Post by Taxigirl on Mar 24, 2005 10:27:01 GMT
skysports.planetfootball.com/
by Ben Blackmore
Michael Owen has spoken to Sky Sports News ahead of England's double-header against Northern Ireland and Azerbaijan, and warned his team-mates that the time has come to deliver.
Owen has largely been a bit-part player for Real Madrid this season, but his 28 goals for England means that he is still the country's first choice striker.
And Owen believes that the current England squad has the perfect blend of youth and experience to successfully end the nation's 40-year wait for the World Cup.
"We've got players that you think, 'he's been around a bit of time'. However when you look at their age they're not actually that old, they're still in their prime and are very experienced," Owen told Sky Sports News.
"Look at the other end of the scale, we've got some young promising players coming through and there's a cracking team spirit here.
"Most of us have been together for a good few years now, even before the Japan World Cup; we were a very young side over there."
Owen, who featured in the launch of England's new home strip, stressed the importance of the extra time the players will spend together before the World Cup. And the 25 year-old has told his team-mates that there will be no excuses, should England fail in Germany 2006.
"An athlete prepares for the Olympics and they peak at that one time. If our players got only a week or ten days it is not enough to really peak at the right time, so it is certainly important to get that training schedule spot-on.
"Hopefully we can stay clear of injuries and if we all get through the season fine, it'll be great to have that break and prepare properly.
"We'll go together and hopefully this is our time. It's in Europe, the weather is going to be perfect for us, the time difference - everything - so don't think there will be any excuses."
by Ben Blackmore
Michael Owen has spoken to Sky Sports News ahead of England's double-header against Northern Ireland and Azerbaijan, and warned his team-mates that the time has come to deliver.
Owen has largely been a bit-part player for Real Madrid this season, but his 28 goals for England means that he is still the country's first choice striker.
And Owen believes that the current England squad has the perfect blend of youth and experience to successfully end the nation's 40-year wait for the World Cup.
"We've got players that you think, 'he's been around a bit of time'. However when you look at their age they're not actually that old, they're still in their prime and are very experienced," Owen told Sky Sports News.
"Look at the other end of the scale, we've got some young promising players coming through and there's a cracking team spirit here.
"Most of us have been together for a good few years now, even before the Japan World Cup; we were a very young side over there."
Owen, who featured in the launch of England's new home strip, stressed the importance of the extra time the players will spend together before the World Cup. And the 25 year-old has told his team-mates that there will be no excuses, should England fail in Germany 2006.
"An athlete prepares for the Olympics and they peak at that one time. If our players got only a week or ten days it is not enough to really peak at the right time, so it is certainly important to get that training schedule spot-on.
"Hopefully we can stay clear of injuries and if we all get through the season fine, it'll be great to have that break and prepare properly.
"We'll go together and hopefully this is our time. It's in Europe, the weather is going to be perfect for us, the time difference - everything - so don't think there will be any excuses."