Billy Is The Hero

Billy was the hero for Russia as he scored both goals in a 2-1 win over Slovinia in the World cup qualifying game first leg. The return leg takes place on Wednesday in Slovenia. (14/11/09)

Yak & Joe Qualify In World Cup Thriller

Nigeria, captained by Joey Yobo have qualified for South Africa 2010 after defeating Kenya 3-2. The Yak scored one of the goals, but the Super Eagles needed an unlikely win by Mozambique, who won 1-0 against Tunisia. (14/11/09)

Howard Out Of USA Game

A foot injury has kept Tim Howard at home instead of playing for USA during the two week break. Tim was doubtful for the West Ham game and the rest will do him good.

Baz Rathbone says: “I have spoken to the US medical team and they are perfectly happy with the situation. We’ll work with Tim here and monitor the injury very closely.” (10/11/09)

Internationals Fly Off

Finch Farm will just have the walking wounded this week as most of the fit players will have jetted off to places we cant find in our atlas. Tim Cahill and Lucas Neill are in the Australian squad for the second leg of their Asian Cup Qualifier in Oman. Joe will captain the Super Eagles with the Yak in the World Cup game when Nigeria visit Nairobi to face Kenya in their final group game. They need to better group rivals Tunisia's result to progress. Bily is on ESPN with Russia. (See below). John Heitinga with Holland and Marouane Fellaini with Belgium have friendlies. Netherlands take on Italy while Belgium take on Hungary and Qatar. Jack Rodwell plays for the England's U21 side against Portugal at Wembley on Saturday and Lithuania next week. While Seamus Coleman will fly to Georgia and then Armenia playing for the Republic of Ireland U21's. (09/11/09)

Skipper

Billy In World Cup Play Off Squad

Diniyar Bilyaletdinov is in Guus Hiddink's Russian squad for the important World Cup qualifying play-offs. Russia face Slovenia in Moscow on 14th November before the return leg in Maribor four days later. There are also places in the squad for Russia's 3 other England-based players - Andrey Arshavin, Roman Pavlyuchenko and Yuri Zhirkov. Both games are on ESPN. (02/11/09)

Yobo Traumatised - Cahill Scores

Nigeria and Australia both won vital qualifiers, but Super Eagles skipper was traumatised, while Tim and Lucas were skipping around the billabong, Tim scored for the Socceroos once again to win 1-0 against Oman in Group B of the Asia nations cup. His 18th in 36 internationals and his fifth in his past four Socceroos matches. Australia are equal on four points with Oman and also have an identical goal difference.

Yobo's team kept their faint World Cup qualification hopes alive with a last minute winner against Mozambique. But only 5,000 turned up to boo the players throughout the game and booed Nigeria’s national anthem even before kick-off.
Joe says: “They booed everything we did. We should not be too surprised at this as they even booed their own national anthem before the match. I had just lost a cousin. We were very close and he spoke with me just before his death and we talked about how the team could qualify for the World Cup in South Africa. So you could understand how traumatised I was before the match." (15/10/09)

Tim's Off To South Africa

Tim Howard and his USA team mates are off to next years World Cup party in South Africa after they beat Honduras 3-2 to book their place at the Dinner table.

Jonny Boy and Lucas Neill played out a goalless draw in Sydney as Australia and Holland locked horns in a friendly. Jonny Boy played the full ninety, whilst Moyesy will be delighted that Lucas Neill got forty five minutes under his belt.

Jack Rodwell played the full ninety minutes as England U21's beat Macedonia 6-3 at Coventry's Ricoh Arena. (11/10/09)

New Boys Come Face To Face

Jonny Heitinga and new club colleagues Lucas Neil and Tim Cahill come face to face on Saturday when Australia take on the Netherlands in a friendly game. The banter between Lucas and Jonny started at Finch Farm last week.

Lucas says: “The banter started a couple of days in training before we came over. And it’s easy for us to get on as we're both new at the club. You often find a bond develops quickly there. But they’re excited about being here because they’re coming to Australia and a lot of them have never been, and also because they know it’s going to be a very competitive game for them - especially after the last result in Eindhoven.” (09/10/09)

Mass Blues International Exodus

The International break shows no respite for a lot of the Blues Squaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaad after a gruelling few week of games weekend and midweek. Screech, Billy, Tiny, The Yak, Tim Howard, Jonny Boy, Lucas Neill and Jack the Lad are all away fulfilling their International duties for their respective countries. Joey Yobo was selected for Nigeria for their match against Mozambique but has stayed behind to nurse his thigh injury. So it will be only the likes of Hibbo, Ossie, Sylvian, Louis and alike who can make the most of their two weeks off. Anyone for the beach !! (05/10/09)

Quiet International Week

Moyesy will be delighted that his squad members who were away on International duty on the whole have had a quiet week. Nuts played in Tuesday nights Friendly in the Republic of Ireland, Jonny Boy was an unused sub as the Dutch beat the Jocks. Screech sat out Belgium's defeat against Armenia as did Billy Boy as Russia beat the Welsh in Cardiff. Tim Howard saw action though as his USA side beat Trinidad to go top of their qualifying World Cup group. Roll on Sunday, the real action begins then against Fulham. (10/09/09)

World Cup Round Up

Our merry band of International Blues have flown off across the World in their bids to reach next years World Cup Finals in South Africa. Bluekipper as always like to keep you up to date, and we dispatched ourselves to the sunny climbs of Kippers front room to watch some foreign channels and take some footy in also.

New boy Billy was in action as his Russian side beat Liechtenstein 3-0 in St Petersburg. Screech's Belgium look like having the Summer off as they went down 5-0 to Euro Champs Spain, Screech earning himself a caution for his sins. Nuts whose homeland is hosting the Tournament played in their 2-0 defeat by Germany and Tim Howard was on top form as his USA side beat El Salvador 2-1. That's all for now folks !! (06/09/09)

Jack Does His Bit

Rodders played the full ninety as England U21's started their long road to Euro glory in 2011. The Young Lions beat Macedonia 2-1 in the Goce Delcev Stadium (its in Macedonia yer know) as they try to qualify for the Finals in Denmark. (05/09/09)

Yobo Puffed Out

Joseph Yobo, who got into camp on Tuesday night, was given the morning off by the coaches.

Super Egales spokesman Idah Peterside says: “Yobo was a bit fatigued so the coach decided that he should rest this morning.” (03/09/09)

World Cup Duty For New Signings

Finch Farm will be like a ghoast town this week as Everton's growing band of internationals are flying off to play for their countries. New signing Jonny Heitinga is in Holland to play Japan in a friendy before heading to Scotland for a world cup qualifier. Billy will play for Russia against Liechtenstein in Moscow and then flys to Cardiff to play Wales. Maro Fellaini goes to Spain then in Armenia for 2 important World cup qualifiers. Tim Howard is home in USA to face El Salvador before taking on to Trinidad and Tobago. Peanuts has a couple of friendlies in Germany and Ireland. Youngsters Rodwell and Duffy play in the European Championships while James Wallace will be in the England U19 squad that faces Russia in a friendly at Shrewsbury. (02/09/09)

A Win Three Loses and A Draw

Tim Howard's USA lost 2-1 to Mexico in a World Cup qualifying match. Tim Cahill was star of the show, scoring a brace in an Ozzie 3-2 win over the Irish. Maro Fellaini played for half a game for Belgium in a 3-1 defeat in the Czech Republic. Peanuts lost 3-1 in a game for South Africa against Serbia. Roger was seen on the bench comparing notes with sitteh's Wright-Philips, as England drew 2-2 with the Dutch. (13/08/09)

Everton Duo In Draw

Vaughany and Gentle Jack both started for England's U21's in a 0-0 draw in Holland. They both came off in the second half. (12/08/09)