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Posted by Rob Shepherd on Friday, June 16, 2017

We have some footy to look forward to, starting tonight with the U21’s Opening game in the 2017 U21’s Euro Championship. The Confederations Cup also kicks off in Russia tomorrow, giving us footy fans some entertainment. If you prefer your balls egg shaped, then Argentina are taking on England in Rugby Union on Saturday.

U21’s Euro Championship.

Hopefully you had chance to read of my preview of the European U-21 Championship, if not, don’t worry you can read it here. Expectations will be high for the young lions and the bookies certainly feel England will triumph against Sweden tonight.

You can get 8/11 (1.72) on an England win, 13/5 on the draw (3.6) and 15/4 (4.75) for a Swedish victory. My tip on this game is to go over 2.5 goals. Both teams have been involved in some high scoring matches, England put four past Denmark, three against France, three against Italy and hammered Bosnia by five goals. Sweden also know where the net is, four against the Czech team, four against Croatia and three against Estonia.

FIFA Confederations Cup Russia

If you like your International football, then you will be pleased to know that the FIFA Confederations Cup kicks off in Russia tomorrow. The FIFA Confederations Cup includes the World Cup winners competing against the host country (Russia) and the six continental champions.

Teams: Russia (hosts), Germany (World Cup winners), Australia (AFC Asian Cup winners), Chile (Copa America winners), Mexico (CONCACAF Gold Cup winner), New Zealand (OFC Nations Cup winner), Portugal (UEFA EURO winner) and Cameroon (CAF Africa Cup of Nations winner).

First game is Russia v New Zealand tomorrow followed by Portugal v Mexico and Cameroon v Chile both on Sunday.

It will be interesting to see how the Russian police handle the Russian hooligan element that follows their National team, I imagine though that the Russians will have a zero-tolerance approach.

British & Irish Lions Tour of New Zealand

After only two games with disappointing performances from the Lions and a severe backlash from the New Zealand Press, not just at the team but the Manager Warren Gatland, the Lions faced the Crusaders the top team in the Super 15’s. It is what many felt was a must win game to save the tour and Lions reputation.

Crusaders 3 British and Irish Lions 12

A dominant Defensive performance from the Lions restricted the high scoring (average 37 points per game) Crusaders to just 3 points and ultimately culminated in their first defeat of 2017.

Owen Farrell kick all 12 points and put on an assured display and must be certain for a test spot whether centre or fly half. He missed one kick in front of the posts, after the kiss of death by the commentators, which then seemed to stun them and his team mates with disbelief, with Maro Itoje whilst on the bench calling for a review – The ball was adjudged to be centimetres adrift after sailing above the uprights.

One of the game’s and the tour’s talking points is whether Farrell and Sexton should start together in the tests, something that Warren Gatland seems reluctant to do.

He was forced into playing a Farrell/Sexton combination, after Davies was taken off injured after his promising start thus moving Farrell to Centre and bringing on Sexton at fly half. The two players clicked almost instantly with resulting line breaks – So will we being seeing this combination again, whatever happens the attacking prowess that these two working in tandem process is unquestionable.

With the tour seeming back on track the Lions moved on to Dunedin to face the Highlanders

Highlanders 23 British and Irish Lions 22

This high-octane clash in an extraordinary atmosphere saw the Lions crossing the whitewash 3 times, more than the previous 3 games combined, but failing to win.

The tries game from twinkle toes Jonathan Joseph, Tommy Seymour and the Captain Sam Warburton, with the latter two coming at the start of the second half to build up a 9-point lead.

The Lions will be disappointed that they could not finish off the Highlands, who did deserve the win on the balance of play and attacking prowess.

It was a game of fine margins as Owen Farrell missed a kick after coming on as a replacement for Dan Bigger and with Elliot Daly monster from inside of his own half kick at the death falling just short, this after the officials moved him back a metre.

Stuart Hogg will take no further part in the tour after suffering a broken eye socket when he accidentally clashed with Conor Murray in the Highlanders Game. Davies however with continue having come through the head injury protocols and will face the Maori All Blacks this Saturday for which Owen Farrell has now been ruled out as a replacement with his place on the bench being taken by Dan Biggar.

The Lions know that despite Superior Line outs, scrum and forward play – even though that lacked at time against the Highlanders – they will need to improve their attacking play with the tourists only managing five tries in 4 games, three of which coming against the highlanders.

England Summer tour – Argentina

With a total of 30 front line players not available for selection due to injury and other commitments many felt this was going to be a tall order, but would provide a chance for fringe and previously uncapped players a chance of making the World Cup Squad under Eddie Jones.

There were to be a total of 10 England debutants in the match which also included in the starting 15 the flanker Tom Curry, still only 18, who was the youngest forward to start for England since 1912 and England’s youngest player since Jonny Wilkinson in 1998.

Argentina 34 England 38

With George Ford in excellent form with the boot contributing 23 points (including two tries) and tries from Marland Yarde, Jonny May and Denny Solomona England came from behind to win this thrilling test match against the Pumas.

England trailed 17 -13 at the break but took the lead scoring 10 unanswered points at the start of the second half with a try from Jonny May and kicks from George Ford before the Pumas retook the lead with two converted tries.

England or should I say George Ford then replied with a try and a penalty closing the Pumas lead to one point, 31-30.

The game seemed to have slipped away from England when Juan Martin Hernandez landed a drop goal with 3 minutes left, but cometh the hour cometh the man Denny Solomona.

Denny Solomona atoned for two earlier errors to land the knockout blow with a dazzling try from inside his own half beating three defenders to score under the posts with 100 seconds left, George Ford then added the conversion to seal this dramatic win in San Juan

Eddie Jones has apparently informed the England newcomers: “you’ve one game to play for World Cup place” so which of them will play themselves into the reckoning, if any, In the second test this Saturday? What is for sure the game will be compelling viewing after the excitement of the first test

Selection of Other Internationals Played at the Weekend

United States 19 Ireland 55. The men in green produced a powerful display, running in 9 tries against the Eagles 3 and now head for Japan.

Italy 13 Scotland 34 – This was the first outing for the new Scotland manager, Gregor Townsend, and his side were brilliant in bursts as they managed to beat Italy in the new Singapore National Stadium scoring 4 tries to the Italians 2.

South Africa 37 France 14

World Rugby U20 Championship Semi Finals

ENGLAND U20 24 – 22 SOUTH AFRICA U20 A heroic try by the England captain Zach Mercer on 75 minutes finally saw off the baby boks after their fought back from being 17-12 down at the break and took a 5-point lead until the decisive try.

NEW ZEALAND U20 39 – 26 FRANCE U20. France showed amazing spirit and scored one of the tries of the tournament in the second half after being 36 nil down at the break.

Can the All Blacks try scoring machine be stopped in their attempt to win a sixth title? Can England retain the trophy and win it for the fourth time?

These questions will soon be answered as the World Rugby U20 Championship 2017 Final at the Mikheil Meskhi Stadium, Tbilisi is this Sunday at 1500hrs.

Other Football News and Gossip

Manchester City are hoping that Arsenal will accept £50m for forward Alexis Sanchez. They plan to make the 28-year-old their highest paid player on £275,000 a week according to the Daily Star.

World Cup-winning England Under-20 goalkeeper Freddie Woodman, 20, is unsure about his future at Newcastle. Freddie was in great form during the World Cup and is likely to have many suitors.

Everton have surprised everyone by breaking the British transfer record for a goalkeeper. They paid £25 million (which could raise to £30 million) to bring the 23-year-old from Sunderland.

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has convinced Real Madrid striker Alvaro Morata, 24, to join the club – with an offer expected. The price varies wildly depending on the source with some stating goalkeeper David de Gea will be part of the deal.

The Daily Mail claim Barcelona are set to make an £88m bid for Marco Verratti after the 24-year-old midfielder declared that he wants to leave Paris St-Germain.

Regrets? I’ve had a Few

Striker Emmanuel Adebayor has revealed that the worst decision of his controversial career was joining Crystal Palace, for whom he scored just one goal in 15 appearances last year.

The Daily Mail are reporting that a former Barcelona director has complained about the poor crowd at the Nou Camp for Saturday’s friendly game featuring members of the team that won the 1992 European Cup, including Pep Guardiola and Ronald Koeman.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic could be offered a short-term deal by Manchester United despite being released by the club last week or he could be joining LA Galaxy, again, depends which paper you read.