Norway 0 – 1 England : Scoring Summary

England: Ashley Young (9′)

Roy Hodgson opened up his account as England manager with a win after the Three Lions secured a 1-0 victory in Norway on Saturday night. Manchester United winger Ashley Young scored the only goal of the game after nine minutes.

Highlights of the goal after the jump…..

Manchester United centerback Rio Ferdinand decided to use his twitter account @rioferdy5 to express his disappointment on missing out on a place in Roy Hodgson’s England EURO 2012 squad to his nearly 3 Million followers :::

‘Absolutely loved playing for england….to say I’m gutted is an understatement of the highest order…’

After England Manager Roy Hodgson named his 23-man squad for this summer’s UEFA EURO 2012 Finals in Poland and Ukraine today, he sat down with FATV to discuss his squad selection. You get a good 8 minutes of what he was thinking about when making up the team. Good stuff.

Video after the jump…..

via Guardian

David Beckham is to make a guest appearance at the official handover ceremony of the Olympic flame in Athens and bring it back to Britain for the torch relay.

The LA Galaxy star and former England captain, who was part of London 2012′s winning bid team to stage the Games, will meet the official delegation in Athens led by the Princess Royal, the president of the British Olympic Association and London 2012 board member.

Beckham will be joined by five young people from schools and colleges for Thursday’s handover ceremony at the Panathenaic Stadium in Athens.

More on David Beckham Being At The Olympic Torch Handover Ceremony in Athens after the Jump………..

They have been invited by London 2012 and the British Council as a reward for their commitment to sport and for promoting the Olympic values of friendship, excellence and respect within their school or college.

Lord Coe, the chairman of the London 2012 organising committee, said that a mix of some of Britain’s younger generation and a touch of the Beckham stardust is the right way to shine the spotlight on the 70-day relay involving 8,000 torchbearers, which will begin after the Olympic flame touches down on home soil.

“Working with one of our most inspiring sports people is fitting for this hugely exciting time for the London 2012 Games,” he said.

via The FA [dot] com

England Manager Roy Hodgson has named his 23-man squad for this summer’s UEFA EURO 2012 Finals in Poland and Ukraine.

The new England manager Roy Hodgson has confirmed that John Terry will travel to Poland and the Ukraine as part of his squad for the European Championship, while Rio Ferdinand will stay at home. Hodgson, who named Steven Gerrard as his captain, also underlined his determination to usher in a new generation of England players by including Arsenal’s 18-year-old winger Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in his Euro 2012 squad.

The Squad

Goalkeepers: Robert Green (West Ham United), Joe Hart (Manchester City), John Ruddy (Norwich City).

Defenders: Leighton Baines (Everton), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Ashley Cole (Chelsea), Glen Johnson (Liverpool), Phil Jones (Manchester United), Joleon Lescott (Manchester City), John Terry (Chelsea).

Midfielders: Gareth Barry (Manchester City), Stewart Downing (Liverpool), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), James Milner (Manchester City), Scott Parker (Tottenham Hotspur), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Arsenal), Theo Walcott (Arsenal), Ashley Young (Manchester United).

Forwards: Andy Carroll (Liverpool), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Daniel Welbeck (Manchester United), Jermain Defoe (Tottenham Hotspur).

Standby list: Jack Butland (Birmingham City), Phil Jagielka (Everton), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Adam Johnson (Manchester City), Daniel Sturridge (Chelsea).

via EuroNews

Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville has been named as part of new England manager Roy Hodgson’s coaching staff, the Football Association said on Monday.

Neville, who has impressed as a TV analyst since hanging up his boots, will join Ray Lewington and goalkeeping coaches Ray Clemence and Dave Watson at the European Championship that starts next month.

The FA said Neville, who won every domestic honour with United, played 85 times for England and featured at two World Cups, had agreed a four-year contract.

“Roy asking me to be a part of his staff and to work with the national team is not only an honour but a very special moment for me,” Neville said in a statement.

More on Gary Neville being named to England’s Coaching Staff after the Jump………

“I had absolutely no hesitation in accepting this role and I am relishing the opportunity to work alongside Roy and the team at the Euros and through to the next two tournaments.”

Hodgson, who will name his Euro 2012 squad on Wednesday, said Neville would bring a wealth of experience.

“Gary has achieved so much in the game as a player with Manchester United and England,” Hodgson, who signed off as West Bromwich Albion manager on Sunday, said.

“He has obtained UEFA coaching qualifications and will be tremendously respected by the players because of his vast experience as a player.

“At my first meeting with the FA, I explained that Gary was someone I wanted as part of my staff. I think it is very important we have a younger coach who knows the dressing room and is very experienced at international level.

“That he has represented England as a player at five major tournaments will make him an invaluable member of staff.”

via Guardian

via TheFA

The Football Association is delighted to announce the appointment of Roy Hodgson as England Manager.

Joining from West Bromwich Albion, Hodgson has agreed a four year deal to become the full-time Manager of the Three Lions.

Hodgson, aged 64, who has won a total of eight league titles in a distinguished career, and coached the national teams of Switzerland, Finland and United Arab Emirates, met with FA officials at Wembley on Monday.

Having taken Switzerland to the FIFA World Cup™ in 1994 – their first Finals competition for 28 years – Hodgson also achieved a FIFA ranking of third in the world as well as successfully qualifying the team for Euro 96.

More on Roy Hodgson Being Named England Manager after the Jump……..

His former clubs include Inter Milan, Blackburn Rovers, Grasshoppers, FC Copenhagen, Fulham and Liverpool. He has also managed in Norway and Sweden. In addition, he has been a regular member of FIFA and UEFA’s technical study groups at tournaments.

Along with his vast experience of international and European football, Hodgson is the only English manager currently working in the top flight to have won the League Managers’ Association manager of the year award.

The new Manager will take charge of England at Wembley for the first time, when the Three Lions take on Belgium on Saturday 2 June at Wembley Stadium.