ENGLAND MANAGER Gareth Southgate said on Friday he does not pick his side based on “external reaction” as Jordan Henderson faces criticism for his decision to move to the Saudi Pro League.
The former Liverpool captain had been a vocal supporter of gay rights during his 12 years at Anfield.
However, Henderson’s move to the Gulf kingdom, where homosexuality is illegal, has seen an England LGBTQ fan group say they will turn their back on the pitch when he plays.
England face Ukraine in Wroclaw, Poland on Saturday in a Euro 2024 qualifier.
“I don’t pick the team based on external reaction,” Southgate said at his pre-match press conference
“Jordan expressed himself this week and he will be sad if that is how they felt. His feelings towards that community haven’t changed.
“As a team I am sure all of our fans will get behind the team when the game starts.”
Ukraine are expected to be roared on by 40,000 fans in Wroclaw, with many displaced across the border by Russia’s invasion.
England won the first meeting between the sides in Group C 2-0 in March, but Southgate is expecting a stiff test if the Three Lions are to maintain a 100% record in qualifying.
“I can’t talk on a broader perspective but football-wise it is just a difficult game for us,” he added.
“They have players who have played in England and we know very well. We have to play our best to get the result we want.”
Should England complete the formality of qualifying, Harry Kane can look forward to playing in familiar surroundings in Germany next summer.
Tottenham’s all-time top goalscorer left the Premier League behind to join Bayern Munich last month and has made a fast start with three goals in three starts.
“The Euros are something at the back of our mind but we have to qualify first. I don’t like to think too far ahead but hopefully, by next summer it will feel a little more like home,” said Kane.
But the England captain’s German is not clicking quite as quickly as his play on the field for the Bundesliga champions.
“It hasn’t really come along any further, to be honest,” Kane confessed. “I am due to start lessons when I get back because the teacher was away for a little while.”
You had no available strikers and you didn’t go with a False 9? Your status as football hipster is now revoked. Please hand back your copy of “Inverting the Pyramid”.
Into my 3rd season with Southampton…..
2 7th places finishes a cup final and I. Europe…….
Not too bad
Get in Daniel Carr from Huddersfield – Frightening quality and cheap
You’d want to get a wriggle on if you’re going to win the Champions League before Dec 1. If it’s taken this long to get to February in the game you’re either going to have to go all out (take a week off work/family) or concede defeat.
Why don’t we all help Paul with any tips on good affordable signings that he could make to improve his chances. It’s often a case of stumbling across cheap quality signings and sharing the find with friends.
Played 01/02 religously! (Anyone remember Javier Saviola??), i actually cannot play a version from 09 on, seasons take too long and everything became far too complicated. Im playing 08 the last few years, seems to be the last uncomplicated version. Maybe i just cant except change?? Lol.
Saviola was a goal machine!!
How long does a season take in the games these days? I’m a recovering cm01/02 player (kinda like being an alcoholic, although I may not have played today, I know just one match and I’m back to where I started) – was gona buy this but someone said the seasons take ages these days.
Mid-table mediocrity in the Argentine second division is where it’s at.
Try winning it with Limerick FC – took me ten in game years to win! Once you get qualified for the CL you get some good money to invest in players!
Loved the game years ago but had to stop due to losing too many weekends !
Illegally downloading it as we speak, i know miles jacobson wont be happy but i invested all my gaming money on Gta V. Might take on the brighton challenge too, sorry miles i bought every version up until now ;)
Its not illegal at all. The game is so old eidos released it for free. Go to champman0102.co.UK and you can download the game and update the database to the the 2013 season. Has to be the most addictive game ever created
What about Cork?
Da people’s republic is only available as an international side in the newer versions – wouldn’t be able to compete for the champo league with them.
I once won the champions league with dubnica nad chain who were in the Slovak 2nd division when I started with them :)
*dubnica nad vahom…curse you autocorrect!
Curse you indeed!
Nerds
Quaaaaaaaaare
…..says the “Back to The Future Trilogy” fan!!
cm 01/02 won’t work on windows 7 :-(
I tried to play the newer versions but it’s just not the same. Definitely stuck in my ways..
It’s a free download from a message board site, Google champman01/02. there is a way of installing on 7 and it’s on the website. Looks daunting at first but easy to do
It will work on windows 7 fine. After install right click the exe file and in properties change to compatibility mode as windows 98 and set as always run as administrator and it will work perfectly
How does one download it illegally?… Don’t worry I pay all my taxes
When is FM2014 out on android????…just checked play store…no sign of it?
Well at least you’re using FMC so the seasons shouldn’t take too long to do!
I started league 2 with bury won 3 consecutive promotions in the premier league now mid table.