- The Telegraph
James Haskell book extract: Shooting rabbits, 'dwarf-tossing' and hotel maids – the real story of England's 2011 World Cup disaster
Coming tomorrow: Stuart Lancaster's England team was like a school trip On Monday: Why I ended up naked on a Paris car park - covered in gold paint Next week: Join the webchat with James Haskell - exclusive to subscribers The disarray that was the 2011 World Cup could be a whole book on its own. In terms of genre, it would be a mix of horror, dark comedy and misery memoir. Things started to go downhill pretty much the minute we arrived at Pennyhill Park for our training camp, which was chaotic from day one. It doesn’t matter how hard the coaches make you work - and we were all aghast at having sessions scheduled from 6.30am to 9pm - the players will always fill their downtime with mischief. I brought my rifle and shot rabbits on the golf course - I viewed it as pest control - and soon the lads started bringing air guns in, so that every afternoon you’d hear a chorus of shooting. Then, one day, we were all called into an emergency meeting. Martin Johnson, our coach, stormed in and roared, “Lads, what the f---’s been going on?” Silence. “I’ve been told some of you have been firing guns. Please tell me no-one has brought a firearm onto the property?” Some idiot tried to deny it. “B-------! I know you have, because a family was out for a walk and came across a dead fox wrapped around a tree with a paper target on its face!”
- Stats Perform News
Greenwood should not have been called up by England, says Solskjaer
Mason Greenwood's maiden England call-up ended in him being sent home for breaking COVID-19 protocol along with Man City's Phil Foden.
- The Telegraph
Pep Guardiola says Phil Foden made a mistake in breaching Covid-19 protocols whilst on England duty
Pep Guardiola has admitted Phil Foden made a “mistake” for breaching coronavirus guidelines whilst on England duty, but insisted he is still counting on the Manchester City midfielder this season. The City manager, who will be without striker Sergio Aguero and defender Aymeric Laporte for the club’s Premier League opener at Wolves on Monday, also said there were no new developments on his contract. Guardiola is out of contract at the end of the season. Foden was sent home in disgrace by England this month after the City midfielder and Manchester United striker Mason Greenwood breached Covid-19 protocols by inviting two women back to the team hotel 24 hours after making their senior international debuts in the 1-0 win over Iceland in Reykjavik. “He’s well, the time I saw him – the three or four days together. He knows he made a mistake and that’s all,” Guardiola said. With David Silva having left City last month, Foden is expected to be given a prominent midfield role this season, although Guardiola said the 20-year-old’s versatility meant he could play in multiple positions.
