the near future, so be sure to visit again soon.