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Shearer on Owen
Shearer hails Owen partnership

"The partnership is going well and if we can both stay fit then we will cause people problems," vowed Shearer. "We both have great belief in our own ability and our games suit each other.

With him in the team you know you always have a chance of getting goals and he showed that. We said before the game we needed to win to keep going after beating Arsenal.

We've taken seven points from the last three games so things are looking good for us. I am one goal away now (from the record) so hopefully I won't have to wait too much longer for it.

The main thing was the three points. We said we needed to build on the win over Arsenal last weekend and we did just that."

Souness On Shearer and Owen Partnership
Souness hails his own deadly duo

"At half time someone mentioned how dangerous Michael and Alan looked together. I said - I wish they were both 25.

I've worked with some great strike partnerships both as a manager and a player. I think Kenny Dalglish and Ian Rush were a very special partnership. Similarly, Roberto Mancini and Gianluca Vialli were two great attackers who complemented each other well. Michael and Alan are in that class. You couldn't slide a piece of paper between any of those players. In terms of their football, they all gave something very special to their teams."

Sven's Opinion Of The England Team Base Camp
I'm delighted with the hotel. I know that there has been a huge amount of work going on throughout the year to find the right place for the team. I understand around 30 hotels across Germany have been checked out in advance to ensure we have the best available.

It's so important that we have the right base camp, as this will be the players home and set the atmosphere as we prepare for all of our games.

When I went out to visit the hotel personally a few months ago, I was immediately struck by the magnificence of the hotel and the fantastic views of the Black Forest.

We've already identified a training ground five minutes from the hotel which we will use every day and our we are within a good travelling distance to the venues we have been drawn to play in during the group phase.

Additionally, we have the beautiful spa town of Baden Baden only a few miles away which has a marvellous atmosphere with some wonderful restaurants and cafes.

I'm already very excited about the World Cup next summer and now the draw has been made and we've chosen our hotel. I can't wait for the tournament to begin and hopefully this hotel will be the launch pad for us to achieve success in Germany."

Crouch Impresses Sven Lately
"It's great to see Peter starting to score regularly. He's taken a lot of unfair criticism since moving to Liverpool - despite playing very well.

I know that like myself, Rafa Benitez has had complete faith in Peter's ability to score goals, so it's pleasing for everyone that he's scored four goals in recent games.

Peter contributes so much to any team, and particularly when he's scoring goals he is a tremendous threat to any defence.

I've been greatly impressed with the professional attitude he has maintained while he was waiting for the goals to come and he is such a likeable person who has a great spirit.

He is a threat in the air or on the ground, and as we saw yesterday, capable of scoring very good goals.

Peter's a real team player, which the Liverpool fans have already recognised, and I'm sure England supporters will understand this - the more they see of him in an England shirt.

I'll be watching on Sunday morning and I will be keeping a close eye on Liverpool's England players. I wish them luck and hope they can win the World Club Championship for English Football."

Are Umbro Picking The England Team?
The Daily Mirror carries a strange story today. It seems someone at Umbro has received assurances that David Calamity James will definitely be in England's World Cup Squad. Umbro supply the England team kit but they also sponsor David James individually, giving them a vested interest in where he spends next summer.

The Mirror quote Umbro's senior vice-president Martin Prothero as saying "We have been led to believe David James will be in the squad. David has had his critics but he's very experienced."

Fifa Opinion
"We consider the technology is not yet ready.

The logical consequence of this is that we will not used in Germany in 2006 FIFA general secretary Urs Linsi said."
(Fifa - No Smartball For WC Statement)

Adidas Reply
"We knew of this decision in advance of course, so we are not surprised, nor are we disappointed.

The tracking system can be applied to any ball that we manufacture so it has not affected the development or production of the ball to be used at the World Cup finals which we believe will be the best ball ever used in the tournament.

We are still developing the tracking system and when we are convinced it is 100 percent bullet-proof, 100 percent perfect, then that will be the time for it to be used said Thomas van Schaik, Adidas spokesman."

England 1966
Keeps up to date information regarding the England teams past and present. All in all a great resource for England fans, especially when it comes to the history of the England team

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1966 | Managers | Players | Results | Opponents | Records

England Blog - 45 mins EW
The aim here is for the blog editor to post all printable news that relates to the England national team leading up to the 2006 World Cup and beyond.

England Fansite
A student built and run England website, aimed specifically at the every day England fan.

England Fans 365
For 365 days of the year, the England team is in the news, England Fans 365.com keeps a note of everything that goes on England team related. England merchandise available here.

England Online
Dedicated to the one and only late Bobby Moore. England online goes in depth when it comes to past players and examining latter day England team Statistics

Supporters Club of England
Just about everything you can think of that is England team related is reported on here. A good source of information for England fans across the world.

The England Band
The England band need no introduction. Every match, home or away, the England band plays. You have heard them. Long live the sound of the England band while the team plays. Good stuff.

Pele Tips England for Final
England could be in the final, no doubt. I saw every game in the last two years and I think England have improved a lot.

I think England, Italy and Brazil over the last two years have been the best teams, but of course we are still seven months before the World Cup.

But if no-one gets injured and everyone has a chance to be there and in shape, I think England could be in the final.

Pele Still Hot On Brazil's Chances
"England could beat Brazil but the World Cup is very tough. The quarter and semi-finals are just one game and the World Cup is a box of surprises. Anything can happen.

I don't feel comfortable with being the favourite - they don't win.

I think Brazil are the best team because they have two players in each position, but the coach has too many good players in the same position and he doesn't know which players to use."

British football liason in Germany Andy Batson said
Transport will face a price hike. Aeroplane flights will be more expensive and so will the german train tickets.

FA Exec Director David Davies on BBC Radio 5 Live
"The FA is doing everything it can to ensure the maximum number of tickets is available to England fans.

We are the best supported nation on the planet and we have a responsibility to seek every ticket we can.

We are doing everything we can and we are confident that extra tickets can be made available but we can never satisfy the fantastic support this team gets."

GROUP A
Germany GER
Costa Rica CRC
Poland POL
Ecuador ECU

GROUP B
England ENG
Paraguay PAR
Trinidad and Tobago TRI
Sweden SWE

GROUP C
Argentina ARG
Ivory Coast CIV
Serbia & Montenegro SCG
Netherlands NED

GROUP D
Mexico MEX
Iran IRN
Angola ANG
Portugal POR

GROUP E
Italy ITA
Ghana GHA
United States USA
Czech Rep. CZE

GROUP F
Brazil BRA
Croatia CRO
Australia AUS
Japan JPN

GROUP G
France FRA
Switzerland SUI
South Korea KOR
Togo TOG

GROUP H
Spain ESP
Ukraine UKR
Tunisia TUN
Saudi Arabia KSA

World Cup Knockout Stages
♠ Winners of Group A plays Runner-up of Group B in Munich on Saturday June 2
♠ Winners of Group B plays Runner-up of Group A in Stuttgart on Sunday June 25
♠ Winners of Group C plays Runner-up of Group D in Leipzig on Saturday June 24
♠ Winners of Group D plays Runner-up of Group C in Nuremberg on Sunday June 25
♠ Winners of Group E plays Runner-up of Group F in Kaiserslautern on Monday June 26
♠ Winners of Group F plays Runner-up of Group E in Dortmund on Tuesday June 27
♠ Winners of Group G plays Runner-up of Group H in Cologne on Monday June 26
♠ Winners of Group H plays Runner-up of Group G in Hanover on Tuesday June 27
(group winners and runners up qualify for the knockout round of 16 teams)

Sven Not Scared Of Any Team
"If you want to win it you have to beat them all.

And if you look at the list I don't think we need to be afraid of anybody, absolutely not. I think they are as afraid of us as we are of them - and the right word for us is not afraid, it's respect.

Of course you have to have respect if you meet Brazil, Argentina, or Holland. And you have to play very well, but I know we can do that."

Sven On England Players Ability
"I think we are technically better than we were in the previous two tournaments, much better and much more experienced.

If you look at players like Rooney, Owen, Beckham, Gerrard, Lampard, the centre-halves, Ashley Cole, Gary Neville. These players are right up there, they can compete with any player out there.

I know I said the same before Euro 2004 but I'm more convinced today, much more convinced than I was then.

If all our players hit form it will be difficult to beat us. I think we can win it, I have always said that. We are one of four sides who can win it."

Sven Not Nervous About World Cup Draw
"No, I'm not nervous before the draw because you can't do anything about it. You have to sit there and hope for the best.

I remember last time in Japan it was awful. The last one in the group was Nigeria and we already had Argentina and Sweden. At that time Adam Crozier was sitting next to me and I bet that Nigeria would come out - and it did!"

Sven's Worst Case Scenario
"If you asked me the worst case scenario this time I would say Holland, because they are the best team not seeded, Australia and the United States.

But at the World Cup you have to be up for every game and it won't be easy no matter who you face. I think in Germany you won't see many results like three or four nil. I think it will be very tight games, whether it's famous teams or not famous teams. We have to be ready and we will be."

Big Name Ex Football Players In Attendance
Brazil's Legendary Attacker Pele
Dutch Midfielder Playmaker Johan Cruyff
German Sweeper/Midfielder Lothar Matthaeus
Cameroonian Striker Roger Milla
South African Centre Back Lucas Radebe
American Winger Cobi Jones
Japanese Forward Masashi Nakayama
French Defender/Midfielder Christian Karembeu

Imraan Ladak Added
Paul was under the influence of alcohol before, during and after several first-team games and training sessions.

Paul needs help. So many people have been waiting for him to go wrong. The bookmakers have said he'll be out before Christmas. The pressure has got the better of him.

It would be great if people got behind Paul and didn't knock him."

Sven On Fifa Seedings
"The world ranking is important but it is also what you did in the last two or three World Cups. I doubt very much the US and Mexico will be seeded before us.

We asked Fifa if we would be seeded or not and what are the rules and they did not answer.

I hope we are seeded because that will be very important. If we are not we cannot protest about it.

We are one of five or six teams that can do it. The players are convinced, like I am, that we can win the World Cup.

If we do not have any injuries and are not tired at the end of the Premier League season we have a good chance."

Sven Opinion Of Lampard
"I am absolutely delighted for Frank,

We have already seen this week how highly regarded he is in Europe and now this shows what people think of him all over the world.

He is one of the best midfielders in the world right now. I can think of almost no weakness in his game. He has tremendous energy, a complete range of passing - both long and short, he can tackle and he scores more goals from midfield than most strikers.

Add to that his fitness and consistency, which have now created new records in England, and you can see how many assets he has a player.

As a person, he is very much someone you want to work with. He has drive and a huge ambition to succeed but he still wants to learn and improve his game, which he has done so much in the last two or three years. He is an excellent ambassador for English football and football in general. I want to say well done to Frank and good luck."