English FA wants British team at Rio Olympics

Thursday, 5 March 2015 03:01 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Reuters: A combined British soccer team could take part in next year’s Rio de Janeiro Olympics after the English Football Association signalled its intent to enter the qualification process. At London 2012 Britain fielded a unified soccer team managed by the FA, after a 52-year absence, although at the time it was seen as a one-off move to mark the home Games. The British Olympic Association (BOA) said on Tuesday that the FA had confirmed its desire to send a team to Brazil. “We have received confirmation from the FA of their intention to enter into the qualification process for Rio 2016 for both men and women’s tournaments,” a BOA spokesman said. The qualification process for men’s is this year’s Under-21 European Championship with the four semi-finalists sealing a place in the Olympic tournament. The top three European sides at the women’s World Cup will also enter the Olympics. World soccer’s governing body FIFA would still have to sanction a British team. Debate has raged over a British soccer team, with the Welsh, Scottish and Northern Irish FAs concerned that agreeing to unite for the Olympics would jeapordise their independent status within FIFA. Several Welsh and Scottish players played at London 2012 without the blessing of their FAs. Britain’s men, captained by former Manchester United forward Ryan Giggs, and women both lost in the quarter-finals.

First Villa win better than lottery jackpot: Sherwood

Reuters: Tim Sherwood said his first victory as Aston Villa manager was better than a lottery win after his side escaped the relegation zone by beating West Bromwich Albion 2-1 in the Premier League on Tuesday. A stoppage-time Christian Benteke penalty handed Villa their first win in 13 league games and Sherwood his first points after three games in charge at the struggling club. Victory lifted Villa, who have never been relegated in the Premier League era, from second-bottom to 17th in the table and arrested a seven-game losing streak in the league. Sherwood believes the last-gasp win could be a turning point in his team’s season and said it was more important to him than winning a huge jackpot. “My missus said to me this morning she was doing the EuroMillions lottery, 54 million pounds ($82.94 million)jackpot,” Sherwood told reporters. “I said I’d rather have three points. “I think so (it’s a turning point). We have conceded late against Stoke (in a 2-1 home loss) and it is a real body blow, but to score one late is an excellent feeling and I thought it was thoroughly deserved. “We are improving every game and we are still alive and kicking. It’s a massive football club and it is at the wrong end of the table.” Villa have scored the fewest goals in the Premier League this season with 15 but showed a will to get forward and attack local rivals West Brom.