WE should be looking at a ray of sunshine — instead we are talking about a complete shower.
The beaming grin on Conor Coady’s face when he scored his first international goal was a shining example of what playing for your country is all about.
Conor Coady’s delight scoring for England was plain to seeCredit: EPA
Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Danny Ings were not far behind him against Wales on Thursday, either, and SunSport were spot on with the headline, “This is what it means to play for England”.
But sadly that hasn’t been the story of the week, because once again it was overshadowed by the shocking behaviour of people who showed no respect or responsibility.
When the news came out that 20-year-old Jadon Sancho, Tammy Abraham and Ben Chilwell — both 23 — had been to a surprise party, the punishment was a no-brainer for me.
They shouldn’t have been anywhere near the England squad for this entire set of three games. No debate, no excuse, no argument.
Just as Mason Greenwood, 19, and Phil Foden, 20, were rightly left out, these three should have been chucked out, because it was unacceptable for all five.
I have heard people trying to come up with a defence, arguing we should cut them some slack because they are only young lads.
Claiming these are different times, how they’d been locked up throughout the summer, but I’m not having it for one minute. All five knew the rules and they broke them.
It goes beyond discipline, it’s about people not giving a toss and having no respect for Gareth Southgate, England, or the fans.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin also scored his first goal for EnglandCredit: Alamy Live News
Foden and Greenwood have been left out the squad following their hotel shameCredit: Reuters
But sadly that seems to be the way with a lot of players now.
Getting an international call should be a highlight, but so many are blase about it.
Not all, I must point out, and the contrast between their actions and what it clearly meant to the lads who scored against Wales couldn’t have been greater.
That’s the attitude which should be a given, yet sadly for so many these days it just isn’t. And it’s been that way for years now.
I remember getting slaughtered when I was Spurs manager and said that some players just don’t want to play for England any more — but I was right then and I’m right now.
I had lads coming up to me and saying things like, “We’ve got a friendly against Holland in two weeks, can you get me out of it?”
I also had ones saying, “My missus is due to have a baby in six weeks and I really don’t fancy going away with England”.
You’d have people pulling out claiming they weren’t fit, but come the following Saturday they’d have made a miraculous recovery.
Ben Chilwell and Tammy Abraham broke lockdown rules at a party
Harry Redknapp believes certain players don’t want to play for EnglandCredit: Louis Wood – The Sun
It was fact then and it is now. Representing your country — for some, because it’s far from everyone by the way — really isn’t the honour it should be.
The lads I played with at West Ham, Bobby Moore, Geoff Hurst, Martin Peters . . . they’d never dream of missing a game through choice and never try to get out of a squad.
It was the same with the likes of Peter Shilton, Stevie Gerrard, David Beckham, Frank Lampard. It is why they won so many caps.
Fortunately, there are still far more to whom it means the world, because Gareth has a hell of a job at the best of times, without having to deal with this sort of rubbish.
It doesn’t surprise me, though — these are young men earning stupid money in some cases. I’m talking some bang average players getting more than £100,000 a week.
But it’s so annoying because after the World Cup, the whole country was starting to feel good about England again.
Now there’s a serious risk of all that being lost because of the thoughtless, stupid actions of this lot.
Gareth has done a good job and is a decent, honest, nice guy who will always try and protect his players — but there really can be no protection over this.
In my book, if you misbehave and show no respect to the shirt then fine. You won’t have to worry about pulling it on again.
Playing for England should be about seeing players puffing their chest out with pride… not ones who treat it with a shrug and a so what.
Aston Villa fans fume with Gareth Southgate after interview about Jack Grealish
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
