Jagielka relishes underdog tag

Defender Phil Jagielka believes the lack of expectation on England could help them to flourish at Euro 2012.

Unlike in previous years, the national team head to Poland and Ukraine as outsiders to win the tournament, and Jagielka is hoping they can now surprise people.

“I’m sure if we win a game we’ll be favourites and if we lose a game we’ll be a waste of space,” he told reporters.

“It’s a hard one to call. It would be better for the squad if there’s a little bit less expectation on us. Hopefully we can go under the radar until the latter stages of the tournament and hopefully get further than we have.

“If we’re being realistic we haven’t won anything for a number of years and maybe that’s because we don’t deserve to so hopefully this time round we can perform better and see where that takes us.”

The Everton centre-back also suggested that not much has changed since England’s friendly clash with France in November 2010 – ahead of their meeting in the tournament opener on June 11.

“I’m sure their squad will be quite similar to what it was back then and ours isn’t too different. It’s going to be a slightly different atmosphere and a different sort of onus on the game,” he said.

“Obviously it’s a tournament game, not a friendly so we’ll need the points to top the table and hopefully go through.

“We’ll be going out there to win the game but I think if we take a draw and get two other good results in the group then we’ll take that just as much.”

Jagielka also said he has enjoyed training under new boss Roy Hodgson so far, adding: “It has been good. We’ve obviously not had too long with it but a 1-0 win (against Norway) is a decent start.

“We didn’t play amazing but we’re still getting used to the tactics and the different roles that some of us have to play.

“We’ve got to look upwards and we’re going into a tournament and hopefully we can do well with him in charge.”

The 29-year-old also expressed excitement at the prospect of playing for his country alongside his former Toffees team-mate Joleon Lescott.

He continued: “Yeah definitely me and Joleon have known each other for about 10 years now so that’s obviously useful for England.

“We’ve played together a lot at Everton him got himself a fantastic move to Manchester City and has won himself a Premier League medal this season so his career has gone onto fantastic things and I think I’ve done ok for myself.”

“It’s always nice to have a familiar face next to you, especially at international football where the standards are so high. I think the last three games with had we’ve had three wins.”

Source : http://www.soccernews.com/jagielka-relishes-underdog-tag/95463/

Barry out, Parker fit for England

Gareth Barry has been ruled out of Euro 2012 with a stomach muscle injury with Phil Jagielka coming into England’s squad.

A scan on Monday revealed that Barry has a tear in a lower abdominal muscle and manager Roy Hodgson has decided to leave the Manchester City midfielder behind when he takes England to the European Championships.

Everton defender Jagielka, who played in England’s 1-0 friendly win over Norway on Saturday, has been picked as Barry’s replacement.

“I’m very disappointed to lose Gareth,” Hodgson said.

“Not only was he a member of my original 23-man squad but he has featured prominently in the England team over the last few years.

“I know how much he wanted to be part of the tournament but I’m sure he will still have a part to play with England after the Euros.

“I wish him a speedy recovery.”

But in some good news for Hodgson, Tottenham midfielder Scott Parker has proven his fitness for the tournament in Poland and Ukraine, which starts on June 8.

An Achilles injury had cast doubt over Parker’s participation at Euro 2012 with Hodgson required to name his final 23-man squad on Tuesday.

But Parker’s 55 minutes of action against Norway has convinced Hodgson that the defensive midfielder is fit.

Parker was happy with his performance against Norway in Hodgson’s first match as England’s boss.

“It’s always important to be out there,” Parker said.

“It’s a fresh start and, in a way, you’ve got to prove to him you’re worthy of a place in his team.

“It was good to get out there and as a team we showed what we can do.”

Source : http://www.soccernews.com/barry-out-parker-fit-for-england/95407/

Jags replaces Barry for England World Soccer Shop

Phil Jagielka has been called up to England's Euro 2012 squad after midfielder Gareth Barry was ruled out through injury.

Jagielka: Confirmed in 23-man England squad

Manchester City's Barry suffered a tear to his lower abdomen against Norway in Oslo on Saturday.

His withdrawal was confirmed after Barry had a scan in the north-west on Monday.

Everton centre-back Jagielka has been called up as his replacement, the Football Association confirmed.

"I am very disappointed to lose Gareth, not only was he a member of my original 23-man squad but he has featured prominently in the England team over the last few years," said manager Roy Hodgson.

"I know how much he wanted to be part of the tournament but I'm sure he will still have a part to play with England after the Euros.

"I wish him a speedy recovery."

Barry's place was in doubt after he lasted less than half an hour of a second-half appearance in Saturday's friendly win over Norway in Oslo.

After the game Hodgson said he may have to trust Barry to let him know exactly how bad the injury was.

It is not thought that was necessary, though, with scans indicating there was no way the Manchester City man was going to be fit to play any meaningful role in Poland and Ukraine this summer.

Jagielka had been tipped to come in and strengthen Hodgson's defensive options.

The Everton man was produced an excellent performance in Norway alongside Joleon Lescott - a pairing that kept Spain out in November and are now pressurising Chelsea duo John Terry and Gary Cahill.

They will report for duty at England's Watford base on Tuesday, along with the remainder of Hodgson's 23-man squad.

That number will include Danny Welbeck and Glen Johnson, who had been doubts with ankle and toe injuries respectively.

However, it seems those problems have cleared up, along with Scott Parker's Achilles injury, and the FA are anticipating having to make no further changes when they submit their official squad to UEFA at 11am on Tuesday.

Source : http://soccer365.com//news/european_news/general/17307/jags_replaces_barry_for_england

Hodgson open to Jagielka option World Soccer Shop

England boss Roy Hodgson is expected to call Phil Jagielka into his Euro 2012 squad if Gareth Barry is ruled out by a groin injury.

Jagielka: Caught the eye - and could get his chance

Although Hodgson predicted a scan on the problem Barry suffered during the second-half of Saturday's 1-0 win over Norway would take place within 24 hours, it now transpires the assessment will not be made until Monday.

The chances of Barry satisfying Hodgson of his fitness before England's confirmed 23-man squad has to be submitted to UEFA on Tuesday lunchtime appear remote, although the Three Lions boss accepts he may have to take the Manchester City man on trust.

If Barry is ruled out, Liverpool's Jordan Henderson should, in theory, be the replacement as the midfield standby.

However, even though he won his third cap in the Ullevaal Stadium, Henderson has been below-par for long periods of his debut season on Merseyside and Manchester United's Michael Carrick might have been a better bet.

Hodgson has an alternative option though, especially now it seems certain both Danny Welbeck and Glen Johnson will be declared fit for this summer's finals in Poland and Ukraine after their recent scares.

Jagielka was outstanding alongside Joleon Lescott in central defence on Saturday.

It will not have gone un-noticed that Jagielka was also part of the England defence when they secured that excellent win over world champions Spain in November.

And it seems the Everton man will get the call.

"I am prepared to reconfigure," said Hodgson, when asked if he would be willing to replace a member of his midfield with an additional defender.

"I am not necessarily looking to replace man-for-man in the midfield area because we have a lot of players in that area."

James Milner proved his versatility by occupying a central midfield role against Norway, whilst Manchester United's Phil Jones has done the job for club and country.

It means England are not as vulnerable to Barry's absence as they were two years ago, when Fabio Capello selected the Manchester City man in his World Cup squad even though he was not fit enough for the opening game and failed to do himself justice even after that fateful draw with the United States.

"We only have a couple of days to sort it out and we can't take any risks," said Hodgson. "Gareth is a big man and when big men get injuries they sometimes takes a bit of time to heal.

"He is a very honest individual and whilst the scan will tell us a lot, if it doesn't give us the answer we want I shall be having a very serious discussion with him.

"He will have to be honest with me and let me know exactly how it is."

It was the same with Scott Parker following his recent Achilles problem.

The Tottenham midfielder repeatedly re-assured his manager he would recover in time and his 60-minute outing yesterday provided enough proof for Hodgson to turn an inquiry about Parker's health on its head.

"I don't understand the Parker question," he said. "I don't understand what anxiety I need to have over him.

"Every day I have asked him how he is feeling. Now he has given me the answer."

It means that Monday's medical bulletin is not being feared with quite the trepidation that might have been expected.

For, apparently, enough improvement has been shown by Welbeck and Johnson for Hodgson to allay any doubts over their involvement even if the former man in particular might not actually do any training before England depart for their base in Krakow on June 6.

"I am not worried about Glen Johnson. I am not worried about Danny Welbeck," said Hodgson. "We have sorted that one out.

"I am convinced they will be more than fit when they get on the plane to go to Poland."

Source : http://soccer365.com//news/european_news/general/17284/hodgson_open_to_jagielka_option