CHEER We Go! Harry Kane and Gareth Southgate vowed to get England smiling again with a rousing World Cup battle cry.
Fans back home are struggling with the cost of living crisis and the soccer spectacular in Qatar has been dogged by grim human rights rows and a beer ban.
But the patriotic pair pledged to give lionhearts a tournament to make them forget their woes ahead of tomorrow afternoon’s Group B curtain raiser clash against Iran.
Gaffer Gareth said: “We’re in the middle of an economic recession and life has been difficult for a lot of our people.
“So we want them to enjoy their football and have a journey with the team that brings some real happiness.
“Our country expects. The team are excited.”
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England face minnows Iran at the 45,400-seat Khalifa International Stadium after reaching the semi-final at Russia 2018 and losing the final of Euro 2020 on penalties.
But captain Kane, 29, spoke of his hunger to go one better in Qatar and end 56 years of hurt by landing our first trophy since 1966.
The Spurs idol said “You have to appreciate these moments, and I am really looking forward to this one because we have got a really good team, a great blend of experience and youth.
“In life in general you have to take opportunities that come your way.”
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Tomorrow’s opening England game kicks off at 1pm on a day that has been dubbed “Bunk-Off Monday” as millions of workers either throw a sickie or tune in while at work.
School pupils – and soccer-mad staff – across the country will also take time out to watch the big game on TV.
As many as one-in-ten schools will allow pupils – and footy mad teachers – to take a break, according to a survey by app Teacher Tapp.
Chris Dyson, headteacher of Parklands Primary School, Leeds, said: “If the children know they can come in and watch the game, they’ll come in.”
Apart from the football fans can expect to see the Three Lions take the knee as they back their campaign against racism.
Southgate said: “We have discussed taking the knee, we feel we should. It is what we stand for as a team and have done for a considerable amount of time.”
Kane and Southgate fired the opening shots of the Qatar campaign after a glitzy opening ceremony earlier today led by Hollywood legend Morgan Freeman.
But the Arab hosts were stung by a 2-0 defeat to Ecuador – and catcalls from the South American fans demanding: “queremos cerveza” or “we want beer”.
The jibe came as beer sponsors Budweiser showed off the mountainous stocks of cans going to waste thanks to Qatar’s last ditch stadium ban – and offered them to the nation which triumphs.
Qatar tournament ambassador David Beckham took his seat in the VIP section at the Al-Bayt Stadium in Al Khor near under-fire Fifa president Gianni Infantino.
The Fifa bigwig – who sparked a storm by branding Europeans racist for daring to criticise the hosts appalling record on migrant worker deaths – smiled benignly as the pageant began.
Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani — who bankrolled the incredible £185billion spent on the tournament — also smiled and waved from the stands.
Shawshank Redemption star Freeman, 85, narrated the opening of the show and chatted on stage in a segment with disabled Qatari entrepreneur and influencer Ghanim al Muftah, 20.
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Empty seats could be seen in the 60,000 Al Bayt Stadium during the opening ceremony which filled only at kick-off when performers piled in and began cheering on the host nation.
Big name performers shunned the ceremony where South Korean star Jungkook of boy band BTS topped the bill.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
