Forster focused on Euro 2016

Forster focused on Euro 2016 - Celtic goalkeeper Fraser Forster hopes to once again use the Champions League to keep himself in England contention.

The imposing shot-stopper forced his way into Roy Hodgson's World Cup squad this summer, having come to prominence through a pair of virtuoso displays against Barcelona in Europe two seasons ago and continued his form consistently with the Hoops.

Fraser Forster wants a Champions League return to boost his Euro 2016 hopes

This season's continental campaign begins with Tuesday night's second qualifying round first leg against KR Reykjavik in Iceland.

Forster told the Sunday Post: "Playing in the Champions League has definitely been good for me in terms of exposure. But it's been good for all of us and for the club too.

"We've all seen how big the Champions League nights are and it would be nice to get back in the group stages but Reykjavik will be a tough away game and we need to play as well as we know we can."

Forster did not get to sample the action in Brazil, with Manchester City's Joe Hart the established first choice and Ben Foster getting the nod for the dead rubber against Costa Rica.

But the 26-year-old is determined it will not be his last taste of tournament football and has Euro 2016 in France as his next target.

"One of my goals last season was to try to get into that squad and I was delighted to achieve that," he said. "Our performances were really good in the tournament and it was just unfortunate we didn't really get what we deserved out of the games.

"The Euros are now only a couple of years away so I'm already setting my sights on that."

Forster was not the only Celtic player to travel to the World Cup, with defenders Efe Ambrose and Emilio Izaguirre key figures for Nigeria and Honduras respectively.

And new coach Ronny Deila is expecting all three to play a key role on Tuesday.

Deila said: "All our players who are at the World Cup are ready to play in this game. Fraser, Efe and Emilio have all come straight from the World Cup so, of course, they are ready to play.

"Everyone is available for this match and we want to put as strong a team as we possibly can on to the pitch. We really want to win but we will need a good performance up in Iceland."

One exception to that is captain Scott Brown, who will miss up to three months of the season with a serious hamstring tear.

New signing Craig Gordon joins Lukasz Zaluska in providing competition for Forster.

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England squad finalised for Brazil trip

Good news for Liverpool, Southampton and Everton fans, as Roy Hodgson names his 23 players for the 2014 World Cup.

2014 World Cup: England squad finalised for Brazil trip  - Roy Hodgson has named England's 23-man squad for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. While there is an experienced core to the squad — Wayne Rooney, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and Glen Johnson have over 300 caps between them — the overriding theme is one of of youthful vigour and promise. Or inexperience, if you're feeling ungenerous.

As expected, this season's Premier League success stories are well represented. Five of the stars of Liverpool's oh-so-close title campaign are selected, including forward Daniel Sturridge and midfielder Jordan Henderson, while Southampton and Everton have contributed three players each, the hugely exciting Ross Barkley among them. However, indifferent seasons with Manchester United mean that Tom Cleverley and Michael Carrick only make the reserve list, as does West Ham's Andy Carroll.

Tottenham players Kyle Walker and Andros Townsend, the star of qualifying, have missed out through injury — this is, incidentally, the first time England will go to a major tournament without a Tottenham player since 1954 — as has Southampton's Jay Rodriguez, an outside possibility for the squad. But Hodgson appears to be confident that Phil Jones, Jack Wilshere and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will be fully recovered from their recent knocks. Should the United man not make it in time, then Everton's John Stones will come in.

The other notable absentees are Ashley Cole, who announced his retirement from international football after being informed he would not make the 23, and Gareth Barry, whose excellent season at Everton has not been enough to earn a return to international football.

England's first game is on June 14, against Italy in Manaus, but they will play three friendlies before then. First they face Peru at Wembley, on 30 May, before flying to the USA for a training camp and games against Ecuador (4 June) and Honduras (7 June).

Goalkeepers: Joe Hart (Manchester City), Fraser Forster (Celtic), Ben Foster (West Bromwich Albion)

Defenders: Leighton Baines (Everton), Glen Johnson (Liverpool), Phil Jones (Manchester United), Chris Smalling (Manchester United) Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Phil Jagielka (Everton), Luke Shaw (Southampton)

Midfielders: Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Jack Wilshere (Arsenal), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), James Milner (Manchester City), Ross Barkley (Everton), Adam Lallana (Southampton), Raheem Sterling (Liverpool), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Arsenal)

Forwards: Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Daniel Sturridge (Liverpool), Danny Welbeck (Manchester United), Rickie Lambert (Southampton)

Reserve list: John Ruddy (Norwich), Jon Flanagan (Liverpool), John Stones (Everton), Michael Carrick (Manchester United), Tom Cleverley (Manchester United), Andy Carroll (West Ham United), Jermain Defoe (Toronto FC) // ( sbnation.com )

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Roy Hodgson opts for youthful England squad at World Cup

Roy Hodgson opts for youthful England squad at World Cup

Roy Hodgson opts for youthful England squad at World Cup  - Ross Barkley, Jordan Henderson, Raheem Sterling and Luke Shaw were selected to England's 23-man FIFA World Cup squad.

The quartet, all 23 or younger, are among the 12 players heading to their first ever major championship as coach Roy Hodgson looks to the future.

The squad announcement heralds a new era for England, so starved of success since its 1966 World Cup triumph. Often plagued by the heavy weight of national expectation, Hodgson will hope his young players can spring a surprise in Brazil as his side initially faces off against Italy, Uruguay and Costa Rica in Group D.

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard will again lead the side, and the experienced pair of Wayne Rooney and Frank Lampard are sure to play important roles as well.

But it is the injection of youth that excites England fans, a view shared by Hodgson.

Southampton's 18-year-old defender Shaw was the youngest player picked, with his likely selection becoming a formality after Ashley Cole's international retirement Sunday.

Hodgson also picked seven players on standby, including Toronto FC striker Jermain Defoe, but they are not expected to attend England's camp in Portugal next week, or be required in Miami for pre-tournament friendlies and training.

Squad in full:

Goalkeepers: Fraser Forster (Celtic), Ben Foster (West Brom), Joe Hart (Manchester City)

Defenders: Leighton Baines (Everton), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Phil Jagielka (Everton), Glen Johnson (Liverpool), Phil Jones (Manchester United), Luke Shaw (Southampton), Chris Smalling (Manchester United)

Midfielders: Ross Barkley (Everton), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Adam Lallana (Southampton), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), James Milner (Manchester City), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Arsenal), Raheem Sterling (Liverpool), Jack Wilshere (Arsenal)

Forwards: Rickie Lambert (Southampton), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Daniel Sturridge (Liverpool), Danny Welbeck (Manchester United)

On standby: Michael Carrick (Manchester United), Andy Carroll (West Ham), Tom Cleverley (Manchester United), Jermain Defoe (Toronto FC), Jon Flanagan (Liverpool), John Ruddy (Norwich City), John Stones (Everton) // ( goal.com )

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