World Cup

GARETH SOUTHGATE wants England to become a major reference point for world football domination.For the nation’s manager, it is even a case of: The more German, the better.
Southgate wants England to take inspiration from GermanyCredit: Getty
Germany have won the World Cup four times – in 1954, 1974, 1990 and 2014Credit: AP:Associated Press
On the eve of his third tournament in charge, Southgate revealed he has been killing some time looking at the impressive international record of our greatest international rivals on Wikipedia.
Despite leading his nation to a World Cup semi-final in Russia four years ago and last summer’s Euro 2020 final, the Three Lions’ roll of honour on Wiki is embarrassing in comparison.
Southgate goes into Monday’s Group B opener against Iran on a run of six games without a win after a shocking Nations League run.
But he stressed it should have little relevance over what could unfold during the next month in Qatar.
READ MORE WORLD CUP NEWS
Southgate, 52, said: “It is hard to talk about form because you are always six weeks, two months between games in international football, so what actually is form?
“What there is, is pedigree. We want to be a Germany, who when I was looking at their Wikipedia page: four golds, four silvers, four bronzes.
“European Championships — three golds, three silvers, three bronzes.
“Yes, our page didn’t quite look like that but we’d love it if it did in 40 years’ time and that should be our aim, to be consistently challenging. We remind ourselves of the privilege of being here and the uniqueness of it. Only 16 England teams have ever been to a World Cup.
Most read in Football
PLAY OUR DREAM TEAM WORLD CUP FANTASY FOOTBALL GAME TO WIN A SHARE OF £50k

“A lot of the staff and players are at their second. Raheem [Sterling] is at his third. You have to remind yourself of this moment in time.
“Tournament football is different. Germany have always been one of the prime examples of that. That’s how we need to be, really.”
Southgate goes into this World Cup not only under a barrage of negativity because of his team’s patchy form but with the issues surrounding the tournament itself.
The Three Lions boss has attempted to get his 26-man squad to focus on fun and football.
Even at his pre-match press conference on Sunday night, Southgate was asked about human rights issues in Iran.
And skipper Harry Kane was quizzed about the situation of his OneLove armband and whether he could be fined or even booked as they have not been endorsed by Fifa.
Southgate, whose squad received a visit from Prince William at St George’s Park a week ago, said: “What we have tried to do is excite them about going to a World Cup and that has been balanced about the topics they have been asked to discuss which are very serious.
“There is a lot of negativity around the tournament and I want them to understand the unique honour of representing England at a major tournament.
“This is what they have wanted to do their whole lives.
“We have tried to talk about those things, to make it special.
“Obviously, the future king was with us to help endorse that which was special for everybody and then the work on the training pitch has been really focused.
“We are looking forward to it. The players should not be embarrassed about being excited.”
Historically, England are poor starters at major tournaments and this includes just seven wins in their 15 opening World Cup matches.
They beat Tunisia 2-1 at Russia 2018 — but that was only thanks to a 91st-minute winner from Harry Kane.
Southgate was asked whether he will give his team a basic instruction to start the tournament well.
Smiling, he added: “Frankly, we could get any landlord in any pub to deliver that.
Read More on The Sun
“It’s what we do if we have a moment like we did against Tunisia where we started really well and then out of the blue there’s a penalty conceded and now we’re 1-1 and how are we going to be?
“We’ve never been to a final outside our own shores so we’re trying to do things that haven’t been achieved before. That’s a great challenge for them as a group.” More

GARETH SOUTHGATE reckons England are on Mission Possible at the Qatar World Cup.The Three Lions boss, preparing for Monday’s opener against Iran, has told his 26-man squad to think big again after losing the Euro 2020 final to Italy on penalties.
England are bidding to go one step further at the World Cup after Euros heartbreakCredit: Reuters
Southgate feels there is a real longevity in England’s current squadCredit: AFP
Southgate said: “Maybe we’ve made the impossible just look possible.
“It’s exciting for other people and I can understand that.
“We want England to be competitive for years to come and I believe our academy system has got that.
“We have also got some good players and should be competitive for the next six, eight years with this group.”
READ MORE WORLD CUP NEWS
Southgate has a strong squad to pick from but James Maddison has not recovered from a knee injury, while Kyle Walker is still recovering from a groin problem — although could be back for Friday’s USA clash.
England may go with a back four against an Iran side ranked 20th in the world, one below Wales.
Southgate added: “We are in the middle of an economic recession and life has been difficult for a lot of our people.
“We want them to enjoy their football and have a journey with the team that brings some happiness.
Most read in Football
PLAY OUR DREAM TEAM WORLD CUP FANTASY FOOTBALL GAME TO WIN A SHARE OF £50k

“We have a tough game, though, and the team knows what to expect.”
England skipper Harry Kane is hoping to finish top scorer for the second successive World Cup.
He said: “You can’t take anything for granted. I was lucky enough to play in the 2018 World Cup.
“I’m really looking forward to this one.”
Kane says England’s recent run of six games without a win makes them more determined.
The Spurs ace insisted: “We  back  ourselves  against any team. It’s down to us.
Read More on The Sun
“It’s been a quick turnaround but we’re really looking forward to getting the tournament started.
“Iran are defensively very strong and compact. From a striker’s point of view, it will be difficult.” More

SIX years into his reign and, in all probability, with no more than seven more matches to go, do not expect Gareth Southgate to start changing now.And, as England’s most successful manager since Sir Alf Ramsey, why rip up his blueprint?
Gareth Southgate speaks during a press conferenceCredit: AFP
Harry Maguire may be suffering from a prolonged confidence crisis, while Raheem Sterling has been out of form — and often out of position — since joining Chelsea.
But when Southgate names his team for today’s opener against Iran, he will stay loyal to these two veterans of England’s march to the World Cup semi-finals in Russia and last year’s Euros final.
There may be howls of derision over those two selections but Southgate will be undeterred.
This World Cup is likely to be the 52-year-old’s last tournament and he will stand or fall by his most trusted lieutenants. They are the hill he is willing to die on.
READ MORE ON THE WORLD CUP
England haven’t won for six matches — their worst run since the dog days of Graham Taylor’s reign almost 30 years ago.
And they played poorly for all but about half an hour of a miserable Nations League campaign. It is a year since winning a competitive match — against San Marino.
But England now have battle-hardened players with records of rising to the occasion, rather than shrinking, at major tournaments.
Southgate’s critics, who tore into him at Molineux and the San Siro after dismal Nations League defeats, seem to forget we spent decades fretting over the reasons for England’s chronic failure on the biggest stages.
Most read in Football
PLAY OUR DREAM TEAM WORLD CUP FANTASY FOOTBALL GAME TO WIN A SHARE OF £50k
Playing with fear, burnout after long seasons, club cliques hurting team spirit, an obsession with celebrity, a phobia of penalty shootouts, an inability to cope with the boredom in camps.
And during the reigns of Sven-Goran Eriksson and Fabio Capello, managers who lacked supreme motivation.
But nobody has talked of these issues before Qatar — because England have exceeded expectations in ­successive tournaments.
The impending dread of inevitable failure is no more. England are united, happy and unburdened by fear.
And their manager, a quiet patriot, a devoted workaholic and an excellent ambassador, is never going to bring scandal to a job once considered ‘impossible’.
If you’re bored of Southgate’s England, as many are, you’ve ­forgotten what went before.

So there is no ­surprise he will stick with Sterling and Maguire, two of his Euros stars who made Uefa’s team of the tournament.
Maguire went into those Euros injured but Southgate gambled on the Manchester United skipper and fortune favoured his boldness.
Even now, with Maguire struggling to get a game for United, Southgate won’t jettison him.
Southgate said: “Loyalty comes from performances over time and knowing that to play for England is a different experience to any other, players have to handle that.
“Harry is technically a fantastic footballer, he’s a very strong leader and we haven’t got anybody else with that physical presence.
“And there are the relationships with other defenders — the more those relationships are there over a period of time, it is helpful.”

World Cup 2022Everything you need to know about the World Cup

Southgate’s detractors claim he had fortuitous draws in both of his previous tournaments. Yet defeating Croatia and Germany last year were not results to be sniffed at.
And nor was the hoodoo-busting penalty shootout victory over Colombia in Moscow in a stadium dominated by South American fans.
At the Khalifa Stadium in Doha today, England will face similar hostility, as tens of thousands of Iranians have made the short trip.
Iran, USA and Wales will be no pushovers but England are white-hot favourites to top Group B, so a last-16 clash with Ecuador or a Senegal side without the injured Sadio Mane is likely to await.
Another ‘easy draw’ then for ‘boring, boring’ Southgate and his ‘same old, same old’ team?
Despite having 18 months left on his contract, Southgate is likely to go after this tournament.
Read More on The Sun
Although FA chiefs, who are devoted to the manager and have no obvious English successor, will be as persuasive as possible in urging him to stay — unless this campaign is an absolute car crash.
But England fans must be careful what they wish for. Following the Three Lions was largely miserable before Southgate arrived and is unlikely to improve after he leaves. More

I WONDER if the England fans realise what a truly great player we have in Bukayo Saka.Yes, I know I’ll be accused of bias because Bukayo plays for Arsenal but, honestly, he has special gifts.
Bukayo Saka is set to start for England in their first match of the World CupCredit: Getty
What amazes me about him is he always makes the right decision, it’s incredible.
It is so rare for a young player – he’s only just turned 21 – to instinctively know what is right in any given situation. I stress with my Arsenal Under-18 players to study him.
If the situation calls for a five-yard pass he’ll do it but if he has to beat someone he’ll do that too. Bukayo always gets it right, which is a skill itself.
His level of understanding is that he’ll know if he plays a certain pass, the free player will be there. He won’t try and force it.
READ MORE ON THE WORLD CUP
He can make the difference too with his scoring and assists.
He is the most humble kid – not one of those big-time types – who will come over and watch my U-18s and talk to them.
In the training ground restaurant, he’ll be over to chat and shake everyone’s hand.
Bukayo was in the academy when I was in the first team. I watched him impress in a few Youth Cup games but you never know how someone will react once they’re on the big stage.
Most read in Football
PLAY OUR DREAM TEAM WORLD CUP FANTASY FOOTBALL GAME TO WIN A SHARE OF £50k
But when Unai Emery came in as manager he put a bit of trust in him, playing him in a few Europa League games and, again, he made all the right decisions.
In the Euros last year, Gareth Southgate trusted him too.He missed that crucial penalty in the final but bounced back and now he’s Arsenal’s penalty taker.
I’m sure if there’s another penalty shootout he will step up. He won’t be bothered at all by what happened before.
We should have no trouble against Iran, who I suspect will sit in and frustrate us but we have the players in Bukayo, Raheem Sterling, Phil Foden and Jack Grealish who can unlock the door.
What worries me is if Harry Kane gets injured, what do we do?
I played with Callum Wilson at Bournemouth and he’s fantastic at what he does.
Most read in Football
PLAY OUR DREAM TEAM WORLD CUP FANTASY FOOTBALL GAME TO WIN A SHARE OF £50k
He makes bad balls look good and will run in the channels but to ask him to start would be a big challenge.
I was disappointed Tammy Abraham was left out because if Harry gets injured Tammy would have been a good alternative to start. It’s such a big role to fill.
Part of me likes a winter World Cup. They should all be feeling good because it’s not the end of a long, gruelling season.
At Arsenal we used to call it ‘six-week syndrome’ where, six weeks before the end of the season, you could feel it in your body that the season was coming to an end. There isn’t that this time.
We’ve got a group who have been with Gareth Southgate for a while and they know his playing style, so I don’t feel only having a week’s preparation will be a problem.
Against Iran we should dominate the ball and can use players who there have been doubts about, like Trent Alexander-Arnold.
He won’t be seriously tested defensively and we can use his vision and ability to help break them down.
And if he gets some confidence from that match, he can go on and have a good tournament.
Gareth Southgate is guiding England to a World Cup for the second timeCredit: Getty
Foden, who I’d like to see play centrally, and Grealish can create an overload or dribble past someone.
We don’t need two holders so I’d play with what I call two No 8s. If you have Declan Rice sitting I’d play Jude Bellingham higher up with Foden, someone who can take the ball and beat players.
Bellingham is playing so well he has to start but Grealish can come on and be an impact player when they are tiring.
What I don’t like about the squad is there’s no left-footed centre-back. You need balance.
I’d also prefer Aaron Ramsdale in goal because of his ability with his feet.
Jordan Pickford’s good at going longer but Ramsdale can play through the lines and eliminate players.
The biggest thing I’ve learned in coaching is that everyone has to be clear and everyone has to be committed.
“Are you clear with the playing style? Are you clear with what we’re going to do when we are out of possession? Do you see the reasons why we are doing this?”
If they get those two aspects right, then we have enough talent to go a long way.
England will be hoping to go further than the semi-final – where they managed to get to in 2018Credit: Reuters More

HARRY KANE is a great player,  a top goalscorer, commands total respect from his team-mates and is rightly the first name on the England teamsheet.So far, so good, but I have my reservations about him as captain.
Harry Kane is a key player but England might need more pace during some games, while Harry Maguire might struggle unless in a back threeCredit: PA
Declan Rice has taken centre stage for England and deserves to be captainCredit: Getty
It’s not because I doubt his abilities as a leader but if Gareth Southgate ever needs to change things he cannot take Harry off.
All strikers have a bad day occasionally, even Harry, but nothing looks worse to the rest of the team than if the skipper is subbed.
You look across to the bench, see your leader sitting there and it sends a bad message. Consequently Harry stays on when it might be detrimental to the team.
Ok, that might not be very often, but it does happen.
READ MORE WORLD CUP NEWS
If your skipper is in midfield or defence you give them the armband knowing that, even if you want to switch tactics, you’re still unlikely to sub them.
It is more likely to be a striker who comes off either to be directly replaced or to add an extra body in midfield or defence.
We are at the stage now where you need alternatives to Kane. I thought we needed that against Croatia in the semi-final of the last World Cup.
We were short and should have freshened it up properly.
Most read in Football
PLAY OUR DREAM TEAM WORLD CUP FANTASY FOOTBALL GAME TO WIN A SHARE OF £50k
When Glenn Hoddle took the England captaincy off me and gave it to Alan Shearer I thought it was the wrong decision, not just because it hurt my pride, but also that it meant Alan would never come off even when we needed a quick player on up front.
Personally, I’d have given the captaincy to Declan Rice. I love his character, he had a fantastic Euros, and you know he’s going to give you 90 minutes.
Don’t forget the last time we won it we had a West Ham captain so it makes perfect sense!
We do have the basis of a very strong team. I’ve been so impressed by Jude Bellingham, and Bukayo Saka, who is flying, and I’m sure we’ll come through well against Iran today and get out of the group — but I can see us falling short against the top teams.
Gareth’s always been really defensive. His teams are cautious and he won’t put a team out there which will just go and play football.
It also worries me he doesn’t seem to know his right team or formation.
I was in despair when he played Saka at left wing-back in the recent game against Italy. Please no more of that.
He doesn’t seem to know his best back four or whether he’ll play with three central defenders.
I wouldn’t worry about Saka, who missed the penalty in the final — he’s well over that, it’s obvious when you see how he’s playing.
Then he’s got the situation with Harry Maguire not having played much which isn’t great.
I think he will be fine in a three but in a two I’m not so sure and he could get exposed.
But Maguire has done it for this manager and there is a trust there so I’d be prepared to go with him too for this game and see how he goes.
This team has been brought through by Gareth and while people can argue they have been making progress with a semi-final and final in the last two tournaments, we didn’t win them and we may have missed the boat.
Those who played in both have the baggage of failing at a vital stage and it could have a mental effect on them.
I’d be feeling we’ve had such a great opportunity to win the last two tournaments and we didn’t do it.
But I wouldn’t be worried about Saka, who missed the penalty in the Euros final — he’s well over that, it’s obvious when you see how he’s been playing since. More