Courtesy: The FA.com


Dell names squad

Tuesday, 02 January 2007

UEFA European Championship
Pre-Qualification Group
18-21 January 2007
Deva, Romania
Last Time Out - England 1-2 France

England coach Graeme Dell has announced his squad for this months UEFA European Championship pre-qualification Group where England will face the hosts Romania as well as Latvia and Bulgaria between 18–21 January in Deva.

Dell has placed continued confidence in many of the players who performed so well before Christmas against France for what will be a series of challenging encounters. A recall for captain Alex Sykes of Gloucester City is the most notable inclusion in an otherwise fairly stable group during the last half of 2006.

The senior levels of the non-league game is heavily represented as Dell looks to experience and fitness with Steve Torpey of Halifax Town, Moor Green’s Richard Follet, Darren Budd of Bognor Regis, Salisbury City’s Alex Haddow, Jim Elford of Hastings and Hamptons Glen Harris amongst the selected players who are all about to experience playing in a UEFA European Championship.

Follet and Sykes are the only remaining non-league players from England’s European introduction to the game in 2004 and will be hoping to improve upon that inaugural participation.

Dell told TheFA.com: “This group represents the best crop of Futsal players we have in the country at this time and they have all earned the right to represent the country. I am confident that they will all apply themselves with a strong dedication to the challenges ahead of them in the coming weeks and we will have to wait now and see what that brings.

“The support and co-operation of their clubs has been very evident and they not only recognise this as a unique opportunity for each player but also the recognition that international selection adds to their club and the players development.”

The Three Lions open their campaign against Romania on Thursday 18 January and then play Latvia the following day with the final group game against Bulgaria on Saturday 21 January. The group winner plus the two best performing runners up will progress to the actual Qualification stage in February.

Squad List:

Player - Age - DOB - Caps

Graham Smith - 23 - 14.08.83 - 14
Mark Canham - 24 - 11.09.82 - 22
Alex Sykes - 32 - 02.04.74 - 20
Jon Adams - 21 - 08.01.85 - 8
James Elford - 26 - 12.06.80 - 19
Steve Torpey - 25 - 16.09.81 - 2
Michael Lyons - 25 - 24.07.81 - 9
Michael Skuballa - 24 - 31.10.82 - 22
Steve Harrison - 21 - 29.05.85 - 22
Alex Haddow - 24 - 08.01.82 - 6
Glen Harris - 25 - 27.10.81 - 10
Darren Budd - 22 - 09.09.84 - 6
John Robinson - 21 - 20.09.85 - 4
Richard Follett - 27 - 29.08.79 - 14



Posted by Luca Ranocchiari --> luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com