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      Richarlison wouldn’t make the England squad, Brazilians are always hyped but I think he’s no better than Callum Wilson

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      HERE we go at last with the greatest show on earth and fingers crossed England will finally go all the way.I’ve no doubt they can but you do need a bit of magic to win a World Cup and I think Gareth Southgate has just the man for the job.
      Harry Redknapp writes exclusively for The SunCredit: Louis Wood
      He believes that Jack Grealish must start for the Three Lions against IranCredit: Getty
      Now it’s just a case of picking him and I have to be honest and admit I have my doubts as to whether that will happen.
      I’ve said before if Jack Grealish played for any other country, they’d build the whole team around him.
      But when it comes to England he struggles to even get in, from the start at least.
      Let’s be honest, England begin their tournament against Iran and, with all due respect, they shouldn’t give us any trouble.
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      So it is a chance to really get at them and show what fantastic attacking players we’ve got — which means Grealish MUST start for me.
      It is not just me who is a big fan of the Manchester City star either.
      I watched him against Chelsea in the League Cup this month and just wanted him to get the ball.
      And I remember speaking to Harry Kane and him telling me he loves to play with Jack because of those little balls he plays into the pockets around the box.
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      It’s those 15-yard passes when he backs in, turns and gets a shot off.
      That works with Harry so much and Grealish is the perfect man to provide the service.
      I always loved to work on that with every team I’ve had and Jack just loves making an angle and getting that ball into his feet.
      It might not be the first England partnership that springs to mind but it’s one I could see causing problems for any side in the world.
      And it should certainly cause plenty for Iran.
      Jack would always be one of the first names on my teamsheet but for some reason Gareth never seems to fancy him.
      I don’t want to see him coming on late in games to try and change them — I really want him on from the kick-off.
      Look, it’s Iran, so we will dominate the ball and we need players who can make a difference against a side that will sit in.
      We need matchwinners and players who can beat people and make things happen.
      And for me that means we need obviously Grealish.

      Richarlison would not get anywhere near Harry Redknapp’s England teamCredit: Rex
      I feel with the likes of Harry, Jack, Phil Foden and Bukayo Saka buzzing around —  not to mention Raheem Sterling and Marcus Rashford — we have some fantastic attackers.
      Everyone goes on about Brazil’s forwards but look at our stars and it’s amazing.
      Spurs’ Richarlison is in Qatar and might even be in Brazil’s team but I honestly don’t think he’d get in the England squad.
      He’s decent enough but I really don’t see him as any better than Callum Wilson, and certainly nowhere near Kane’s class. And there are a couple of others I’d probably have ahead of him as well.
      Because he’s Brazilian, everyone raves about him but I’m telling you our options are just as good.
      I only hope they prove it this time, because once we’re out of the group — and we will be, there’s not the slightest doubt about that —  I would fancy England against any team in a one-off match.
      Maybe we wouldn’t win nine times out of ten but there’s certainly no side we should be scared of.
      It does come down to the luck of the draw and the path you get through the tournament — but why shouldn’t it be England?
      I’d love to think this is our time again but if not I’ve a funny feeling it could be the Lionel Messi show.
      I just have a hunch he could take the World Cup by storm and — if it is not England — I’d probably just about go for Argentina.
      But that’s only if it isn’t England and hopefully this time it will be as we’ve waited long enough! More

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      England’s Wags to fly into Qatar tomorrow after throwing World Cup themed bash tonight

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      ENGLAND’S team of Wags fly into Qatar today – after throwing a World Cup themed party at home.They are due to touch down in Doha tonight ahead of the Three Lions’ opening match against Iran on Monday.
      A source said Wags, including Fern Maguire, would be driven around in Mercedes and Rolls-Royces in DohaCredit: Instagram
      Glamorous Sasha Attwood is among the Wags following a professional stylist on social mediaCredit: Louis Wood
      The party tonight marks their last boozy get-together before arriving in the strict Islamic nationCredit: Andy Kelvin / Kelvinmedia
      And they’ve been offered a separate room on a luxury cruise ship to use as a walk-in wardrobe as their cabins are not big enough for all their clothes, shoes and handbags.
      The glamorous set are so confident their men can go all the way they packed their cases to the brim.
      Some of them even hired a personal stylist to help them cover up in the strict Islamic nation.
      Anouska Santos, Luke Shaw’s partner, John Stones’s pregnant girlfriend Olivia Naylor and Marcus Rashford’s fiancée Lucia Loi all sought help from Connie Jones.
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      She kitted them out with designer clothing, make-up and jewellery after low-cut tops, skimpy tight shorts and revealing skirts were banned.
      The Wags will board the MSC World Europa, a £1billion luxury cruise liner, where they will stay during the tournament.
      Sources say they plan to “bunk down” in shared cabins for “safety in numbers” amid security fears.
      But the cabins are far too small to house the volume of clothes, handbags, shoes and accessories they are taking.
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      A separate hold room has since been made available for them to use as a ‘walk-in wardrobe’ whilst they are there.
      A source said: “They’re not travelling lightly, that’s for sure.
      “And they intend to do some shopping when they arrive, so the extra space is going to come in handy.
      “They’ve got a company on hire that will provide a luxury chauffeur 24/7 and personal assistants.
      “Personal shoppers will also be on hand once they arrive to tend to all of their retail needs.
      “They’ll also have a team of beauticians and hairdressers on standby to get them glammed up before hitting the city’s shops.”
      The source said the Wags, including Fern Maguire, Megan Pickford, Kyle Walker’s Annie Kilner and Jack Grealish’s Sasha Attwood, would be driven around Doha in high-end Mercedes, Rolls Royces and Bentleys.
      And some of them have even booked an open ticket home – in the hope England can make it to the final on December 18.
      The Wags kicked-off the celebrations early last night with a footie themed dinner party at one of their homes – before heading to the airport.
      A Michelin-starred chef catered for the send-off with national dishes from all over the world.
      They had champagne, balloons and banners.
      But once they arrive in Doha they will be under strict instructions to keep the boozing to an absolute minimum.
      And they will be closely guarded by a team of private security guards – believed to be paid for by their multi-millionaire footie loves.
      They will be joined in Qatar by players’ family members who are expected to stay at the five-star Marsa Malaz Kempinski.
      Coaches will be laid on to ferry them to the Khalifa International Stadium for tomorrow’s group opener.
      But as England progress through the tournament some of the Wags have eyed up a £40,000-a-night stay at the Ritz Carlton’s five-star Sharq Village and Spa.
      Up to 10 of them are looking to share the cost of the luxurious Royal Villa which boasts ocean views, a chef’s kitchen and 24-hour butler service.
      Various spa treatments on offer include a £170 stress relief massage – should England be taken to penalties – and a £400 facial to ease any tension.
      The Wags also want a day at the races cheering on camels.
      And a trip to Pearl Island is also on the cards – with endless boutique shops selling luxury clothes, handbags and jewellery.
      But they have been warned to be on their best behaviour.
      They sat through a presentation spelling out the dos and don’ts by the Football Association in September ahead of England’s 3-3 Nations League draw with Germany.
      They were told to respect the rules and warned: “You are not above the law”.
      The Wags must “dress modestly” in public and at stadiums and are not allowed to engage in any public displays of affection.
      Some were so worried they hired Connie Jones, who runs the Connie Personal Shopping Company, to tailor their outfits.
      One source said: “Connie leaves nothing to chance and has examined their itinerary and desired outfits which will fit into situations such as visits to restaurants or even when they are in the gym.
      “She is highly trusted and thought of by the women and has contacts to source the latest fashions and clothing so that the women look the best.
      “This World Cup is very different from the last one in Russia four years ago where the players wives and girlfriends could show off their bodies and figures in items such as denim shorts and skimpy tops.
      “The women know that they are going to be photographed wherever they go and they understand that it helps them on their social media profiles so they have to look the best.
      “The last thing they want is to offend anybody in Qatar. They have a lot of self-respect and want to show the same respect to the people there but at the same time enjoy themselves.
      “What we are going to see at this World Cup is a new style of WAG. They are going to look amazing everywhere they go.”
      Connie has more than 50,000 followers on Instagram and they include Jordan Pickford’s wife Megan, Jack Grealish’s girlfriend Sasha Attwood, Kieran Trippier’s wife Charlotte, Kalvin Phillips’ girlfriend Ashleigh Behan and Declan Rice’s partner Lauren Fryer.
      They must not drink alcohol or swear in public, play loud music, sing, shout or act “inappropriately” during the call to prayer.
      Littering, which is illegal in Qatar and punishable by a fine of up to £6,000 and a year in prison, is also forbidden.
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      And they were warned taking selfies outside government buildings was strictly off limits – and likely to lead to police action.
      The presentation ended with the words: “With that said, do have fun!” More

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      Qatar ready for World Cup curtain-raiser, but you wouldn’t normally bother opening them for this underwhelming kick-off

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      AFTER a dozen years of raging controversy over corruption, tragedies and hideous human-rights abuses, we finally get to the actual football.This may be a World Cup in a nation which is too small, played at the wrong time of year and in a culture alien to most of us.
      Qatar and Ecuador will meet in the World Cup curtain raiser at the Al Bayt StadiumCredit: Getty
      The 22nd World Cup gets underway in Qatar on SundayCredit: AP
      But, four weeks from now, that famous golden trophy will be lifted and champions will be crowned.
      Fifa’s increasingly-deranged boss Gianni Infantino — a man who staged a love-in with Vladimir Putin at the last World Cup — has been ordering us to concentrate on football rather than politics.
      So here we go then, at 4pm UK time, a curtain-raiser to the greatest sporting jamboree on Earth which you normally wouldn’t open your curtains to watch if it was being played in your back garden.
      Qatar, ranked 50th in the world, against Ecuador, 44th in the standings — two nations who possibly shouldn’t even be at the World Cup at all.
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      Hosts Qatar have never qualified for the finals, while their opponents have been up to their necks in bother over the eligibility of full-back Byron Castillo — an affair which almost saw them kicked out.
      And after this tournament, won by the Qataris under false pretences, was moved from summer to winter, this fixture was switched from Monday to Sunday in a World Cup that they are making up as they go along.
      At least the latest U-turn, the 11th-hour banning of alcohol inside stadiums — for rank-and-file supporters but not the corporate freeloaders, of course — could be seen as a minor triumph for human rights.
      Any beer lover will tell you that the inability to pay 12 quid for a Budweiser is a blessing rather than a curse.
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      To be in Doha in the build-up to this tournament is a deeply strange experience.
      This is a hastily-constructed, ultra-modern metropolis built around what was a small, traditional Arab city — at the cost of the lives of thousands of mistreated migrant workers — the skyscrapers as well as the tournament’s eight stadia, all within 30 miles of one another.
      But despite the cultural differences and the moral outrages, you can still discover pockets of World Cup fever.
      In central Doha, you will see thousands of locals walking around in replica Argentina shirts with Lionel Messi’s name and No 10 on their backs.
      As soon as their own team are dumped out — and Qatar are highly likely to follow South Africa as the only previous World Cup host nation to exit at the group stage — they will throw their weight behind Messi and Co.
      The little maestro’s move to Qatari-owned Paris Saint-Germain made sure of that.
      Downtown Doha is now starting to resemble the united-nations melting pot of previous World Cups — the Latin Americans, in particular, travelling in vast numbers as they always do.
      Scores of global TV companies have set up their studios in front of the Souq Waqif — the historic marketplace which gives their coverage a rare backdrop of authentic Arab culture in this marble-and-concrete jungle.
      Close by, dozens of soporific camels doze around.
      And at a neighbouring booth, tourists are invited to ‘Try On Qatari Dress — It’s Amazing!’
      But football fans must strive to find an oasis of western hedonism in this desert.
      On the 14th floor of a central hotel, there is an Irish bar serving Guinness at £15 a pint to supporters with deep pockets and raging thirsts from every corner of the globe.
      Qatar won the right to stage this World Cup, way back in 2010, thanks to Fifa corruption — with their crooked former boss Sepp Blatter recently admitting this had been a mistake due to the host nation’s inadequate size.
      As culture wars raged over migrant-worker deaths and the illegality of homosexuality in Qatar — as well as those beer prices — many who would normally follow England at major tournaments chose to stay well away.
      And that was before an appalling Qatari World Cup ambassador recently described homosexuality as a ‘damage of the mind’.
      These issues have completely overshadowed Qatar’s own footballing prospects.
      Their Spanish manager Felix Sanchez presides over a squad consisting entirely of players who compete in Qatar’s domestic league — and who have been frequently withdrawn from club matches to go on lengthy remote training camps.
      Sanchez said: “We consider ourselves very competitive and worthy of being here, even if the favourites, on paper, should be Ecuador.
      “We are a small country and have to work with what we’ve got. The players have spent long periods of time, making a massive sacrifice, being away from their families, outside of the country, to make sure we are as competitive as possible.”
      Given the brown-envelope culture which earned Qatar this World Cup, it was little surprise that Sanchez was asked about internet conspiracies suggesting Ecuador’s players had been offered bribes to throw Sunday’s opening match.
      Read More on The Sun
      He replied: “There is a lot of dangerous misinform­ation on the internet but we have prepared for many years to prove we are strong and competitive.
      “Nobody will destabilise us, we are not affected by it and we are excited and motivated for this historic day.”
      The Al Bayt Stadium is ready to play host to the opening game of the World CupCredit: Getty More

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      I have barely any World Cup memories and the Colombia shootout wasn’t even on in my house, says England star Ben White

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      GARETH SOUTHGATE and his squad are hoping to give England some terrific World Cup memories — although Ben White has barely any of his own.Arsenal defender White comes from a family who have never been interested in football and, even now, rarely watch games at home.
      Dier struck the winning penalty against Colombia at the 2018 World CupCredit: Getty
      England defender White has made it into his first World Cup squadCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
      The incredibly relaxed centre-back, who spent Saturday morning sunbathing, revealed he only started thinking about Qatar once selected last week.
      White’s honest confession is very different from other players such as James Maddison, who revealed his strong emotions after being called up by Southgate for the finals.
      Asked about his World Cup memories, White said: “There are not many that stick out.
      “Obviously the disappointments and I remember Eric Dier’s penalty against Colombia and the feeling. But the game wouldn’t have been on in the house.
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      “I didn’t grow up watching football in my house as it wasn’t on. It’s never been in my life or my mum and dad’s.
      “I always get asked what I do after football — I don’t really do much but I am always busy.
      “Sitting down and watching a 90-minute game is the last thing I want to do after I’ve trained all day and had four or five meetings about football as well.”
      As for his World Cup dreams over the next month or so, he said: “No, I don’t really look too far ahead. I feel like I’m a day-to day-person.
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      “I wake up in the morning, look after that day and try to have the best ever and don’t think too far ahead.
      “I’m not someone that has anything planned in normal life. If I want to go somewhere for dinner on that day, I’ll be going there. I didn’t think about the World Cup at all until it was close.
      “I think if you’re so concerned about something, it normally doesn’t happen if you’re too worried, things will be what they will be and you deal with it when it comes.

      “I’m not going into a game thinking I’m going to be the best right-back or centre-back in the world. I’m realistic, I want to play like everyone else and if I do get a chance to play, I’ll give it my best.”
      White, from the Dorset town of Ferndown, is likely to be on the bench for Sunday’s opener with Iran.
      When he broke news of his World Cup selection to his father Barry, White hardly received an explosive response.
      The former Brighton star said: “My old man is so very laid-back it is ridiculous. When I got called up for the squad he was like, ‘Well done’.
      “It was just like he knew it was going to happen and wasn’t a surprise for him. My mum is the opposite so I think I have got the balance between them.”
      As for the last few days, he has spent time by the pool.
      He said: “I sunbathed this morning. There is not loads to do.
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      “You put your feet up after big training sessions and do recovery stuff, so there’s not much free time. Early to bed and watch a movie.
      “It is very nice around the pool, very relaxing.”
      Kane scored a penalty in the game and then in the shoot-out against ColombiaCredit: Getty More

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      Roberto Martinez will finally show whether he’s hit or myth at this World Cup, only the final is good enough for Belgium

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      AS one of the inventors of coach speak, Roberto Martinez has always talked a good game.In one of the many seasons when Wigan were fighting to survive, he described being stuck at the bottom as a unique opportunity and a positive.
      Roberto Martinez will be leading Belgium into another international tournamentCredit: Getty
      But World Cup success with Belgium could be make or break for himCredit: EPA
      Quite why, no one ever fully understood, but there was no diverting him from that belief.
      Probably because it gave his players the chance to show their heart for a scrap, or suchlike.
      It certainly helped build his reputation as one of football’s most modern-thinking managers.
      So much so that while he did pull off one of THE great FA Cup shocks of all time when the Latics beat Manchester City in the 2013 final, the fact they were relegated three days later didn’t make a dent in his standing.
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      Indeed, just two weeks after they went down, Martinez was on his way back up — replacing David Moyes at Everton.
      Then, when he got the boot from Goodison three years later, he landed an even more prestigious job within three months, taking over from Marc Wilmots as Belgium boss.
      It was an appointment which stunned many in football — certainly on Merseyside and parts of Greater Manchester — but no matter. And he HAS had his moments.
      Indeed, Belgium have spent much of the time under his command as the world’s No 1-rated team. Which, without a trophy, is basically a footballing “so what”.
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      The equivalent of the highest ranked tennis player who’s never won a Grand Slam. That’s what Belgium are at the moment.
      No team has ever been the best on the planet without ever having a major trophy to their name somewhere in their history.
      Even the great Holland sides, who looked like they would draw a blank, eventually won the 1988 Euros. But Belgium? Zip. Nothing.Which is why the next four weeks are so vital to Martinez.
      Because while there is a lot of pressure to deliver on a lot of people in Qatar, there’s more on him than almost anyone.
      When you look at his squad, the Spaniard has got more aces than most.
      And this is his last chance to show he knows how to play them.It isn’t just Belgium’s golden generation for whom this is now or never, but their manager as well.
      For Martinez, Qatar 2022 is now or never. It has to be the tournament when he finally proves he is the managerial genius he thinks.
      To be fair, there have been some great results. That last-eight win over Brazil in Russia four years ago is arguably the best.
      Only to count for nothing when they lost to France in the semis. And then a round earlier in the Euros three years later.

      Now, once again, Martinez will lead a team of all-stars into battle in the most open World Cup in living memory.
      Two of the top ten in the Ballon d’Or rankings are Belgian for a start, in Kevin De Bruyne and Thibaut Courtois.
      Yet while it is not a set of players on their last legs, it is also the final chance for many of them to deliver on the biggest stage. So far they haven’t really come close.
      Third place in the last World Cup, but that means nothing. Just a massive disappointment after all the earlier promise.
      So it is boom or bust for Martinez and his boys over the next month. The minimum requirement has to be the final. Anything less will be a failure.
      Especially looking at the draw, which has hardly been unkind in pairing them with Croatia, Morocco and Canada. Not for nothing are they the shortest priced group favourites.
      If results go as expected, they would likely face a Germany side still in the development stages in the last 16 and Portugal in the quarters.
      They wouldn’t cross swords with Brazil, Argentina or — whisper it — England until the final itself.
      Read More on The Sun
      So while it isn’t a simple stroll to glory, neither is it a path paved with the biggest pitfalls. It’s why this is their time to deliver.
      For Martinez even more so. Hit or myth? We’ll know the answer come December 18. More

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      Defiant Eric Dier backs England captain Harry Kane in wearing OneLove armband after FIFA attempt to ban pro-LGBT gesture

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      ERIC DIER says England are united behind skipper Harry Kane as he prepares to take on Fifa in the rainbow armband row.Fifa boss Gianni Infantino announced rival armband plans as part of an extraordinary press conference yesterday in which he accused European nations of racism and hypocrisy over their criticism of hosts Qatar.
      Dier has backed Kane’s decision to wear the OneLove armbandCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
      Kane is set to make a statement by wearing the armband, rightCredit: Getty
      Infantino made some astonishing comments during a press conference at the weekendCredit: Alamy
      But Kane is still set to wear the rainbow on his sleeve for Monday’s opener with Iran and Dier said: “That’s just part of our beliefs, our principles. My values are given to me by my parents. In everything I do, I think if my mum would be happy with me or not.”
      Germany skipper Manuel Neuer confirmed he would also support the LGBTQ+ community by wearing it.
      Wales captain Gareth Bale and the skippers of Holland, Belgium, Denmark and Switzerland are donning the rainbow, too.
      Backing Gareth Southgate’s Three Lions stand, Neuer said: “I will wear the OneLove armband. The power of it is good.”
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      But French leader Hugo Lloris, who also captains Kane and Dier at Spurs, decided NOT to join in.
      Dier added: “I respect what he wants to do. I respect everyone’s point of view and I’m very open to listen to what they believe is right and wrong.”
      The FA insist the rainbow armband is part of a year-long campaign by the men’s and women’s teams and not specifically aimed at Qatar, where homosexuality is illegal.
      But Kane, the FA and their European allies were already risking fines — or even bans for making political statements — under international football laws.
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      The group of European nations, including FA chief exec Mark Bullingham, met last night to agree the next step in a row overshadowing the start of this World Cup.
      Fifa unveiled its last-minute armband scheme — with the United Nations — to raise awareness of a variety of different issues.
      And Infantino ranted: “Today I feel Qatari. Today I feel Arab. Today I feel African. Today I feel gay. Today I feel disabled. Today I feel a migrant worker. We’ve heard many moral lessons from Europe and the western world.
      “But for what we Europeans have done over the past 3,000 years, we should apologise for the next 3,000 years before giving moral lessons here.
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      “Reform and change takes time. It took hundreds of years in Europe.Any country can host an event. If North Korea wants to host something…
      “Only engagement brings real change. We want to remain an organisation that unites the world.” More

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      England star Eric Dier labels Gareth Southgate criticism ‘crazy’, as he recalls Euro 2016 disaster against Iceland

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      ERIC DIER knows what disaster looks like for England.At Euro 2016, he felt the chill of the shambolic Iceland defeat — one of the Three Lions’ lowest moments.
      Eric Dier has hit back against criticism of England boss Gareth SouthgateCredit: PA
      Southgate has guided England to the semi-finals and finals of the World Cup and Euro’s respectivelyCredit: Getty
      Then the Spurs star got redemption as a key man in the run to the semi-finals of the last World Cup.
      But the versatile defender failed to make the squad that reached the nation’s first major final for 55 years at the Euros last summer.
      So do not tell him Gareth Southgate deserves the berating he got for a dismal Nations League campaign this year.
      Dier said: “It’s crazy talk and perceptions change so quickly.
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      “You’ve got to remember what England were doing before.
      “He has taken England to a World Cup semi and the final of a Euros and we’re talking small margins that change the outcome of those results.
      “The criticism is crazy after a small run of results given how England performed at those tournaments — and he was at the forefront of that.”
      Dier is one of only seven survivors in Qatar from Roy Hodgson’s 23-man squad for Euro 2016.
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      He said: “I was 21 at that time and it was a great experience for me but a very disappointing tournament for England, so I learned a lot.
      “The World Cup in Russia was a great redemption for us after Euro 2016 and since then there has been an upward trend.
      “People ask if I was upset I didn’t go to the Euros and I say it was obviously the right decision because they got to the final! You have got to keep things in perspective.”

      Dier famously broke England’s penalty shootout hoodoo with the winning kick against Colombia in the last 16 four years ago (right).
      But before an 18-month exile from the  squad ended in September, his hopes of a recall  seemed to be in the balance.
      Dier said: “I’d be lying if I said I didn’t think that was a possibility. Those thoughts go through your mind.
      “When I missed out on the Euros it was one of the worst moments in my career.
      “But I always say that I must have had a pretty good career if that’s one of the worst moments. My club manager Antonio Conte said in the summer I just have to play better.
      “I don’t think he was saying I was playing badly the season before — I think he was just saying I’d have to play even better!
      “Last season — especially since he arrived — I felt like it was some of the best football I’ve played and I feel like I’ve continued that this season.
      “So I’m just grateful to be here now and very proud of myself for how I managed to fight my way back in.

      “I’m also very thankful to the people who supported me and helped me get back here, my family, the manager and all his coaching staff at the club.
      “And also my team-mates at my club, because it was special how supportive they were of me trying to get back in and how happy they were when I did.”
      One of those Tottenham team-mates — and another of the survivors from England’s 2016 low point — is captain Harry Kane.
      The Three Lions talisman not only has to carry the weight of expectation of providing goals but has also found himself acting more and more as a spokesman on issues outside football.
      Dier said: “I have played pretty much all my career with him. One of the great things about him is that he hasn’t really changed. He is still the same.
      “I mean that in the nicest possible way as he  is extremely hard working and extremely humble.
      “I think he holds great values. He has been England captain a while and has had a lot of experience in the role.
      “The last couple of years have been the toughest for him, leading up to this tournament, but he handles it well.
      “The goals speak for themselves. That is down to him as a professional and the way that he works.
      “Seeing him up close, he is just extremely consistent in his behaviour in general and I think that is what leads to his consistency on the pitch.”
      Read More on The Sun
      Until Southgate’s appointment in 2016, the only consistent thing about England for decades was underperformance.
      So it is no wonder Dier is so happy to be a part of the gang again. More

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      England’s Kalvin Phillips reveals World Cup dream was almost ruined by 5kg weight, days after overcoming shoulder injury

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      KALVIN PHILLIPS dropped a clanger that almost wrecked his Qatar hopes.The Manchester City star, 26, recovered from shoulder surgery just in time to be named in England’s World Cup squad.
      Phillips recovered from a shoulder injury just in time for the World CupCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
      His World Cup dream almost ended when a weight fell on his footCredit: Getty
      Then he risked it all by letting a 5kg weight fall on his foot ahead of City’s clash with Brentford last week!
      The midfielder, who has cut up his left flip-flop to stop it rubbing on the wound, said: “It’s a good story to be honest!
      “So before that game, being the professional I am, I went to the gym before the match and was just doing loads of Achilles work on the leg press.
      “I’d gone to pull a weight off the rack and there must have been one stuck behind it and I pulled it off and it landed on my foot and cut it all.
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      “I stood for about ten seconds and thought, ‘Oh my God — what was that?’
      “If it wasn’t a 5kg plate, if it had been heavier, I think it would have been a lot worse.

      “Imagine that, that is what you get for being professional!
      “But it’s not too bad, the blisters from training hurt more.”
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      Phillips was on tenterhooks ahead of Gareth Southgate’s squad announcement when City team-mate Kyle Walker got the nod before him.
      The pair had both worked hard to recover from injuries and Phillips, who returned to action as a sub in the Carabao Cup against Chelsea earlier this month, said: “Kyle had been told the day before me.
      “I walked in the gym and Kyle said, ‘Gareth’s just rung me and said I’m in.’
      “I was thinking, ‘Well, if he’s ringing all the injured players telling him they’re involved, why hasn’t he rung me?’
      “Then I got a phone call about half-nine the next day when I was at City.
      “Gareth asked how I was and I asked him how he was and he said, ‘A lot better for seeing you play for 40 minutes’, and then told me I was involved.”
      It was advice from City boss Pep Guardiola which persuaded Phillips to have surgery in September on the shoulder he first dislocated at Leeds in 2020.
      Phillips said: “He didn’t force me to get the operation but said he felt it was the best thing to have the best chance to go to the World Cup.
      “And when Pep tells you something like that then you’re not going to ignore it.”

      Phillips is pleased with the results of the operation carried out by Manchester-based surgeon Dr Lennard Funk, whose previous satisfied customers include England and Newcastle keeper Nick Pope.
      Fans of a certain age will also remember what happened when another England midfield dynamo decided not to have surgery for the same kind of problem before a World Cup.
      Three Lions skipper Bryan Robson dislocated a shoulder in March 1986, then decided not to have an operation for fear of missing the tournament.
      But it popped out again in a friendly against Mexico and again in the second group game against Morocco, producing the famous image of him being helped from the field in agony.
      Southgate regards Phillips as a similarly important player and one he could not leave out — despite the fact he has not started a game for City since his summer switch from Leeds.
      The midfielder was England’s player of the year for 2021 and his ability to replicate his form from last year’s Euros may be crucial to the Three Lions’ hopes in Qatar.
      Phillips said: “It wasn’t a case of, ‘If you’re fit then you’ll go’ from Gareth.
      “He basically told me whatever decision I took, I needed to be 100 percent about it and if I recovered well there was always a chance I’d be involved.
      “So there was a little bit of reassurance.
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      “But I was thinking that if I’m not playing games — and other players in my position are competing and doing really well — then it would be tough. But thankfully I made it.”
      And thankfully for the star — it was only a 5kg weight he dropped on his foot. More