Ahead of Team GB's Olympic warm up with Brazil this evening at the Riverside Stadium, Middlesborough, I have compiled a factfile on both Brazil and the host nation Great Britain ahead of their respective London 2012 berths.
The match itself is being broadcasted by the good people over on BBC 1, coverage starts at 7:30pm with kick off at 7:45pm. Additionally prior to the men's friendly, you can catch Hope Powells womens Great Britain team take on Sweden in their respective Olympic warm up. Broadcast begins at 3:45pm with kick off at 4pm.
With the 30th Olympiad being staged in London now less than 2 weeks away, I myself have not been gripped by 'Olympic fever' and am unsure whether anyone else other than the athletes and Boris Johnson have either for that matter?
As an avid football fan, its a refreshing notion to have a collective Team GB football team participating in the games, albeit through the host nation ruling that allows the nation staging the games access to compete without qualification. A ruling applied throughout international footballing competitions such as the FIFA World Cup and the UEFA European Championships.
Checkered History
Team GB have twice won gold at the Olympics under the footballing umbrella, in 1908 and 1912 respectively.
Aptly resulting in a hundred year gap or wait if you will, at participating for a modest chance to be amongst the medals again for Great Britain.
Since the feats of 1908 and 1912, Team GB's involvement and progression in the competition has been sporadic and somewhat yo-yo'ed.
Withdrawing in 1924 and 28, Great Britain did reach the quarter finals on two occassions in 1936 and 1956, while their best placed finish was attributed in 1948 in the form of a fourth place finish with Matt Busby at the helm.
However, from 1964 to 1972, under Charles Hughes Great Britain did not qualify, thereafter from 1976 to 2008 the United Kingdom simply, did not enter.
This i find somewhat sad and disheartening; a collective of nations like the United Kingdom which applies itself to many facets in the sporting world, but one that does not participate in whats branded as 'our game' in a global sporting institution like the Olympics.
That being said, theirs a number of issues that may have discouraged Team GB's footballing inclusion at the games.
The Olympics is seen by many as not being the Pinnacle of Football as a sport, and success in said competition is not something that has been universally aspired to.
It was not until the games of 1984 staged in the United States, that professional footballers were allowed to compete.
Initially, teams from Europe and South America were banned from playing players who had previously competed in the FIFA World Cup, but from the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, eligibility for all nations were restricted to players under the age of 23, with the exception of three 'overage' players of any age being allowed in the squad.
European qualification for the Olympic football tournament is determined via the UEFA Under–21 Championships, which affords each of the Home Nations entrance. On three occasions, teams from Great Britain have finished in the qualifying positions:
1992 – Scotland
1996 – Scotland
2008 – England
Despite attaining qualification for the past three Olympic tournaments the British Olympic Association has chosen to opt out of participating.
London 2012
As host nation of the latest installment of the games, a change of heart has been exercised by the powers that be, and with London 2012 looming large, we as a United Kingdom have ourselves an Olympic football team again.
This olympic based footballing resurgence has im sure, not escaped your attention as it has been a topic of conversation and debate for quite some time, with speculation and numerous questions being asked by the general populous such as; who will manage the team? who will the manager pick for his team? will our inclusion be a competitive one?
Answers to these questions, over time, naturally, have become illuminated.
The FA made the announcement of their chosen managerial appointment to lead Team GB into the footballing tournament in London 2012, in October 2011.
Their chosen candidate; Stuart Pearce, Englands Under-21's manager.
A not so disparaging choice, infact a solid and shrewd appointment, taking into consideration Stuart Pearces knowledge and standing in the game, but also inparticular that of the Under-21 set up both in England and further-a-field. A wealth of knowledge ideal for the role.
Commander-in-chief Missieur Pearce then set about drawing up an initial list of potential candidates to be included within the squad, a list that needed to be wittled down to just 18 players. Those contacted who did not wish to be included were told to inform the manager of their decision at that stage.
During this period numerous names were thrown around by media, critics and those within the game, numbers potentially in the hundreds.
However in December 2011, it was stated that no English players picked for the impending European Championships to be contested in Poland and the Ukraine would be selected. The reason given was to avoid and combat any cases of fatigue.
During January 2012, it was revealed that a total of 191 players at been intially contacted regards to participating in the olympic team, with 7 declining the invitation to be considered.
As April 2012 rolled by, another cut was made, reducing the list of candidates to 80, with the final pre-tournament occuring in early June, comprising of 35 names to be submitted to FIFA.
David Beckham
Throughout each stage of cuts, it has been well documented that Stuart Pearce has kept David Beckham in the loop with regards to potential selection for the games.
Additionally, David had been heavily involved in the bid to bring the olympics to London in 2012 right from the very beginning and throughout this process he has excelled in an ambassadorial role, helping promote the UK as a sporting hotbed with the facilities available to competently and efficiently stage an international competition of the magnitude the Olympics implies.
This being the case, many people, myself included had David down on their list comprising one third of the 'over-age' players.
However, on 28th of June 2012, just shy of a month before Team GB kick off their opening fixture in the olympics against Senegal, an international footballing bombshell was dropped by Stuart Pearce; David Beckham had not made the Team GB squad for the olympic games of 2012 staged in London.
The three 'over-age' players chosen by Pearce were the welsh pair of veteran Ryan Giggs who shall serve as captain and Liverpool's Craig Bellemy, the third member of this select group was Micah Richards of Manchester City who narrowly missed out on a place in Roy Hodgson's England squad for the European Championships in Poland and Ukraine.
Naturally David was gutted by this decision, as many fans were, I include myself in that bracket, as I felt David Beckham had done enough to be selected on merit, not just because of his off the field exploits that have benefitted the Olympic bid for London 2012.
I accept he is 37 years old, no longer playing in Europe and no longer in contention for a place in the England international set up.
That being said, with all things considered, he is still playing regularly for his club side in the U.S, L.A. Galaxy, who he lead to MLS cup glory last season, amassing the lead number of assists in the league and chipping in with a number of important goals, delighting fans with his trademark excellence from free kick locus.
That trademark excellence from dead ball situations as well as in open play have made him a revered man from what is now refered to as 'Beckham-range' just outside the box, which has seen no sign of dwindling with his 'advancing' years.
Since his olympic snub he has showcased his talents from said range in successive games in the MLS, where their season is in full force, which is another reason for his inclusive, David is at the peak of fitness whereas the rest of the GB team have had time off at the end of their respective seasons in the UK, and therefore may be showing signs of 'ring rust'.
As many fans would agree, seeing David Beckham compete in the Olympic games in London would have been an appropriate international farewell for David himself, and for the fans to give their admiration and appreciation for all he has done for the game in this country over the years, a loyal servant and a true gentleman of the game, who I would of paid to see pull on the Team GB jersey this summer.
Nevertheless, i will be supporting Team GB and hope they can be amongst the medals come the finish of the tournament, however with strong opposition in the guise of Brazil, Mexico, Spain and Uruguay, it promises to be a very competitive and compelling tournement.
Team GB's fixtures begin with a friendly against Brazil tomorrow at the Riverside stadium in Middlesbrough, six days later their Olympic adventure kicks off against Senegal at Old Trafford, Manchester.
Thereafter, group games against the United Arab Emirates and Uruguay respectively, will be staged, can Team GB progress?
As a casual Formula 1 fan in recent years, Ayrton Senna is a name that is not unfamiliar to me.
Within the motor racing world and inparticular Formula One, his name is steeped in greatness, a true champion with an undeniable aura that surrounds him. A three times world champion, ascending to the top of the F1 mountain in 1988, 1990 and 1991. His career tragically cut short during the 1994 season at the San Marino Grand Prix where his Williams-Renault careered off at the Tamburello corner.
However, my F1 education did not begin its inception until the mid-nineties, around the age of 7 or 8 years old; my sunday afternoon would consist of an unforgettably delicious sunday roast dinner cooked by my mother, then settling down infront of the television with my dad to watch Formula 1 (not much has changed).
During this time, it was the likes of Damon Hill (whom i idolized), Michael Schumacher, Gerhard Berger and Mika Hakkinen who were mixing it up at the front of the grid for podium places, with youthful drivers Rubens Barrichello, David Coulthard and Eddie Irvine all rising through the ranks. Subsequently, I felt I had 'missed out' on witnessing the brilliance of Senna.
That was until very recently. I became aware of an Ayrton Senna based biographical documentary style film that had been released in the final quarter of 2010.
The film itself received a special screening on October 7th at the 2010 Japanese Grand Prix held at the Suzuka Circuit, where Senna had achieved four podium finishes including two victories during his career.
In addition to Senna's personal successes and accolades at the famous circuit in Suzuka, Japan, it has also facilitated and decided the fate of champions and runners up as the penultimate race in the F1 calendar.
Thereafter, the official world premiere took place on November 3rd 2010 at the Cinemark Theatre situated in Ayrton's native Sao Paulo, Brazil. The release date in Brazil was 12th November 2010 and June 3rd 2011 here in the UK.
'Senna' is a cinematic documentary of the highest calibre which for me, presents a very honest and articulate depiction of Ayrton Senna's rise in the motor racing industry.
Utilising an abundance of archive footage and testimonials from the people that knew him best both within motor racing and outside the industry.
From humble beginnings with his loving family who wernt the worst off in his native Brazil by any means, his successes through Go-karting, documenting his initial naivety and inparticular his immediate impact within Formula 1, but also the speed inwhich he rose to prominance to challenge the likes of Alain Prost for the drivers championship, with the very real politics that is a constant undercurrent of what the fans and media see on the track, off it, in the guise of FIA president Jean-Marie Balestre.
All of which for Senna, is unfolding at the speed of an F1 racing machine tearing round the circuit at 200+ miles per hour.
He evidently voices his acknowledgement of the difficulties of leaving Brazil behind to join a whirlwind lifestyle in Europe as an F1 racing driver.
Despite Ayrton Senna being an F1 racing driver, this film is anything but watching 106minutes of cars racing round a track.
Illustrated is so much more than that, in a truly engaging, fascinating and entertaining thrill ride thats fundamentally moves and undeniably reaches out to the audience to create an emotional response.
The clarity of my verdict is unwaivering; 5 stars out of 5.
Ayrton Senna's legacy as a true great was never in doubt, and has become additionally solidified on the silver screen and in home cinema. Both to existing fans of Senna, his time in F1 or Formula 1 as a sporting commodity in itself, and showcasing Ayrton's charisma on and off the track to a new demographic and audience who perhaps were not old enough to appreciate the talents he possessed.
I cant say enough positive things about this stylised documentary film, and highly recommend you go and see it for yourselves.
The production achieved wide critical acclaim including Empire Magazine's Dan Jolin affording the film 4 stars out of 5, stating that it is "ambitiously constructed, deeply compelling, thrilling and in no way only for those who like watching cars drive in circles" A similar accreditation was enthused by Steve Rose, writing for The Guardian, also gave the film a 4 out of 5 rating, praising the fact that "with so much recorded footage of Formula One available, it has been possible to fashion Senna's story as a live action drama rather than a posthumous documentary. We're not so much hearing what happened in the past as seeing it happen before our eyes''. Alex Zane writing for The Sun, too, gave the film 4 out of 5 and summised 'Senna' is "fascinating and profoundly moving".
Positive reaction was not restricted to print based literature but also through web based meduims like Daniel Sarath's publication through the online blog ‘Napier's News’ which gave the film 5 stars and called it "a flawless work of cinema that showcases documentary filmmaking at its most exciting".
Also the film review aggregator and forum 'Rotten Tomatoes' garnered a 92% fresh critical consensus rating a year after its release in November 2010.
DVD and Blu-ray discs were released in Japan and Brazil on March 21 and 24, 2011, respectively. On October 11 of the same year, it was released onto home media in the UK. The film is currently available on Netflix Instant, and was released on March 6, 2012 in the U.S.
***Apologies if I bore you the recipient, but i thought it neccessary to contextualise the blog, allowing you to know who the author is, aswell as an outlet to introduce myself, rather than just post random passages of text that illustratively have no connection to the writer. Hereafter i shall more often than not..blog about sport. Below is a brief match report ive been sitting on for weeks that i would of posted sooner. (end of the academic year etc exams come first)
Well, im a student, living in Leeds, West Yorkshire but dont let that put you off. I have a passion for sport and writing about sport through the guise of multiple mediums and media outlets.
As it stands im 24, left school at 18 having no real direction in my life (who does at 18?) I attained a full time job in a logistics firm, for which my brother worked, warehousing work based primarily on night shifts accumulating 40 hours a week.
Not particularly enthralling brain stimulus, more practical hands on manual labour, however the money was good, which for an 18 year old was a big incentive.
Over time, four years being my overall tenure, i learned many facets of responsibilities available to me, even achieving an NVQ in warehousing and storage (oh the heady heights of success), with motivations to climb the ladder in the company.
Alas, this wasnt to be, with no room for manuever, at 20/21; i considered my options.
Having previously disregarded education as i had become disillusioned with the institution of it all, the time had come to have a rethink, what do i want to do with my life? or perhaps less cut and dry, what am i passionate about? what do i love to do? and what am i good at?
The answers to these questions were consistent and unwaivering....Sport, Writing.
With these revelations surely...i could write about sport? Journalism is my field to aspire to, an industry i wish to break into. As at school i loved english and the manipulation of language, therefore those strengths can only be of benefit to me.
I had to make financial sacrifices of course, unable to continue working fulltime at my place of occupation which has hit me the hardest, but without sounding cliche the support of my family was key.
I enrolled at Park Lane College in Leeds, at the age of 22, enlisting in Btec Media and Film Studies at A level respectively.
Fast forward 2 years and ive successfully come out the other end so to speak.
Attaining a final grade of Distinction Merit on my media course, i achieved a B grade in film studies last year and am awaiting my final grade in A level which is due in August.
Amid all this culmination, i am embroiled in applying for student finance and accommodation, acquiring a conditional offer to Huddersfield University to study Sports Journalism.
This is a stage i often questioned whether i would get to...but here i am, bring on the next exciting phase.
Norway vs. England Saturday 25th May 2012 Ullevaal Stadium, Oslo Att: 21,496 K.O: 7:45pm
Ref: Weiner (GER)
Long since are the days of Sir Alf and the boys of 66’ affording England’s last victory on Norwegian soil in the guise of international football.
Fast forward 32 years, and England arrive in Oslo, on the cusp of a new era under newly appointed England manager Roy Hodgson.
Roy’s Reign at the helm pertained to an England Victory thanks to an early individual effort by Ashley Young inside 10 minutes, in this relatively low key affair.
This being our nations first of two warm up games, (the second against the Belgians at Wembley next Saturday) and England’s latest managerial appointment admitting to a restrictive three training sessions, albeit demanding, gives off the feeling that the ink on Mr. Hodgson’s 4 year contract has yet to dry. Resonating a surprisingly fresh feel after a long hard season for all concerned, with Roy’s tenure still in its immediate infancy.
Prior to the game, their was a number of omissions’ from Roy’s preliminary squad for the Euros’ in Ukraine and Poland which kicks off in June.
Defender Glen Johnson limped out of training on Thursday with an infected toe while elsewhere Danny Welbeck trained on his own, subsequently leaving the session early.
England are also without international debutant John Ruddy, the Norwich City stopper broke a finger in Thursdays training session and will miss Euro 2012.
Scott Parker, named captain under caretaker Stuart Pearce for the Netherlands game at Wembley in April, was considered a doubt for the tournament but starts in Oslo.
Other notable absentees are the Chelsea trio of John Terry, Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole after their exploits in Munich and will join up with the squad on Tuesday.
Liverpool’s Jordan Henderson and Manchester City’s Adam Johnson remain on standby and could figure this evening in Norway.
Norway, the second highest ranked team not to make the trip to Poland and the Ukraine, go into this friendly fixture after narrowly missing out on qualification to Euro 2012, having been pepped to a play off spot by Portugal on goal difference.
England set out their stall in a 4-5-1 formation, with misseurs Parker and Gerrard Suring up midfield in holding defensive roles in front of the back four, allowing the likes of Milner on the right, Downing on the left and Ashley Young through the middle to push on and support Andy Carroll as the lone striker up top.
Defensively England weren’t altogether a new proposition with Phil Jagielka and Joleon Lescott slotting into centre back, a sight familiar to Everton fans in years gone by, with another Everton favourite at left back, Leighton Baines in the absence of Ashley Cole.
At right back Phil Jones deputises for the injured Glen Johnson, whilst between the sticks a welcome return out of international football exile in the form of Robert Green, the West Ham keeper having attained a consistent season in the Championship with West Ham, reaping the rewards of promotion back to the Premier League.
Norway’s formation a similar 4-5-1 formation, however with 3 holding midfielders and 2 wide men.
Familiar faces in this nowegian side include Fulham’s Brede Hangeland at the back, alongside John Arne Riise, as well as Morten Gamst Pedersen of Blackburn in midfield in addition to the number twenty one, Daniel Braaten who spent a solitary campaign at Bolton in the 07/08 season.
The number seven Henriksen in midfield is one to watch for the future.
