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England Ticker: Three Lions down Belgium, Cahill to miss Euros, and more

DannyWelbeck (Getty)

The England national team were outplayed for stretches, and Belgium certainly provided a good test, but Danny Welbeck's game-winning goal provided the difference in a 1-0 England victory at Wembley.

Both sides saw goal-bound chance hit the woodwork, but Welbeck's beautiful finish off a pass from Manchester United teammate Ashley Young provided the difference in England's Euro tuneup match.

Belgium lost Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany to an injury in warm-ups, but the visitors still had enough talent to test England for much of the afternoon. Belgium enjoyed good spells of possession, but couldn't really mount many legitimate challenges to England goalkeeper Joe Hart.

England didn't exactly dazzle either, but Welbeck showed his quality when he expertly finished off a sequence.

The victory gave England fans reasons to celebrate, but news after the game proved to be disheartening, as centerback Gary Cahill was ruled of the Euros on Sunday after x-rays revealed a double fracture of his jaw suffered after being pushed by Belgium's Dries Mertens, and running into Hart in the process. England manager Roy Hodgson has called in Liverpool's Martin Kelly as a replacement for Cahill, a controversial decision considering Hodgson yet again snubbed Rio Ferdinand.

Here are some other news items from England this weekend to get you through the day:

ASTON VILLA HIRES LAMBERT

The search for a new Aston Villa manager didn't take too long, with the Villans appointing former Norwich City manager Paul Lambert to take over for fired former manager Alex McLeish.

Lambert led Norwich to a respectable 12th-place finish last season, just a year after earning promotion to the Premier League. Norwich City finished nine points ahead of Aston Villa, but will now be on the hunt for a new manager, as well as trying to keep the team's top players from leaving. Star forward Grant Holt has already stated his desire to leave the club.

KUYT SIGNS WITH FENERBAHCE

Long-time Liverpool striker Dirk Kuyt is leaving Anfield after six years to sign with Turkish club Fenerbahce.

 Kuyt's departure comes just days after Liverpool appointed Brendan Rogers as manager, though Kuyt has insisted his move away from Liverpool wasn't driven by Rogers' arrival.

GREEN LEAVING WEST HAM

England goalkeeper Robert Green stuck with West Ham United after the Hammers were relegated a year ago, but now, after helping the club earn promotion back to the Premier League, Green is set to leave.

Green is the target of several Premier League clubs after leaving Upton Park as a free agent, with Jussi Jaaskelainen set to replace Green as West Ham's No. 1.

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What do you think of these developments? Impressed or disappointed with England's showing against Belgium? Shocked to see Rio Ferdinand snubbed again? Think Lambert can help Aston Villa move up the standings?

Share your thoughts below. 

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