As England reach their first World Cup semi-final since 1990, take a breath to drink it all in and savour the momentThe red and white train just keeps rolling along. In the city where Russia’s space programme shot for the moon, England’s footballers have now entered their own near-earth orbit. There they go now, a little giddy but still upright, out there floating in their tin can, high above the world.It has been a month and a day in Russia, all the way from the fly pits of Volgograd, to Kaliningrad on the Baltic, and now on to Samara, a city lodged in the humid armpit of the south-east. But after Wembley in ’66 and Turin more than a quarter...
Southgate stood out when I was with him at Aston Villa and his thoughtfulness and trust in players can break cycle of failureI made my debut for Aston Villa on 13 January 2001 and, to be frank, it could have been in better circumstances. We were 3-0 down to Liverpool at home when John Gregory decided to beckon me from the bench. I came on with six minutes to go, into a lost cause, and in front of an understandably disgruntled crowd.Nevertheless, it remains a good memory given it was my first taste of English football, and Premier League football in particular. I also came into a Villa side full of strong personalties such as Paul Merson, David Ginola and...
Midfielder was in England’s team that beat Tunisia at the World Cup 20 years ago and says patience and fearlessness are keyThere was a lot of trouble before we played Tunisia in Marseille. The two or three days leading up to the game were unpleasant. A lot of the squad had family over there, so it wasn’t easy.We were aware of what was going on. We had families flying over in the morning or on the night before and you just never know, do you? My mum and step-dad were out there. They were having a holiday in France and were travelling down for the game. I spoke to them and it was fine but it’s something you think about....
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...