It’s Soccer Aid 2021 on Saturday night as England take on World XI at the Etihad Stadium.
This year’s game is the 10th year of the charity match and some big names from the world of football and celebrity will battle it out in a bid to raise money for UNICEF.
Manchester United legends Wayne Rooney, Gary Neville and Paul Scholes will feature along with City favourites Pablo Zabaleta and Micah Richards.
Olly Murs, Mark Wright, Mo Farah, David James, Jamie Redknapp, Kelly Smith and Fara Williams will feature for England’s side and Usain Bolt, Roberto Carlos and Rivaldo will star for the opposition.
In the technical area, Ex-Blue Richards and David Seaman will assist England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson while Judy Murray and Robbie Keane will help Harry Redknapp who is set to take charge of the World XI.
There will be a star-studded cast on show for supporters and you can find more about UNICEF and the charity match here.
Follow the live blog below as we bring you updates throughout today’s games at the Etihad.
Steven Railston
Thank you
Thanks for joining our Soccer Aid coverage tonight.
Millions were raised and great fun was had.
Goodnight.
KEY EVENT
Manchester United and Man City stars help Soccer Aid raise millions as World XI provide the goals
Supporters made their Soccer Aid return on Saturday night after the charity event was forced behind closed doors last year.
There was a change of scenery, too, because Manchester City’s Etihad – it was almost a full capacity crowd – hosted the friendly game instead of Manchester United’s Old Trafford, where the event has been mostly held since its inauguration in 2008.
Among the star-studded cast at this year’s event were former players from both United and City.
Gary Neville, Paul Scholes, Shaun Wight-Phillips and Wayne Rooney represented team England while Patrice Evra, Pablo Zabaleta and Nigel De Jong represented the World XI – the former City trio returned to the Etihad with wide smiles etched across their faces.
KEY EVENT
England Soccer Aid player ratings vs World XI
David James: The former England stopper stood tall and brave with excellent performance. 8
James Bay: Flashes of quality down the right flank from defence, but didn’t influence the game as he would have liked. 7
Gary Neville: Was steady at the back alongside Monday Night Football partner Jamie Carragher. Didn’t fancy testing his pace against Usain Bolt in the first half – that was probably a wise decision, Gary. 6
Jamie Carragher: There’s no such thing as a friendly for Carragher – was vital for England at the back. 8
Mark Wright: Had a strike in the first half reminiscent of Sterling’s Euro famous ghost goal. Worked hard throughout. 6
Steven Railston
FULL-TIME!
That’s full-time.
ROW 3-0 England.
89′ – ENG 0 – 1 ROWKEY EVENT
GOAL!! 3-0 ROW!!
GOAL!! LEE MACK!
He finally gets his goal after two big misses.
86′ – ENG 0 – 1 ROWSteven Railston
CHANCE!
Lee Mack, you have to score that.
The comedian sends it wide.
83′ – ENG 0 – 1 ROWSteven Railston
CHANCE!
Wayne Rooney is through on goal, but blasts over.
He crucially lacked composure there.
81′ – ENG 0 – 1 ROWSteven Railston
WATCH: Kem’s second goal
73′ – ENG 0 – 1 ROWKEY EVENT
GOAL!! 2-0 ROW!
GOAL!! 2-0! It’s that man Kem again.
The Love Island star finds the bottom corner.
72′ – ENG 0 – 1 ROWSteven Railston
CHANCE!
Robbie Keane hits a speculative effort but it dips and gives England a scare.
Good attempt from the Irishman.
69′ – ENG 0 – 1 ROWSteven Railston
Paul Scholes is off for Jamie Redknapp
That’s the night done for Scholes.
67′ – ENG 0 – 1 ROWSteven Railston
Joe Coles tries one from distance
Another save from Ore Oruba, but it was a good effort from Cole.
65′ – ENG 0 – 1 ROWSteven Railston
The Etihad is alive with the Mexican wave
What an atmosphere.
As the Mexcian wave goes round, Rooney gets a header on target.
Easy save.
63′ – ENG 0 – 1 ROWSteven Railston
James Carragher still has his competitive edge
There’s no such thing as a friendly for Jamie Carragher.
The former Liverpool centre-back made a top challenge to win the ball there.
56′ – ENG 0 – 1 ROWSteven Railston
Nigel De Jong loves a challenge
Nigel De Jong wins the ball with a brilliant slide tackle.
Never change, De Jong.
54′ – ENG 0 – 1 ROWSteven Railston
Wayne Rooney doing his bit at the back
Wayne Rooney? Defending?
Excellent from the former United man in his own box – he can still do it all.
50′ – ENG 0 – 1 ROWKEY EVENT
GOAL!! 1-0 ROW!
GOAL!!! IT’S KEM!!
Questionable goalkeeping from Dommett.
Low strike from distance and he should do better.
49′ – ENG 0 – 0 ROWSteven Railston
CHANCE!
Roberto Carlos hits the post!
So close again for the ROW.
48′ – ENG 0 – 0 ROWSteven Railston
Chelcee Grimes looking sharp
Chelcee Grimes has come on for the ROW on the right-wing and she’s already looking sharp.
This game needs a little bit of quality – not that the fans need anything to get them going.
It’s a great atmosphere tonight and everyone is enjoying themselves.
46′ – ENG 0 – 0 ROWSteven Railston
And we’re off!
We’re back under way at the Etihad.
Let’s hope for some goals here.
HT – ENG 0 – 0 ROWKEY EVENT
‘Cheat code’ – Fans rave over Wayne Rooney and Paul Scholes Soccer Aid midfield pairing
Manchester United legends Wayne Rooney and Paul Scholes lining up together in midfield for England in Soccer Aid has sent fans crazy.
Read the full story, here.
HT’ – ENG 0 – 0 ROWSteven Railston
HALF-TIME!
That’s the whistle for the break.
The biggest chance of that half fell to Clarence Seedorf, who hit the post from a free-kick.
United’s and City’s former players have all played well – let’s hope we get a goal soon.
41′ – ENG 0 – 0 ROWSteven Railston
Usain Bolt is the first to cramp up
You would have got big odds for that.
37′ – ENG 0 – 0 ROWSteven Railston
WATCH: Gary Neville vs Usain Bolt…
31′ – ENG 0 – 0 ROWSteven Railston
Roberto Carlos over the bar
Roberto Carlos hits one with his trademark left foot but it goes over.
He’s a big fan of United’s Luke Shaw, who might have done a better job there.
30′ – ENG 0 – 0 ROWSteven Railston
CHANCE!
Julie Fleeting misses a sitter, but it’s ruled offside regardless.
29′ – ENG 0 – 0 ROWSteven Railston
WATCH: So close from Seedorf
26′ – ENG 0 – 0 ROWSean McCormick
Harry Redknapp trolls Manchester United great Gary Neville with hilarious Usain Bolt claim
Harry Redknapp has taken aim at Manchester United great Gary Neville – suggesting he won’t fancy a Soccer Aid foot race with Usain Bolt.
The ever-popular charity match takes place at the Etihad Stadium tonight and will, as always, feature some great former professionals and big celebrity names.
In a short video clip on social media, posted by the Soccer Aid Twitter account ahead of the game, Redknapp was quick to single out Neville as he prepares to keep tabs on Jamaican sprinter Bolt – a man who ran 100m in only 9.58 seconds at the peak of his powers.
Redknapp joked:
“We are a bit short of pace on the left. We are going to play Usain out there.
“Gary Neville is s****** himself. I’ll be shouting at him: ‘Take him on, he can’t run.”
You can read the full story, here.
24′ – ENG 0 – 0 ROWSteven Railston
The crowd is split on Rooney
“Rooney, Rooney, Rooney,” is met by boos when he’s on the ball. United fans and City fans jokingly going at it with the chants tonight.
22′ – ENG 0 – 0 ROWSteven Railston
Usain Bolt using his pace
Yeah, Usain Bolt is fast if you weren’t aware.
He’s trying to use his pace on the left side for the ROW but he’s had no luck so far.
