| England's next generation shapes up for World Cup 2018 and beyond The country's best youngsters beat Cyprus 4-0 to raise hopes for next year's under-19 European ChampionshipsJed Steer Norwich City goalkeeperThe goalkeeper might have suffered most from lapses in concentration since he had very little to do until he saved Onisiforos Roushas's penalty to preserve the comfortable 2-0 lead. He is, all the same, accustomed to international football at a variety of levels and took part in the Under-17 European Championship last year. Injury affected him earlier this season, but he contrived to make his mark in the win over Cyprus when the opposition would otherwise have enjoyed encouragement.Bruno PilatosMiddlesbrough right-backA lot is asked of full-backs in a system where width depends on them. Pilatos does have speed and, given his age, energy to relish the assignment. Cyprus could only present an intermittent danger, but players like Pilatos, who was born in Angola, were valuable in ensuring that the opposition were pinned back instead of being able to block England's path in midfield. He did, however, concede a rash penalty when he was hurrying to get back into position.Angus MacDonaldReading centre-halfMacDonald typifies the general policy of selecting players who are well below the age of 19. He came into this side for the first match of the season, against Slovakia at Crewe. MacDonald has the height expected of a centre-half, but the test for him and others in the back four was to remain vigilant even if danger did not really materialise. As with others, he has been part of a long-term process and made five appearances at under-16 level.Andre WisdomLiverpool centre-halfOne of three Liverpool players in the line-up, Wisdom is unlikely to be ignored. In the quiet of Malmedy, his voice rang out and that is a useful attribute when defenders have so little to do and may be prone to lapses. His technique is admired at least as much as his power, even if the England players in general had no trouble dictating terms. He already has a trace of fame, having equalised against Spain in that European Under-17 final.Aziz Deen-ContehChelsea left-backDeen-Conteh had little option but to be reserved when Shelvey was showing such verve immediately in front of him. Still, he can be taken as a sign of Chelsea's desire to curb their spending and nurture players in their own system. The Londoner won the FA Youth Cup with the club this year. There will be other matches in which he can show his drive and tenacity more clearly. His Under-19 debut for England came last month against Slovakia.John BostockTottenham (Hull City on loan) midfielderBostock had little hope of enjoying a low profile when Tottenham spent £700,000 to take him from Crystal Palace, where he had been the youngest ever first-team player. The midfielder's standard did fluctuate markedly today, but he is stepping up after captaining the 2009 Under-17 side and has the talent to make an impact. While lapses of concentration affected several players, he did recover to maintain the pattern of the side as England drained any small hope from the opposition in the second half.George ThorneWest Bromwich Albion midfielderIt is not the most glamorous task to have to hold position in a match when there is the temptation to launch attacks at a vulnerable opposition. Thorne stuck to his assignment though and maintained order in England's play. He also demonstrated he can pass incisively when the opportunity arises. He has strength and height that add to his impact. The Cyprus match was noteworthy for being his first at this age-level for England.Jonjo ShelveyLiverpool midfielderWhether it proves to be a curse or a blessing, the midfielder's style will see him compared to Steven Gerrard. Shelvey is not, of course, at that level, but he has a dynamism and will to get himself involved, whether taking set pieces or getting into a whole range of positions on the field. It came as no surprise that he would supply the third goal of the game with a 20-yarder. His worth has been apparent for a while and Liverpool did not hesitate to buy him from Charlton Athletic for an initial sum of £1.7m.Michael NgooLiverpool midfielderNgoo had a considerable influence on the right. His crosses influenced the character of the match since they set up Afobe for two goals and so forced Cyprus to recognise their cause was a hopeless one. Liverpool noticed him at youth level in Southend's side. He is tall, seems composed and has pace. The qualities are all in place and he is another emerging player whose progress suggests that Liverpool do have long-term reasons to feel encouraged, despite the financial crisis at Anfield.Benik Afobe, Arsenal forwardThe forward made the most of his opportunities. Having scored as a substitute in the 6-1 rout of Albania, he claimed a hat-trick here before being substituted. His efforts would suggest that he goes against the stereotype of his club by being a finisher rather than a stylist, but he is actually viewed as a player who can operate in wide positions as well as through the centre. Here, he ensured that the authority of the display was echoed in the score. Afobe was part of the team that won the European under-17 title in May.Luke Williams, Middlesbrough forwardWilliams has vibrancy and made the Cyprus bar shudder. It was telling, too, that he could make the room to unleash that sort of attempt. He was another of the men involved in landing that European under-17 title, even if he was used as a player to be introduced from the bench. Williams is quick and while he is not equipped to overpower opponents he can undo a defence.EnglandKevin McCarraguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Inter's Milito and Cambiasso both injured Inter Milan striker Diego Milito and midfielder Esteban Cambiasso could both miss several weeks of action after injuring their left legs during Argentina's 1-0 loss to Japan in a friendly Friday. cbc.ca |
Wigan's James McCarthy likely to be sidelined until New Year with ankle injury Wigan midfielder liekly to be sidelined for 10 weeks with an ankle injury, manager Roberto Martinez has said. telegraph.co.uk |
Man U wins without Rooney again: EPL Javier Hernandez filled in for the injured Wayne Rooney in style Sunday, scoring twice to lift Manchester United into a three-way tie for second place in the Premier League with a 2-1 win at Stoke. cbc.ca |
1954 World Cup win was 'drug-tainted' • University study says some players may have used stimulant• Drug pervitin given to German soldiers in second world warWest Germany's 1954 World Cup-winning team, feted for helping the nation recover after the second world war, may have been boosted by a secret doping programme, according to a new university study.West Germany beat Hungary, the clear favourites, 3-2 in the final in Switzerland in a victory that became known as the Miracle of Berne."There are several strong indications that point to the injection of [methamphetamine] pervitin in some Germany players and not vitamin C as it was claimed," said the sports historian and author Erik Eggers, who conducted the study as part of a team at Humboldt University in Berlin.Pervitin was a known stimulant at the time and had also been distributed to German soldiers in the war. Team officials had said they had injected their players only with vitamin C during the tournament, but no drugs tests were conducted at the time.Eggers has been studying the case for some years, with his report forming part of a wider project called "Doping in Germany", launched by the country's sports authorities to investigate its doping past."Pervitin was at that time widely used in many sports and amphetamines were said to be also used by South America players," Eggers said. "What is suspicious is that these injections to German players were distributed secretly and the only reason they became known was because those who got injected contracted jaundice."Hungary had demolished the Germans 8-3 in the tournament's group stage, making West Germany's final win all the more surprising."The most important indication, though, is that vitamin C is not injected. This is very unusual. They could have just eaten an orange instead."German football federation officials could not be reached for a comment, while the German Olympic Sports Union, the country's umbrella sports organisation which launched the "Doping in Germany" project with other sports authorities, said they were aware of Eggers' study."Keep in mind these are indications and not proof," said a DOSB official.Many Germans view the 1954 win as the springboard of the country's remarkable soccer success in the World Cup – they have won three and been runners-up four times – and a key moment of renewed optimism in postwar Germany.GermanyDrugs in sportguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |