ISSUE 168 NETHERLANDSCZECH REPUBLIC V VENGLAND ENGLAND 611THTH JUNE OCTOBER 2019 2019 ...the free England fanzine produced and distributed by the Football Supporters’ Association (FSA) as part of our Fans’ Embassy service 3 ND welcome to Prague, fans’ embassy distributing copies Czech Republic v capital city of the Czech of this lovely little magazine and PAGE England ARepublic, for England’s first being on hand to help with any visit here for over 27 years. A lot information, advice or assistance Sinobo Arena, Prague has changed in that time – we’re that you might need. Friday, 11th October 2019 playing a different team, for a Kick–off 20:45, local time start, as our opponents were It’s all done for fans, by fans: the England will probably Czechoslovakia back then – and FSA is the independent membership- play in WHITE Prague itself has been transformed. based national fans’ organisation providing a collective voice for It still has all the old charm and football supporters, and if you’re not beautiful historic architecture, but already a member, then join today Useful Numbers the city has built a new reputation via the website at www.thefsa.org. Fans’ Embassy Helpline: for itself as a tourist destination uk – it’s free. +44 7956 121314 and popular venue for, among other things, stag parties. We hope everyone has a great time, England Supporters Club (FA): especially if you’re at your first away +44 7970 146250 A party city like Prague can be a game – welcome to the party. British Embassy: great place for an England game, +420 257 402 111 and it’s certainly proved an attractive All we ask is that you treat each Emergencies: prospect for over 3,000 of us who other, and everyone else you meet, 112 have travelled over for the match, with respect: this is an opportunity to with many no doubt planning to make friends, and attract admiration, make a weekend of it. not criticism. The Football Supporters’ Association So enjoy yourselves – but don’t be (FSA) are here too, in the form of our a dick. Contact Free Lions Email: [email protected] Gifts & Postcards to: COVER STORY Free Lions, c/o the FSA A rare example of an England player plying their trade 1, Ashmore Terrace at a foreign club, Camberwell-born Jadon Sancho was Stockton Road named in the Bundesliga Team of the Season last year, Sunderland and got his England scoring career off to a flying start SR2 7DE with a brace against Kosovo last month. IT WASN’T ME THANK YOU The Free Lions fanzine is produced by the relying on its contents. None of the financial As ever, this fanzine has been a team effort. Football Supporters’ Association (FSA), the support we have received to produce This edition was edited by Kevin Miles, national membership-based organisation for Free Lions impacts on what we put in it. and thanks are due to Phil Rowley; Clive fans. We have tried to ensure the accuracy of Consequently, none of our supporters can be Hetherington; Ashley Brown; Harpreet all the information provided in this fanzine, held in any way responsible for the contents Robertson, Tony Conniford; Adrian Roberts; but can accept no responsibility for any loss, of, nor the views expressed in, this fanzine. and Peter Daykin. If there are any mistakes, injury or inconvenience suffered by anyone Cover image © PA Images. it’s Liam’s fault. Website: www.thefsa.org.uk Email: [email protected] FSF helpline: +44 7956 121314 PRODUCES FREE LIONS @WeAreFreeLions facebook.com/FreeLions DIFFERENT CLASS AGREE OR DISAGREE WITH CLIVE HETHERINGTON? BY CLIVE HETHERINGTON CONTACT CLIVE VIA [email protected] 4 5 side of half-time – and going close CZECH REPUBLIC – THE KEY THREE to a hat-trick of his own when PAGE PAGE heading against the bar – after they had fallen behind to Ismail TOMAS VACLIK PATRIK SCHICK VLADIMIR DARIDA Isa’s third-minute goal. Having conceded The versatile The central only three goals in forward, who midfielder, 29, Jaroslav Silhavy’s side followed that his last five games plays through netted his fourth with a 3-0 home victory against for his country, the the middle, as international goal Montenegro three days later. Sevilla goalkeeper is a ‘No 10’ or wide, with a stoppage- unquestionably the Czechs’ most joined RB Leipzig on a season’s time penalty in the 3-0 win against Schick was among the goals again, reliable last line of defence behind loan from Roma in September, with Montenegro last month. He launched this time with a penalty, after a rearguard that leaked five the Germans having an option to his career with local club Viktoria Jakub Jankto and a Boris Kopitovic against England in March with Jiri make the deal permanent. Schick, Plzen and had a loan stint at Banik own goal planted the platform for Pavlenka between the posts. Vaclik, 23, has scored 16 goals in Serie A Sokolov before a move to Germany HE Czech Republic’s joined Bristol City this summer for the win. 30, was out through injury for the for Sampdoria and Roma, and nine beckoned. He joined Freiburg in 2013 capitulation to England in £8million following a season-long 5-0 Wembley walloping and the for his nation – four in Euro 2020 and then hooked up with Hertha TMarch was a measure of loan – he also had temporary But, if the Czechs had looked 3-1 friendly defeat by Brazil. He qualifying. He began at Sparta Berlin in 2015, scoring a spot-kick on the chasm in class that the Three stints at Middlesbrough and likely to be England’s closest started off at Vitkovice then went Prague and spent a loan spell his debut. Having amassed more than Lions now routinely encounter in Fulham – netted a late own goal challengers in the group, a 2-1 to Viktoria Zizkov, but soon joined with city rivals Bohemians before 50 senior caps, Darida has, in many major tournament qualifying. against England. defeat in Kosovo last month Sparta Prague before spending moving to Italy with Sampdoria ways, taken over the mantle of former suggested otherwise. four years with Swiss giants Basel. in summer 2016. Only a year later Arsenal man Tomas Rosicky with his While confident Kosovo did their And alongside him was Ondrej La Liga outfit Sevilla came calling came an initial loan to Roma energetic performances which have best to try to reverse that trend at Celustka, who spent a difficult After going ahead on 16 minutes in July 2018 in a deal reported to ahead of a club-record deal valued been known to be fuelled by gluten- Southampton last month, England spell on loan to Sunderland in through Schick, Kosovo hit back be worth around only £5million. in the region of £35million. free pizza. are now unbeaten in World Cup 2013-14 and is now in Turkey quickly with Vedat Muriqi’s effort and European Championship with Antalyaspor. and completely turned the tables in qualification in 43 matches the 66th minute thanks to Mergim Schick’s goal. He said: “It was an Silhavy’s men were restored to League section, therefore missing stretching back to a 1-0 defeat But, having then lost 3-1 to Brazil Vojvoda, who profited from Valon absolutely wonderful finish. He’d second spot in the section after out on the guarantee of a Euro under Fabio Capello in Ukraine a in a friendly, the Czechs bounced Berisha’s quickly-taken corner. previously smashed one over the another 3-0 win against Montenegro, 2020 play-off place. decade ago. back in June with a 2-1 qualifying bar from the edge of the box, but with Tomas Soucek, Lukas Masopust win over Bulgaria in Prague, with Former England striker Garry he learned his lesson. The move and a Vladimir Darida penalty But a 1-0 success at home to More might have been expected Roma striker Patrik Schick, now on Birtles, commentating on the game to create the goal was superb and making the difference. Slovakia, with Schlick producing from the Czechs at Wembley, but loan to Leipzig, scoring either on Sky Sports, was impressed with he just caressed the ball into the a composed winner, kept them in they were no match for Gareth bottom corner of the net.” The Czechs, who have known much League B in the Nations League. Southgate’s side, who swept to an better times on the international CLIVE’S VERDICT Czech Republic 1, England 3 emphatic 5-0 victory with Raheem The Czechs, however, squandered scene, are eager to revive their Jaroslav Silhavy, who was Sterling registering his first hat- chances to get back into the game flagging fortunes, having crashed appointed in September last year trick for his country. England are on their travels with the Czechs – and the first and jubilant Kosovo jumped above out at the Euro 2016 finals in after the sacking of Karel Jarolim again in a Euro 2020 qualifying time we have visited – since the them – and briefly, England, too – France with only a point from their in the wake of a 5-1 friendly It was a brittle-looking visiting campaign where they have split with Slovakia. The record to top the group, before the Three three group games. defeat by Russia, said: “We are defence, at the heart of which were been slick in attack, but sloppy stands at two wins and a draw Lions’ 4-0 victory over Bulgaria glad to have kept our place in two players with experience of at the back.