Manchester City Pre Season: Boys Beat Bayern

Manchester City lined up for their final of the three International Champions Cup against Bayern at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. Pep went with his usual starting eleven which includes numerous youngsters, along with new signing Riyad Mahrez.

Using the competition to give minutes for the younger players, Pep has been impressed with the hunger and desire shown by his young charges. Early on in the game they showed exactly what they could do, with good quick interplay in the opposition half.

Manchester City Pre season: Liverpool Learning

The second International Champions Cup match for Manchester City saw Jurgen Klopps side face off at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. As far as a quality fixture is concerned, it really didn't quite live up to the billing.

Firstly the field resembled a non league pitch in April after a Taylor Swift concert had been held only days before. The 'Swifties' seemingly more rowdy than one might expect although we knew they were trouble we hoped they would shake it off before entering the stadium. Now it's clear they should never, ever, get back together!

Manchester City Pre Season: Dortmund Defeat

The dust has barely settled on the seats at the Luzhniki Stadium, the confetti only recently removed from the field, and preseason football has begun. There would be a number of absentees for Pep Guardiola's side as they traveled stateside to play a trio of games.

England Out With A Whimper.

Don't get me wrong, all in all it was a good World Cup for England. No one expected England to do as well as they did, and we should be happy. However, the last two games of the tournament left a bitter taste in the mouth. Yes England took on Belgium with 24 hours less preparation time than their opponents, but did that really make a difference?

Proud England Out Of World Cup - Reflection On The Tournament

There was a different feeling with this World Cup as England bowed out. I must admit, once it was known we'd be playing in white, I thought we'd struggle. Seriously though, this England side had restored hope to a Nation even before a ball was kicked against Croatia.

Youth was the key for this England side, with only two players from yesterdays starting eleven born before the 1990 World Cup. Significant because that was the last time England made the Semi Finals of the World Cup. Jordan Henderson becomes a third player as he was born a day after England held the Netherlands to a 0-0 draw in the second Group game of Italia '90.

Southgate Proud As England Bow Out Of Russia

Of course, there is still the third place game to come. A meeting between group stage rivals, Belgium to see if this England side can still be the most successful England side on foreign soil. In 1990 England reached the World Cup Semi Final before being defeated by West Germany. The following game was also a loss, with England finishing fourth behind the hosts in Italia '90.

Analysis of the tournament as a whole for England will follow tomorrow. For now though I want to focus on last nights defeat to Croatia. Despite the defeat I finished watching the game with positive thoughts. Not so much that we had blown a golden chance but more that we had given some young players potentially valuable experience.

Why Jorginho To Chelsea Could Be Good For City

It was a deal which, according to reports, was agreed in principle many weeks ago. At the end of the latest Premier League season, Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola stated he wanted business done quickly. Before the start of the World Cup was the inference from the newly crowned Premier League winning manager.

However, with the World Cup officially ending on Sunday, Manchester City have only secured one of their targets. A fantastic purchase of Riyad Mahrez from rivals Leicester City in what has been reported to be £60 million. That, for those of you keeping track is £35 million less than the price quoted six months ago.

Three Lions Roar Into The Semi Finals

I must admit that I was working at the time of the game. Following via score updates never gives quite the same emotion as watching the ebb and flow of a match. Their attempts on our goal, and our efforts missed are not lived through with the rather boring display of 'ten minutes gone, 0-0'.

Colombia Vs England: Coffee v Tea, Football Vs Farce-ball

Well it wasn't the most easiest of games on the eye I can remember seeing, but in the end England moved on. Gareth Southgate is rightly proud of his sides performance and the English nation too should applaud. It wasn't as dominating as the pundits might have led you to believe, but it was exactly what you might have expected.

England pressured Colombia early on in the first half. The pressure causing a few bad tackles from the opposition, and providing set pieces. The much criticized Raheem Sterling, unfairly in my opinion, was finding space and causing problems.