England

Brazil 2014: will any Sunderland players grace the dream World Cup venue?

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The long road. By Jake
The long road. By Jake

In the buildup to each match, Salut! Sunderland asks a fan of the opposing team for his or her thoughts on that constant theme: club versus country.

Whether we have chanced upon a celebrity supporter or welcomed a common-or-garden follower just like us into the hot seat, the answers are overwhelmingly on the side of “club comes first”.

But does the location of the 2014 World Cup, a country that has produced such sublime football over the past half-century – make a difference? The early signs are that it does.

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Bravo Steven Gerrard of Liverpool, England and the record books

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Steven Gerrard Image: etyek

Salut! Sunderland contributors by and large speak for themselves. There is no editorial line that everyone has to follow. Differences of opinion are as likely to break out between Salut writers as between readers.

I do hope, however, that most if not all would agree with me that passing recognition should be given to Steven Gerrard on the day he wins his 100th cap for England.

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McCormick’s Craic: where was England’s flair?

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John McCormick: nostalgic reading calls for a beer

Spain stutters through to the final, France ponders the rights and wrongs of stripping surly players of their bonuses and, once again, the national side leaves a major competition, outplayed and outclassed. John McCormick, on furlough in Westmorland, reflects upon the words of his wife and asks “where’s the flair?”…

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Au revoir Angleterre, goodbye France: Nasri’s parting shame, England’s limited game

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176/366: Come on England!!!Image: Gene Hunt

Late news: big debate brewing in France on whether certain players – the suspects, by and large and overlooking the squad’s surly return to French soil, are identified below – should receive their €100,000-a-man bonuses for reaching the last eight …

The first thing to say is that Euro 2012 seems to have whittled down the competing nations to the four that logically merit a presence in the semi-finals.

Jake: l'artist

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