Merry Christmas, Jürgen! 🎅

Ho ho ho! Merry fist-mas! Pep's Man City were dealt a blow from Crystal Palace, giving Klopp's Liverpool breathing room at the top of the Premier League

Goal link: https://www.goal.com/en/galleries/goals-cartoon-corner-the-best-football-sketches-from-omar/1/5h5idxuqf71t1a242x8f9cmtj

Tweet Follow @omomani

Allardyce & Bruce sumo battle the England job

After the Football Association began talks with both Sam Allardyce and Steve Bruce, the two heavyweights are set to battle it out for the England job

Goal cartoon link: http://www.goal.com/en/news/3947/cartoon-of-the-day/2016/07/20/25223312/cartoon-of-the-day-july/cartoon-20716#photo

Tweet Follow @omomani

Vikings sink England

Iceland's remarkable Euro 2016 journey continued on Monday as they defeated England 2-1, with the Vikings sinking Roy Hodgson, Wayne Rooney and Joe Hart...

Goal cartoon link: http://www.goal.com/en/news/3947/cartoon-of-the-day/2016/06/28/24153742/cartoon-of-the-day-june/cartoon-28616#photo
Tweet Follow @omomani

England select Rashford

Despite being just 18 and having made his Manchester United debut in February, Marcus Rashford has earned a call-up to Roy Hodgson's preliminary squad for this summer's European Championships

Goal cartoon link: http://www.goal.com/en/news/3947/cartoon-of-the-day/2016/05/17/22992572/cartoon-of-the-day-may/england-select-rashford#photo
Tweet Follow @omomani

Hodgson's Happy Easter

England's Tottenham contingent played a big part in the Three Lions' comeback victory over world champions Germany, much to the delight of the head coach.

Tweet Follow @omomani

Rooney ties up Kane and Vardy

After their heroics in the 3-2 win over Germany, Wayne Rooney might be starting to get worried about Harry Kane and Jamie Vardy.

Tweet Follow @omomani

'Bad News' Barrett asks Rooney to win Euro 2016

WWE superstar 'Bad News' Barrett says he will forgive Wayne Rooney for their Twitter spat, but only if England win Euro 2016

Tweet Follow @omomani

Hurri-Kane carrying Roy Hodgson's England to Euro 2016

Tweet Follow @omomani

Welbeck leads England's resurgence

After facing a barrage of criticism for their display against Norway last Wednesday, England were given little room for error in their opening Euro 2016 qualifier against Switzerland.

But Roy Hodgson’s side rose to the task with an assured display and sealed a 2-0 victory at St Jakob-Park following Danny Welbeck’s second-half double.

Tuesday, 9 September 2014 12:00

Tweet Follow @omomani

Hodgson can’t stop swearing

England manager Roy Hodgson sought to play down reports after he responded angrily to a question from a journalist after his side’s 1-0 win over Norway.

The Three Lions boss was furious after it was claimed his side only had two shots on targets in the match, responding, “that is absolute f***ing b*****ks, I'm sorry”.

However, Hodgson has played down his outburst and cannot understand why there has been so much reaction to his words.

“I swear all the time. I swear in front of my wife – I never used to when I was a kid but I do now, so there you go,” he said. “It’s 2014. People swear – and I swear.”

Monday, 8 September 2014 11:46

Tweet Follow @omomani

Suarez pushes England towards World Cup exit

A World Cup campaign that began with cautious optimism appears to be over after just one week and two games for England, as a double from Luis Suarez in Sao Paulo consigned the Three Lions to their second successive 2-1 defeat in Brazil.

Roy Hodgson's men are not quite out of the tournament just yet, but now require a miracle to progress from a competitive Group D. England must hope Italy can beat both Costa Rica and Uruguay, while must overcome the former themselves in their final match.

But no side has ever lost their first two group games at a World Cup and still progressed to the knock-out rounds, while only one team - Chile in 1998 - has qualified with just three points (since three points were awarded for a victory). Thus, Suarez's brace appears to have handed England a premature flight home.

Friday, 20 June 2014 13:00

Tweet Follow @omomani

England touchdown in Miami

England have landed in Miami as they continue their preparations for this summer's World Cup in Brazil.

The Three Lions take on Ecuador and Honduras in friendlies on Wednesday and Saturday respectively at the Sun Life Stadium, with plenty of places still up for grabs in Roy Hodgson's team.

The players will need to adapt to the conditions in Florida quickly, with the temperatures even hotter and more humid in Manaus, where England take on Italy in their opening game.

Monday, 2 June 2014 12:05

Tweet Follow @omomani

Rooney & Roy lead England's school trip to Brazil

Roy Hodgson's England squad may read a bit like a school trip after six players under the age of 23 were named for this summer's World Cup in Brazil.

Luke Shaw, Raheem Sterling, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Ross Barkley, Phil Jones and Jack Wilshere will all be heading to South America, so the experience of the squad's senior players will be more vital than ever. That means Wayne Rooney riding up front with Roy!

Tuesday, 13 May 2014 12:00

Tweet Follow @omomani

Roy The Redeemer leads England to Rio

England were finally able to celebrate on Tuesday night after a 2-0 victory over Poland booked a place at the 2014 World Cup.

Knowing Ukraine were likely to thrash Group H minnows San Marino, Roy Hodgson's side had to win at Wembley Stadium in order to top the table and avoid a potentially tricky play-off tie.

And the Three Lions were sent on their way just before half time by a Wayne Rooney header, before captain Steven Gerrard secured a vital three points in the closing stages.

Hodgson and his charges have come in for criticism throughout his spell in charge, with the former Fulham and Liverpool manager once comically mocked up as the Christ The Redeemer statue prior to the Euro 2012 clash with France, such was the nation's bleak view of England's chances of progression.

But few could knock Hodgson after two exhilarating victories wrapped up an ultimately unbeaten World Cup qualifying campaign.

Wednesday, October 16, 2013 11:00

Tweet Follow @omomani

Redknapp poison piles pressure on Roy

Harry Redknapp was spurned by the Football Association last year as the rulers of the domestic game appointed Roy Hodgson as manager of England.

Unsurprisingly, Redknapp did not walk quietly into the sunset, shrugging his shoulders and muttering "ah well, that's life". No, no, Redknapp has instead revealed all in his upcoming autobiograhpy - a raucous tale of backstabbing, contradictions and half-truths that has drawn pressure on Hodgson.

England face Montenegro on Friday night at Wembley before another home showdown, this time against Ukraine next week. Two wins will guarantee qualification for World Cup 2014 and ease the pressure on Hodgson - but with Redknapp waiting in the wings, perhaps it'd be more fun to watch this story play out a little more.

Friday, October 11, 2013 12:38

Tweet Follow @omomani

No time for England in Rio's busy schedule

 

Rio Ferdinand turned down Roy Hodgson's call-up to the England squad because it interferes with his "intricate pre-planned programme" of fitness, put in place to prolong the 34-year-old's Old Trafford career.

The Manchester United defender himself was snubbed by the England manager in his squad selection for Euro 2012 because of "footballing reasons". His displays so far this season, though, have prompted the former West Brom boss to have a change of heart.

One minute he was in the squad, and the next he was out. The debacle once again highlights a lack of communication from Roy Hodgson with his players. The only winners out of this embarassing turn of events are Manchester United, and perhaps Rio's travel agent. 

Tweet Follow @omomani

Magic Ibrahimovic bamboozles England hopefuls

 

There are few doubts about who was the star of the show in England's 4-2 defeat to Sweden on Wednesday night - the inimitable Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

England had six debutants on show in Leon Osman, Raheem Sterling, Wilfried Zaha, Ryan Shawcross, Steven Caulker and Carl Jenkinson.

But there was little any of them - or indeed Roy Hodgson's more senior players - could do about Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who had already scored twice before completing a hat-trick with a powerful long-range free-kick.

And for his next trick, the Swedish magician rounded off the scoring with a mystifying, looping overhead kick from over 20 yards out which almost defied logic, leaving Hodgson and his charges thoroughly dumbfounded.
Tweet Follow @omomani

A convenient truth? Ronaldo, Rooney & RVP out of friendlies

 

Another raft of international friendlies are upon us and, with them, a whole host of convenient injuries to some of Europe's biggest stars.

Cristiano Ronaldo has pulled out of Portugal's clash with Gabon on Wednesday due to a badly gashed eye sustained against Levante this weekend.

Manchester United duo Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie, meanwhile, have also withdrawn from duty with England and the Netherlands, despite both featuring heavily in the Red Devils' comeback victory over Aston Villa on Saturday.

Of course, no one would be cynical enough to suggest that 'knocks' like these were crudely manufactured by club managers to buy their key men some crucial rest time, but no one can deny that the absence of their best players is a constant source of frustration to national team bosses.

Tweet Follow @omomani

Out of options - Hodgson calls up every man and his dog

 

International squad selections are always blighted by withdrawals through injury, and England's latest crop are no different.

Following Kieran Gibbs' thigh strain while playing for Arsenal and Frank Lampard's own inclusion being thrown into doubt, the inexperienced duo of Ryan Bertrand and Jonjo Shelvey have been called upon to reinforce the ranks.

Surely this means anyone is in with a chance of a call-up, right? Emile Heskey will be licking his lips in Australia, while sightings of Tom, Dick and Harry circling Wembley are plentiful.
Tweet Follow @omomani

#BUNCHOFTWITS! Chelsea & England put stop to Cole fury

 

Friday was eventful: firstly the chiefs at the FA released the written reasons behind John Terry's ban and fine, before later, Chelsea team-mate Ashley Cole took to Twitter to berate the "bunchoft****" that had dared to suggest his account of events were altered.

Cole subsequently deleted his tweet after perhaps FINALLY receiving some intelligent advice from those at Chelsea and issued an unreserved apology to the FA. Incidentally, Cole will remain in the England squad for the two upcoming World Cup 2014 qualifiers and should hit the 100-cap mark.

What a pity this ill-thought out tirade will go onto tarnish such a monumental achievement. 

Tweet Follow @omomani