COLOGNE - It was just like old times for Liverpool duo Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher, along with former Anfield team-mate Michael Owen, as England prepared to train in Cologne.
As they came out of the tunnel to start the session they were greeted by former Liverpool boss Gerard Houllier, now at Lyon but working at the World Cup as he prepares for next season.
Continue reading "Liverpool trio meet an old friend"
ON THE ROAD AGAIN IN BAVARIA - We've left Munich now and are heading back to Stuttgart to do some filming with Celina Hinchcliffe and her touring 91Èȱ¬ crew - keep your eyes peeled for us on the MOTD highlights some time this week and check out the video- and after a night in the England fans' camp near Baden-Baden we're going to take the scenic route towards Nuremberg.
But we are undecided on what to do with ourselves on Wednesday evening.
Continue reading "A football quandary"
LEIPZIG - He trudged off after his second yellow card of the tournament, ripped off his captain´s arm-band and tossed it towards the bench. Is that the last we´ll see of Zinedine Zidane on a football pitch ?
His laboured performance summed up the mood of a nation. England may not be world beaters on current form but at least they´re winning. The French body languages suggests there´s plenty going wrong beneath the surface.
Continue reading "End of an era ?"
COLOGNE Because 69-year-old Frau Betz has well over a million football stickers - and it looked like almost as many left to swap. We went and filmed her last week for a piece for Match of the Day and we've been talking about little else since.
Continue reading "Anyone need a swapsie ?"
COLOGNE - If there was an international football party circuit, Cologne would be on it. With its famous , , and an eclectic stumble of fans, it has buzzed with good-natured banter all weekend.
Every time you turn the corner of a beerhaus-lined street in the old town it’s to find more and more of the latest guests are England fans – and they hope they will behave.
Continue reading "Kolsch whets the whistle"
MUNICH - Based on the performances of the England team in their opening two games there are many issues that need resolving.
Not least of these is the form of Michael Owen - so with this in mind Ricco and I went to visit the scene of one of his greatest performances.
Continue reading "Cheer up Michael Owen"