Unburdened by hype and narcissism, Gareth Southgate and his side have the qualities that make it easy to once again get behind the national team at a World CupA World Cup is upon us, which means it’s time to look forward as well as back. Forward to a glut of football over the next few weeks – some of it great, some of it poor, all of it compelling – and back to previous tournaments, acting as they do as signposts in our lives. We remember how they shaped our summers as well as ourselves and, as is the case with most things, the first World Cup tends to mean the most. Related: ‘On the pitch there was a divide’:...
Harry Kane and Raheem Sterling showed promise in attack but England must be more clinical and tactically astute when they face Tunisia in the first group game in RussiaThe best part of England’s performance against Nigeria was the interaction between their forwards during the first half. Harry Kane and Raheem Sterling formed a front two ready to exploit any space in the opposition’s back four. Behind them Jesse Lingard and Dele Alli played intelligently, almost taking it in turns to spring forward from midfield or look to bisect the opposition with a through ball. This was all promising. What the team needed was more decisive finishing. Related: England blow hot and cold against Nigeria after Gary Cahill’s quick start Continue...
Gareth Southgate’s World Cup captain Harry Kane did what he has done in every game in which he has led England: he scored. Plus Nigerian replica shirt mania grips the capitalThis was Harry Kane’s first international appearance since he was named’s England’s captain for the World Cup by Gareth Southgate and he did what he has always done when leading his country – score. It is now six goals in five games with the armband and while his effort here should have been saved by Nigeria’s goalkeeper, Francis Uzoho, it was still hit with a level of decisiveness and snap that suggests the Tottenham forward is heading to Russia in good nick, mentally as well as physically, with his general...
The forward – who has been attracting all the scrutiny, from tattoos to timekeeping – gave his manager reason for encouragement in the 2-1 victory against NigeriaRaheem Sterling might not have played here and would have accepted missing out. Gareth Southgate’s original intention had been to leave the forward out for the friendly against Nigeria as punishment for a tardy arrival at the national squad’s training camp last month.Yet, in the context of the player coming “under fire from every other direction” over the last week, the manager recognised this was the time to stand by his man. The protective shield flung down around one of their own is starting to feel like an indication of England’s strength. Related: England...
Gareth Southgate has let the forward know how serious his transgression was, with Sterling apologising to the squadThis time it is not so easy to defend the guy. It is not a witch-hunt, it is nothing to do with his choice of body art, where he shops or what he eats for breakfast and, if you happen to think Raheem Sterling is treated differently in parts of the media because of the colour of his skin, that does not change the fact he has genuinely messed up. Related: Raheem Sterling sorry after arriving 12 hours late for England training Related: Raheem Sterling is a victim of vicious tabloid snobbery Related: Clarke Carlisle criticises ‘unfair’ treatment of Raheem Sterling Continue reading...