Jordan Henderson and Jack Wilshere, two men who have had question marks over their fitness after injury problems, were the first outfield players on the pitch, kicking a ball between them before being joined by their team-mates. “It is about all of us, not three of us”.
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While Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo was rested following his involvement in Real Madrid’s Champions League final victory over Atletico Madrid last weekend, England manager Roy Hodgson was effectively able to name a full-strength line-up.
According to Sky Sports, Manchester United superstar Wayne Rooney is set to start for the Three Lions, and could team up with striker Jamie Vardy or Harry Kane.
You’ve got players who have been doing well for their clubs all season, and England need to finish in the top two positions to realistically have a shot at reaching the quarter-finals, not the third position.
An effort on target finally arrived midway through the half when Kyle Walker – England’s standout player of the opening 45 minutes – hung a cross up to the back post that Rooney nodded comfortably into the arms of Rui Patricio.
“There were moments in the game where they were too wide, but basically speaking their job is to split and come together”.
With just five minutes to go, Raheem Sterling’s cross was met by a Chris Smalling header which gave England the win.
There have been few fairytale rises at the rate of the precocious striker’s, having gone from a first Manchester United appearance to scoring on his England debut in the space of 92 days.
“A lot of these players are going to their first tournament and won’t know what to expect”. He was also missing during his team’s 3-0 win versus Norway last Sunday because he had a game with Real Madrid against Atletico Madrid in Italy.
No Cristiano. Ronaldo confirmed that he won’t feature in the game as he enjoys a well-deserved holiday ahead of Euro 2016.
Santos also told Evening Standard that the Portugal game will help them assess how Ronaldo’s team will do during Euro 2016.
Competition for places. Now that England’s 23-man squad has been announced, it’s time for the players to fight for their place in the starting XI. They would have come forward more, we would have had more opportunities to attack in behind.
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Despite being a friendly game, Portugal were reduced to ten men on 35 minutes when Alves put in a ridiculous challenge on Kane when his raised foot caught the Tottenham man in the side of his head, leaving the referee with little option but to brandish a red card.
