The England blind football team began their international
season with victory in the Phesalonica Tournament.
The England blind football team began their international season
with victory in the Phesalonica Tournament.
Dave Clark scored all of his side's goals in a 5-1 win over Greece
in the final of the invitational tournament, also involving China
and Italy.
Clark gave England an early lead before the Greeks equalised but he
hit four second-half goals to secure the win.
The team are preparing for the European Championships in September
where they will compete as Great Britain.
They must finish in the top two in the tournament in Athens to
qualify for next year's Paralympics in Beijing.
England started with 1-1 draws against Greece and China and beat
Italy 1-0 in the round-robin stage.
Clark netted all three England goals in the group stage and his
five in the final saw him finish finish as the tournament's top
scorer.
The victory was a welcome return to form for coach Tony Larkin's
side, finished sixth at the World Cup last November.
And defender Simon Hill feels they are in a good position going
into the European Championships.
"This tournament was great preparation for us. We were able to
spend time playing together as a team as well as getting used to
the conditions we are likely to come across," he said.
"Our coach thinks we now have the strongest squad England have had
in several years and we are all ready to give it everything to try
and win the European Championships.
"Spain and France, who are the two top teams in Europe, weren't
here this week but we think if we play to our best we can challenge
with them for the European title."
England Squad: Aj Ahmed (c), Andy Briant, Dave Clark, Lee
Greatbatch, Simon Hill, Dan James, Jon Pugh, Keryn Seal, Steve
Winter
