Nations League

Sep 11

Taylor injured?

Social media was alight like a soggy firework yesterday as stories of Lyle Taylor being injured ripped through us. There was even photos taken of him and his blonde locks struggling on crutches at Ebbsfleet train station.

Taylor captained and played the full 90 minutes in Montserrat’s 2-1 win over the Dominican Republic on Saturday, but he was missing from their draw last night against St Lucia. Taylor obviously travelled home before that game. The journey back from Montserrat includes either a boat or an eight-seater light aircraft back to Antigua before boarding a flight to London. That must have been a painful journey.

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Sep 5

International drive

Eight Addicks are away this week and half of next on international duty, many more than we have seen for years. Whilst we nervously search for any sign of a potential knock, it always fills me with pride seeing Charlton players pull on their national jerseys.

Tonight in Euro qualifying group G Israel drew 1-1 with North Macedonia in the desert city of Be’er Sheva. A surprise substitute on the hour for Israel was Beram Kayal. He looks to have come through unscathed and Lee Bowyer will be pleased that the midfielder clocked some competitive minutes. Meanwhile on 75 minutes Tomer Hemed also came on as a sub for the hosts for his 38th cap.

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Mar 24

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Bermuda and Montserrat qualify for Gold Cup

Bermuda’s national football team (pop: 62,000) made history tonight by qualifying for the CONCACAF Gold Cup for the first time. It is the island’s first qualification for any major tournament.

Nakhi Wells led the Gombey Warriors, resplendent in their pink shorts and blue shorts, to a 3-1 victory in the Dominican Republic (pop: 10,785,000) and 20 places higher in the FIFA rankings. The win gave them a top 10 qualifying birth within the 34 team CONCACEF Nations League.

Wells, the most well known player in Bermuda’s ranks, scored the 2nd after Zeiko Lewis, who plays in the USA 2nd tier for Charleston Battery, equalized a very early Dom Rep opener. Justin Donawa (Columbus Crew) scored the crucial third from distance to make the game safe.

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Nov 18

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Southgate you’re the one

I really enjoyed that England performance today. Someone at UEFA should be feeling very proud of themselves at work tomorrow as the Nations League is looking like an innovative success.

Wembley was alive today and as far removed from a comotosed stadium watching a monotonous and meaningless friendly than you could get. It was great to see and hear how the crowd serenaded both Gareth Southgate and the players afterwards following a superb calendar year for the national team.

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Nov 17

Nahki Wells back with a bang

Bermuda caused a big upset last night by beating El Salvador 1-0 in a rain soaked National Stadium. Nahki Wells scored the 2nd half winner on his first appearance for his country in 3.5 years. El Salvador came into the CONCACAF Nations League Qualfying seeded 4 out of 34 countries and 110 places above Bermuda in the FIFA rankings.

The conditions were shocking but helped neutralize El Salvador’s technical superiority and after Wells, who is on loan at QPR from Burnley, headed in Reggie Lambe’s cross the Gombey Warriors hung on for a famous win.

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Oct 16

International week has dragged although the newly hatched UEFA Nations League seems to have a lot more going for it than the pedestrian paced friendlies we used to have to endure.

Over in this part of the globe the CONCACAF region have also embraced the Nations League concept and have replaced friendlies with a tournament that will not only have a champion plus promotion and relegation through the small teamed groups, but will also determine who qualifies for the 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup.

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