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Our Euro 2020 team of the tournament

We created a list of the best performing players (in our opinion) throughout the course of the tournament.

After over a month of ups, downs, upsets and drama, the 2020 European Championships have come to an end. Needless to say, it was one of the best international tournaments in recent years and provided fans with plenty of memorable moments including Switzerland’s triumph over France, Denmark’s progression to the semi-final despite their traumatic experience in their opening game and of course Italy’s deserved final win last night.

Throughout the tournament, plenty of players proved their worth and put in some fantastic performances; some of which were household names, others which were relatively unknown on the international stage.

With that said, here’s our picks for the 2020 European Championship team of the tournament.

GOALKEEPER

GIANLUIGI DONNARUMMA | ITALY/FREE AGENT 

The recipient of player of the tournament and Italy’s hero in not one, but two penalty shootouts, Donnarumma’s inclusion on this list is a no-brainer.

At just the age of 22, Donnarumma has already made close to 300 senior appearances for AC Milan and Italy combined. No surprise given his performances over the tournament.

Currently a free agent but destined for Paris Saint-Germain, his stock will certainly have risen over the past month. The fact that PSG will be signing him on a free is a robbery of the highest order.

Italy captain Georgio Chiellini said it best: “I’m lucky because I’ve played with Gigi Buffon – now I play with Gigi Donnarumma and it’s the same.”

RIGHT-BACK

KYLE WALKER | ENGLAND/MANCHESTER CITY

Often a scapegoat at international level in the past, Kyle Walker showed what he can bring to the table over the tournament.

In terms of natural right-backs, it’d be hard to argue that he wasn’t the most consistent in that position. Obviously, you also have Giovanni Di Lorenzo who deputised incredibly well for the injured Alessandro Florenzi but his poor positioning in last night’s final led to the opening goal of the match and could well have been the winner only for Leonardo Bonucci’s second half equaliser.

Overall, it was a very solid tournament for the Manchester City man.

LEFT-BACK

LUKE SHAW | ENGLAND/MANCHESTER UNITED

Surprisingly, left back was probably the hardest position to choose from in the entire list, owing to the amount of exceptional performers in the position throughout.

We’ve went with Luke Shaw given his performance over the knockout stages in particular, but you could also make a strong case for Italy’s Leonardo Spinazzola who was arguably player of the tournament up until his until his injury in the quarter-finals against Belgium. Even Denmark’s Joakim Mæhle could be an outside shout having earned himself plenty of fans for his performances which helped his country to the semi-final.

Shaw though, after years of being vilified for years by fans, the press and even previous managers just came off the best season of his career and topped it off with some brilliant showings during the European Championships. We think he deserves his place.

CENTRE-BACKS

GIORGIO CHIELLINI | ITALY/JUVENTUS

A great character and an even better footballer. Although Donnarumma officially won Player of the Tournament, I’m sure Girogio Chiellini wasn’t too far behind in that decision.

Being 36 years of age, Chiellini has been around for a long, long time. His vast experience and know-how was on full display from the opening match all the way to the final. Making up for his lack of pace with his exceptional positional awareness and defensive IQ, he was a joy to watch throughout and his performances really encapsulated the art of defending which is so often forgotten about in comparison to the offensive side of things.

Italy’s final win was Chiellini’s first senior international honour to add to his illustrious career at club level. Well deserved.

LEONDARDO BONUCCI | ITALY/JUVENTUS

You can’t have Giorgio Chiellini on here without Leonardo Bonucci.

Like Chiellini, Bonucci isn’t blessed with pace, but that doesn’t matter when you have a partnership at centre-back like those two. The understanding they’ve developed after years and years of playing together at international and club level is unmatched in world football.

Bonucci’s equalising goal against England last night was undoubtedly Italy’s most important of the entire tournament also, and perhaps of his entire career.

Harry Maguire and Simon Kjær may have been slightly unlucky to miss out, but it would have taken something extraordinary to get in ahead of the Italian centre-back pairing.

CENTRE-MIDFIELD

JORGINHO | ITALY/CHELSEA

What a few months it’s been for Jorginho. Winning the Champions League in May and the European Championships last night, it doesn’t get much better than that.

Some people have even been calling for Ballon d’Or shouts, although that title will likely go to Lionel Messi after Argentina’s Copa America win. But even so, the fact that he’s been considered by some people just shows how much he’s progressed over the last few months. Those kind of plaudits would have almost been unimaginable a couple of months ago.

One of the heroes in the semi-final as he dispatched the winning penalty, he was very nearly at the opposite end of the spectrum having missed what would have been the winning penalty in the final. Thankfully for him though, Gianluigi Donnarumma spared his blushed with a save moments afterwards.

Other than his penalty miss in the final, Jorginho was the image of consistency and more than deserves his inclusion.

PEDRI | SPAIN/BARCELONA

At just 18 years of age, Pedri was Spain’s youngest player at the tournament. He also happened to be their best.

Him being named Young Player of the Tournament was consistent with his performances over the past month.

He became somewhat of a conductor in the Spanish midfield, creating chances, rarely losing the ball and remaining calm under pressure.

His pass into the box to Mikel Oyarzabal’s feet against Italy was arguably pass of the tournament and deserved a finish at the end of it.

We’ll be hearing a lot more about Pedri in the coming years.

PAUL POGBA | FRANCE/MANCHESTER UNITED

Paul Pogba can hold his head up high despite France’s early exit to Switzerland.

The Manchester United man was France’s best player during their tenure in the competition and some of the skill he displayed over the four games was just unbelievable.

This is probably a controversial selection due to the impressive form of Marco Verratti, Nicolò Barella, Granit Xhaka and Pierre-Emile Højbjerg, but Pogba proved just how good he can be in his short stint at the tournament and should receive the plaudits he deserves.

LEFT-WING

RAHEEM STERLING | ENGLAND/MANCHESTER CITY

Criticize Sterling all you want for diving etc. but he carried England on his back for much of the tournament, particularly during the absence of Harry Kane goals in the the group stages.

Three goals and an assist isn’t bad going for a man who was excluded from his club’s starting XI towards the end of the season. He was also electric in the semi-final against Denmark, winning a controversial penalty and causing panic throughout.

He didn’t have the best final based on his standards the rest of the tournament, but at the same time he was arguably their most dangerous player going forward, instilling momentary panic for the Italians when in the box.

The fact he started every game despite the likes of Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho being available tells you all you need to know.

RIGHT-WING

FEDERICO CHIESA | ITALY/JUVENTUS

No disrespect intended to Domenico Berardi who’s a good player in his own right, but it’s hard to believe that he started three games ahead of Federico Chiesa.

Chiesa looked the player most capable of making things happen when on the pitch for Italy with his electric pace, directness and eye for a goal. He was almost unlucky to end up with just the two goals, however he did only start four games, so that’s not a bad return.

At just 23, Chiesa should have a long and fruitful career ahead of him.

STRIKER

PATRIK SCHICK | CZECH REPUBLIC/BAYER LEVERKUSEN

Although Patrik Schick had the same amount of goals as Cristiano Ronaldo, the latter was awarded the Golden Boot due to having more assists to his name. We think Schick had the better tournament, though.

Schick was ever-present as his side made it all the way to the quarter-finals, eventually losing to Denmark despite arguably being the better side over the 90 minutes.

He was particularly impressive in the group stage against Scotland, scoring two goals in a 2-0 win. His second goal in particular was a thing of beauty and was many people’s choice for goal of the tournament, lifting the ball over David Marshall’s head from near the halfway line.

Having come off a solid campaign at club level as well as an outstanding Euros, there could be a few clubs looking at Schick over the summer.

EA SPORTS REVEALS FIFA 22 ON JULY 11th TEASER

EA SPORTS has officially revealed Paris Saint-Germain striker and global football icon, Kylian Mbappé, as the FIFA 22 cover athlete.

As one of the game’s brightest young stars, Mbappé represents the next generation of iconic footballers and perfectly embodies the global FIFA community through his dedication to making a positive impact in the growth of modern football. Mbappé graces the cover for the second year in a row, making him one of few to earn back-to-back cover star status, alongside Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

“Being on back-to-back FIFA covers is amazing,” said Kylian Mbappé. “I have a very special relationship with the game and look forward to enjoying FIFA 22 alongside all of you”.

FIFA 22 cover art can be found here xxx.

Lions team to face South Africa A – Kick Off Time 7pm Wednesday

Conor Murray will captain the Lions team to play South Africa ‘A’ at Cape Town Stadium on Wednesday 14 July (kick off 7pm BST).

Tour captain Conor Murray (Munster, Ireland) is named skipper of a starting XV which has 12 changes to the team that defeated Cell C Sharks 31-71 at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday evening, with Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby, England), Chris Harris (Gloucester Rugby, Scotland) and Dan Biggar (Northampton Saints, Wales) the only players retained.

Watson shifts from right wing to fullback with Harris moving to 13 where he is joined in midfield by Bundee Aki (Connacht Rugby, Ireland). Biggar will again start at fly-half.

The game against South Africa ‘A’ will be shown live and exclusively on Sky Sports and is the fourth match in an eight-game Series culminating in the three Tests against World Champions, the Springboks.

“We’re pleased to have arrived in Cape Town as we near the halfway stage of the Series,” said Gatland.

“Wednesday’s game against South Africa ‘A’ will be our toughest encounter since we arrived here and we’re looking forward to it. We expect them to be physical in the contact area and look to test us at scrum time.”

“I think we’ve benefitted from playing at altitude in the first three games. While the boys have felt it in their lungs, they’ll be all the better for it now we’re at sea level.

“As we move towards the business end of the Tour, it’s pleasing to see so many players putting in some stand-out performances. As coaches we want the players to make Test selection as hard as possible and that’s we’re seeing.”

SOUTH AFRICA ‘A’ v THE BRITISH & IRISH LIONS

15. Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby, England) #816

14. Louis Rees-Zammit (Gloucester Rugby, Wales) #846

13. Chris Harris (Gloucester Rugby, Scotland) #844

12. Bundee Aki (Connacht Rugby, Ireland) #837

11. Josh Adams (Cardiff Rugby, Wales) #836

10. Dan Biggar (Northampton Saints, Wales) #821

9. Conor Murray – captain (Munster Rugby, Ireland) #790

1. Wyn Jones (Scarlets, Wales) #842

2. Ken Owens (Scarlets, Wales) #829

3. Kyle Sinckler (Bristol Bears, England) #814

4. Maro Itoje (Saracens, England) #825

5. Iain Henderson (Ulster Rugby, Ireland) #808

6. Josh Navidi (Cardiff Rugby, Wales) #854

7. Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, England) #853

8 .Taulupe Faletau (Bath Rugby, Wales) #779

Replacements:

16. Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs, England) #851

17. Mako Vunipola (Saracens, England) #787

18. Zander Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors, Scotland) #848

19. Adam Beard (Ospreys, Wales) #852

20. Tadhg Beirne (Munster Rugby, Ireland) #838

21. Sam Simmonds (Exeter Chiefs, England) #849

22. Gareth Davies (Scarlets, Wales) #850

23. Elliot Daly (Saracens, England) #822

Wednesday 14 July 2021

Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town

Kick-off: 7pm (BST)

RELATED FIXTURES

6 Tips to Keep Your Gambling Safe

Ever since the internet became an integral part of our everyday lives, staying safe online has become
everyone’s top priority. This became even more important with the emergence of online casinos.

Nowadays, it’s great that you can easily find and enjoy your favorite casino games online. However,
it’s also of high importance that you learn how to stay safe while doing so. Otherwise, you can really
expect to have a positive experience, which is certainly something everyone gambling online is
looking for.
With that being said, here are just some of the ways you can ensure that you stay safe while
gambling online.

Sign up with reputable casinos
The number one most important tip we can give you is to always try and make sure that the casino
you’ve signed up with is reputable. But with so many options to choose from, finding the right one(s)
may prove to be a bit difficult. That’s why you should always check local trustworthy gambling
websites like Casino Bros Australia, where you can easily find information regarding the current top
offers. Of course, aside from the site security, make sure that the casino is licensed and holds a good
reputation to avoid any unpleasant scenarios.

Set limits on time and money spent
Next, make sure you determine exactly how much both time and money you can afford to spend
while gambling online. Since gabling is quite an engaging activity, it’s quite easy to get carried away.
That’s why it’s extremely important to approach online gambling with a healthy mindset and make
some clear boundaries ahead of time. That way you’ll avoid running the risk of developing an
unhealthy relationship when it comes to gambling.

Bet only what you can afford to lose
Similarly, you also need to predetermine just how much money you’re comfortable losing. Losing is
not something any gambler wants to think about initially, but it’s a very important factor as –
realistically – you’ll only win a portion of the games played. That’s why you need to know just how
much money you can comfortably say good-bye to in case luck is not on your side. And – most
importantly – make sure you NEVER bet outside of those limits

Make sure it’s legal
The legality of online gambling is something every online gambler needs to keep in mind at all times.
For instance, Canadians are perfectly allowed to gamble online, so as long as they’re not doing it in
Canada-based online casinos. This example doesn’t really make much sense, but that’s just how
things are. So, before you start spinning the reel or try your hand in poker, make sure you’re legally
allowed to do so, to avoid unawarely breaking any laws.

Know when to walk away

As much as all of the previous tips are all equally important, this one is arguably the most important
one. Every gambler – either online or offline – needs to know when to stop in case things are not

going the way they’re expected to. There’s nothing more detrimental than chasing your losses. So,
instead of running the risk of developing this extremely unhealthy habit, make sure you stay honest
with yourself and walk away when the time is right.

Keep your head clear
Finally, just like they say you shouldn’t make any big decisions on high emotions, you should also
never gable without a clear head. Drugs, alcohol and even caffeine can alter your perception and
encourage you to make decisions you otherwise wouldn’t make. So, whenever you sit down to
spend some time gambling, make sure that your head is clear and that you’re in the right headspace.

When gambling online, make sure to keep these 6 tips in mind to ensure that you stay safe and have
the best possible experience. Good luck!

Galileo 1998-2021

The multiple-time champion sire Galileo has died at the age of 23.

Coolmore Stud issued a statement on Saturday confirming that the winner of the 2001 Epsom and Irish Derbies had been euthanized on humane grounds.

The statement from the County Tipperary outfit read as follow:

“Regretfully our world-renowned Champion Sire Galileo was put to sleep earlier today on humane grounds owing to a chronic, non-responsive, debilitating injury to the left fore foot.

“It is a very sad day,” said John Magnier, “but we all feel incredibly fortunate to have had Galileo here at Coolmore. I would like to thank the dedicated people who looked after him so well all along the way. He was always a very special horse to us and he was the first Derby winner we had in Ballydoyle in the post M V O’Brien era. I would also like to thank Aidan and his team for the brilliant job they did with him. The effect he is having on the breed through his sons and daughters will be a lasting legacy and his phenomenal success really is unprecedented.”

Coolmore Stud’s statement continued:

“Following Galileo’s strikingly impressive Epsom Derby success the front-page headline in the Racing Post was the single word ‘PERFECTION.’ It could not have been more apt.

“Bred in the purple by Sadler’s Wells out of ‘Arc’ heroine Urban Sea and unbeaten in his first six starts, Galileo proved an immediate success at stud siring Irish 1,000 Guineas winner Nightime from his first crop. Appropriately he became the most successful Group 1 sire of all time when his daughter Peaceful won the same race in June of last year.

His total of individual Group 1 winners now stands at 91 while no less than 20 of his sons have sired Group 1 winners on the flat, headed by Frankel and Australia.”

To learn more about the career of Galileo and his influence on breeding and racing, read The Greatness of Galileo, written by Paul Rhodes with Anne Alston.

Aviva Stadium to host 2024 UEFA Europa League Final

UEFA’s Executive Committee has awarded the staging of the 2024 UEFA Europa League final to the FAI.

The game will take place at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin.

It will mark the second occasion the Aviva Stadium has hosted the UEFA Europa League final after Porto beat fellow Portuguese side Braga 1-0 in the 2011 decider.

FAI Chief Executive Officer Jonathan Hill and President Gerry McAnaney confirmed the news after meeting with senior UEFA officials in London ahead of the final of the 2020 UEFA European Football Championship at Wembley Stadium.

Announcing the decision, CEO Jonathan Hill said:

“This is really positive news, not just for Dublin but for Ireland as we prepare to host such a major football event and showcase the Aviva Stadium and Irish hospitality to the world in 2024.

“We were all disappointed when the COVID-19 pandemic saw the four UEFA EURO 2020 games moved away from Dublin so this really is something to look forward to just three years from now. The 2024 UEFA Europa League final will be a landmark event with huge economic benefits for Dublin and for Ireland along with the boost it will give our game in the build-up to the final.

“On behalf of the Association, I want to thank UEFA for awarding this final to the Aviva Stadium and I particularly want to thank the Irish government, Dublin City Council, Sport Ireland and the Aviva Stadium for their ongoing support. Together we are committed to bringing global events to our capital city and we know Dublin will put on a great show in 2024.”

Football – Mayo v Leitrim – Starting News, Live Scores, Betting; TV Coverage

Connacht SFC semi-final – Leitrim v Mayo – MacHale Park – 2pm – RTE

CLICK HERE FOR LIVE SCORES ON LEITRIM V MAYO

Mayo will host Leitrim at MacHale Park in Castlebar this coming Sunday at 2.00 pm in the Connacht Senior Football Championship semi-final.

In their last outing, Mayo thrashed Sligo in the quarter-finals of the Connacht championship. Winning by 3-23 to 0-12 in a 20-point winning margin.

Mayo was on tip-top form throughout their league campaign, after their shock relegation. They have bounced back to Division 1 in style.

The level of young and prosperous players James Horan has at his disposal is unquestionably brilliant.

With Belmullet’s Ryan O’Donaghue and The Neales Tommy Conroy amongst the new recruits to try and make Mayo All-Ireland challengers.

Leitrim on the other hand, are often seen as the whipping boys in Connacht.

Going by their league form in Division 4 North, Leitrim will be outclassed by this young Mayo side.

Putting up decent showings against Louth and Antrim before losing to Sligo, who in return got hammered by Mayo in the quarter-final.

The two teams met last year in the quarter-finals, with Mayo coming out 11 point winners on a wet and windy day in Carrick-on-Shannon.

If Leitrim does cause an upset, they could look to Clare’s performance in the league semi-final against Mayo.

Mayo were rattled once Cillian O’Connor came off with his serious injury.

At one point leading Clare by 2-13 to 0-08 points and by the 46th minute, the lead was 2-17 to 2-10.

Coming out with the victory by a score of 2-22 to 2-18.

Although Clare is a much better side than Leitrim, in reality, Mayo will not let a lead slip like that against a poor Leitrim side.

Strengths and Weaknesses

Leitrim’s weaknesses are apparent to see almost immediately, they do not have the raw talent that elite county footballing sides possess, and in Connacht, they have been picked apart on more than one occasion.

Mayo will be missing Cillian O’Connor for the remainder of the championship, without him James Horan will need to improvise going forward.

Aidan O’Shea was in scintillating form against Sligo, showcasing his brute force and finishing ability when deployed in the full-forward line.

With Ryan O’Donoghue taking over from Cillian O’Connor, he will need to improve his free-taking skills if Mayo is to compete come late August.

Darren McHale also impressed. Scoring 1-05 from play.

Conclusion

Any result where Mayo does not come out victorious here will be one of the shocks of the decade.

It will be plain sailing for the defending Connacht champions, with tougher tests to come against Galway in the Connacht final.

Prediction: Mayo by 17 points

 

Predicted Teams – Subject to Change

Mayo
  1. Rob Hennelly
  2. Enda Hession
  3. Oisín Mullin
  4. Lee Keegan
  5. Paddy Durcan
  6. Michael Plunkett
  7. Eoghan McLaughlin
  8. Matthew Ruane
  9. Conor Loftus
  10. Kevin McLoughlin
  11. Darren McHale
  12. Jordan Flynn
  13. Tommy Conroy
  14. Aidan O’Shea
  15. Ryan O’Donoghue
Leitrim
  1. Brendan Flynn
  2. Aidan Flynn
  3. Michael McWeeney
  4. Paddy Maguire
  5. Oisin Madden
  6. Conor Reynolds
  7. Jack Gilheany
  8. Donal Wrynn
  9. Shane Quinn
  10. Shane Moran
  11. Mark Plunkett
  12. Dean McGovern
  13. Pearce Dolan
  14. Keith Beirne
  15. Tom Prior

 

Betting

Mayo: 1/500

Leitrim: 33/1

Draw: 66/1

Football – Donegal v Derry – Starting News, Live Scores, Betting; TV Coverage

Ulster SFC quarter-final – Donegal v Derry- Ballybofey – 4pm – RTE/BBC NI

CLICK HERE FOR LIVE SCORES ON DERRY V DONEGAL

Donegal will host Derry at Ballybofey in Donegal this coming Sunday at 4.00 pm in the Ulster Senior Football Championship quarter-final.

In their last outing, Donegal came out victors against Down in the Premiliary Round of the Ulster championship. Winning by 2-25 to 1-12 in a 16-point winning margin.

Derry has been a surprise package this season, topping their group in Division 3, winning all three of their games before defeating Limerick and Offaly in the semi’s and final.

Unlike their opponents, Donegal’s league campaign was a mixed bag.

More often than not, league form is not often looked at deeply for the latter stages of the championship. But Donegal’s league form was uninspiring.

Drawing to Monaghan and Armagh, beating a struggling and bland Tyrone, before losing to the Dubs in the semi-finals.

On paper, Donegal has the superior team, with Michael Murphy still the main figure in a very youthful side that employs a more attacking threat than the 2012 All-Ireland winners.

Paddy McBrearty and Ryan McHugh have laid down their claim in the starting fifteen since their debuts.

McBrearty is Donegal’s main threat, with a strong showing against Down, scoring 1-4 from play and 1-6 in total.

Ryan McHugh has stood up this year, bringing pace and variety, often dropping deep from half-forward to start attacks.

Michael Murphy is still their best player and with a hamstring injury sustained in the league recurring against Down, forcing him off after 20 minutes, it is a race against time for how fit he will be.

Derry have been lethal in attack during the league campaign. Spearheaded by star full-forward Shane McGuigan all throughout their run in getting promoted.

Rory Gallagher will hope he can produce at a higher level in the coming weeks.

Strengths and Weaknesses

Both managers are acutely aware of their team’s strengths and weaknesses.

Donegal has numerous attack outputs, while defensively they can be got at, as shown by the Down game.

While Derry’s defensive unit has been outstanding throughout their league campaign, only conceding 53 points and a respectful three goals. While going forward, they have to rely on McGuigan more often than not.

Against Down, Donegal was lacklustre at the back, the full-back line was often penetrated and was bombarded with the long ball throughout the 70 minutes and should have conceded at least five goals. It was Down’s poor finishing and clinical nature that let them down.

If any elite team were to go up against Donegal, they would eventually be carved open.

Rory Gallagher would hope the likes of Patrick Kearney and Niall Loughlin will contribute more so the burden won’t have to fall to Shane McGuigan.

If Derry can add more of a threat to Donegal’s shaky back-line, they will be dangerous.

Conclusion

Overall, Derry’s squad cannot compete with Donegal’s, Declan Bonner’s side has a strong core to their team.

Pace on either flank of their forward line and if Michael Murphy is fit and ready to go, Derry will falter.

If Donegal were to be considered challengers for the All-Ireland, they need to put in a performance on Sunday.

Prediction: Donegal by 3 points

 

Predicted Teams – Subject to Change

Donegal

  1. Shaun Patton
  2. Brendan McCole
  3. Neil McGee
  4. Stephen McMenamin
  5. Ryan McHugh
  6. Odhran McFadden Ferry
  7. Eoghan Ban Gallagher
  8. Hugh McFadden
  9. Caolan McGonigle
  10. Ciaran Thompson
  11. Niall O’Donnell
  12. Michael Langan
  13. Patrick Brearty
  14. Michael Murphy
  15. Peader Mogan

 

Down

  1. Odhran Lynch
  2. Conor McCluskey
  3. Christopher McKaigue
  4. Padraig McGrogan
  5. Padraig Cassidy
  6. Gareth McKinless
  7. Conor Doherty
  8. Conor Glass
  9. Emmett Bradley
  10. Ethan Doherty
  11. Niall Loughlin
  12. Ciaran McFaul
  13. Benny Heron
  14. Shane McGuigan
  15. Oisin McWilliams

Betting: 

Donegal: 1/7

Derry: 5/1

Draw: 14/1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

USA Capped Luke Carty On Debut, LA Sunshine And Roscommon GAA

Irish-born USA Rugby fly-half Luke Carty is excited to face the country of his birth in Dublin on Saturday night.

Carty will earn his second cap for the USA Eagles when he starts against Andy Farrell’s Ireland side in front of 6,000 fans at the Aviva Stadium. You can visit lots of sites to get great offers. 

The 23-year-old’s immediate family, who he has not seen since January, will be in attendance for the match.

“Obviously, it’s a bit of a strange one but I’m trying to treat it as any other game,” Carty said.

The fly-half made his debut for the national side last weekend against England in a 43-29 loss.

The Athlone native scored nine points to open his account with the United States.

Carty was happy with how his debut went after helping his side to put a high amount of points past Eddie Jones’ England.

“[My debut] was pretty cool. I was pretty nervous beforehand. Obviously, it was a big game – playing England at Twickenham, but it was really enjoyable.”

He noted that the USA camp has made him feel welcome in the setup.

The opportunity to play for America was an idea that helped entice the Westmeath man to ‘the land of opportunity.’

The thought of playing at a Rugby World Cup was also an attractive pull factor for the former Buccaneers Player of the Year.

He exclaimed that “it would be pretty cool to do that” and spoke of his pride seeing his older brother, Ireland international Jack Carty accomplish one of his lifelong dreams.

He brought the lessons that the likes of Colm ‘Cullie’ Tucker, Mossy Lawlor and Eric Elwood taught him at the Connacht Academy to the West Coast of the USA at the start of 2021.

The Connacht academy prospect joined Darren Coleman’s LA Giltinis, after almost joining Coleman’s former side Gordon, a Sydney-based Australian side.

Major League Rugby has surpassed Carty’s expectations and he is enjoying his rugby across the Atlantic Ocean.

“I’ve actually been surprised by the level of it…every team has got better as the year went on.”

He is also enjoying each and every minute of sunshine by the beach in Los Angeles, something Ireland cannot grant the fly-half on a consistent basis – a welcome culture shock.

Carty trains alongside Australian rugby legends Adam-Ashley Cooper and Matt Giteau in LA and has learnt a lot from them in the several months he has been with the club.

“It’s been great to pick their brains and learn from them and get to play alongside them.”

Irish brothers Harry and Sean McNulty are also on the books of the MLR side, with the former heading to the Olympics as part of the Ireland Sevens side.

The fly-half said the team watched the Ireland Sevens qualify from San Diego and that he is very happy for his teammate to be going to the Olympics after being an ‘original’ of the IRFU Sevens programme.

The support the Giltinis players have received while in club colours has also impressed Carty.

The games are pretty loud and [the fans] are pretty passionate about it.”

However, he has not forgotten Ireland.

The US star still keeps an eye on the Gaelic scores and noted his disappointment after Roscommon’s season-ending defeat to Galway in the Connacht Senior Football Championship.

His roommate in the US Camp, Aran Islands native Paul Mullen, likes to remind him of it.

He also hopes to see an old teammate get out on the pitch for his first Irish cap on Saturday night.

“Paul Boyle, it’s good to see him playing well…hope he gets to play on Saturday.”

However, Carty’s eyes are placed firmly on what’s ahead and more than 6,000 pairs of eyes will be placed firmly on him.

USA Captain Bryce Campbell Happy With MLR Growth

USA Rugby captain Bryce Campbell has said that he is pleased with the growth of Major League Rugby in the United States in recent years.

The Austin Gilgronis centre is one of 18 MLR players in the USA’s matchday 23 for the match against Ireland.

Irish-born US internationals Luke Carty and Paul Mullen are also among the 18 in the squad that plays in the MLR.

Campbell believes that the league is integral to the national team and will continue to be for the future.

“Just the fact that all team is playing week in week out and that the competition is getting better and better – not even every season, but each week,” said Campbell.

Campbell stated that it is a huge positive to have a domestic competition to build international-level players in.

He believes that the American players in the MLR can build a strong bond, even if they are not on the same team and that helps the squad when they all come together to put on the USA jersey.

“I think with a lot of us playing MLR, we have felt each other’s tendencies a bit.”

The US have added new players to their camp since their last time together in Japan for the 2019 Rugby World Cup.

However, the core of the current squad includes several players who went to Japan and this also helps the team’s chemistry, according to the captain.

Campbell clarified that most of the players in the squad have played with each other at one point or another, so that makes it easier.

Players like Christian Dyer, who came into the squad after missing out on a spot on the US Sevens Olympic Squad, have fit in very well, according to Campbell.

“I’m just really happy with the way the team has come together.”

Ireland’s game against the USA kicks off on Saturday at 7:15 pm.

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