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      Keir Starmer admits his fave footie memory was watching England lose to Germany on penalties at Euro 96

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      SIR Keir Starmer last night admitted one of his favourite footie moments was watching England LOSE to Germany on penalties.The self-claimed footie mad Labour chief recalled watching the nation’s humiliation at Euro 96 ahead of the World Cup starting next week.
      Sir Keir is a self proclaimed football fanatic but admits shocking fave football memoryCredit: Alan MacGregor Ewing
      Sir Keir laughed as he described the “agonising” experience of sitting “up almost on top of” Gascoigne in the stands when the England legend missed an open goal during extra time.
      Away from footie, Sir Keir also confessed yesterday he HAS kissed a Tory and he’s not ashamed of it.
      The Labour leader’s admission came after lefty loonies sparked outrage this year for parading around in “never kissed a Tory” t-shirts.
      Shadow Culture Secretary Lucy Powell joined in too, even posting a snap in the top on social media.
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      Sir Keir slammed the divisive garment in an interview with The Times, revealing: “I’m afraid I’ve broken that rule”.
      But the Labour chief, who insists he isn’t “tribal”, won’t kiss and tell.
      He said: “I’ve got very good friends who are Tories and they’ve been very, very good friends of mine for a very, very long time, and long may that last.”
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      England star Alexander-Arnold shows off ripped physique as he models Calvin Klein underpants ahead of World Cup 2022

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      ENGLAND star Trent Alexander-Arnold said “Calvin’s or Nothing” as he modelled some underpants ahead of the World Cup.The right-back will be hoping for more than a brief stay in Qatar as the Three Lions chase glory.
      Trent Alexander-Arnold models Calvin Klein pantsCredit: Calvin Klein via Instagram / @calvinklein
      The Liverpool star shows off his chiselled physiqueCredit: Calvin Klein via Instagram / @calvinklein
      Alexander-Arnold will surely have packed enough pairs for a deep England run in QatarCredit: Calvin Klein via Instagram / @calvinklein
      And he’ll surely have packed enough pairs of pants if his latest endorsement deal is anything to go by.
      Alexander-Arnold, 24, has landed a modelling deal with Calvin Klein.
      In a new advertisement released to coincide with the World Cup, the Liverpool star can be seen wearing a variety of different pants.
      He dons a skimpy pair of briefs, as well as white and black boxer shorts.
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      In a brief clip posted to social media, the chiselled footballer stares into the camera as he says the slogan “Calvins or Nothing”.
      The underwear brand may have been sweating on their decision to select Trent as their man, when a dip in form threw his World Cup selection into jeopardy.
      But Reece James’ devastating injury secured Alexander-Arnold’s place in the squad for good.
      The talented technician will compete with Kieran Trippier for a starting berth at right wing-back in England’s World Cup opener on Monday.
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      Fellow right-back Kyle Walker won’t quite be ready for the clash, despite returning to training this week.
      The Manchester City star has been out of action since early October with a groin injury.
      Gareth Southgate’s men begin their campaign against Iran on Monday, before a meeting with the USA on November 25 followed by a Battle of Britain with Wales five days later.
      Alexander-Arnold, 24, will be hoping to start against Iran on MondayCredit: Getty More

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      I’ve been moaning about this World Cup for nearly 12 years but here’s why it’s time to stop the whining and back England

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      I HAVE been moaning non-stop for 11 years, 11 months and 17 days.That’s an awful lot of moaning.
      The decision to award Qatar the 2022 World Cup has never felt rightCredit: Rex
      Now it’s here we should embrace the World Cup, says Adrian ChilesCredit: aecanter
      My moan-a-thon commenced on the afternoon of Thursday, December 2, 2010 — the day Qatar was awarded the 2022 World Cup.
      To be fair, for the first eight years I also had the award of the 2018 World Cup to Russia to moan about.
      But ever since that one was done and dusted, I’ve been able to focus my fury ­exclusively on Qatar. And I’m not the only one.
      Just about everyone else has weighed in, with good reason, on more or less every single aspect of it.
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      The human rights record of the Qatari regime; the carbon footprint; the ­timing . . . you name it.
      Fifa has been good enough to give us plenty to go on.
      More came thick and fast this week as the hordes of journalists arrived in Doha and started whingeing about the pricey pints and soaring ­temperatures.
      To be fair, if I was lucky enough to be there, I’d ­probably have the nerve to be having a whinge of my own.
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      But really, what else was anybody expecting in a dry state in the Middle East?.
      Even some fans lucky enough to be there were at it.
      Some old boy was on the radio saying how he was being forced to fly in to watch every Wales match from nearby Dubai. Cue an orchestra of tiny violins.
      I think we call these gripes First World problems nowadays.
      Because the truth of the ­matter is — as ever — that the vast majority of fans won’t be at the World Cup.
      DESERVE BETTER
      They’ll be where they ­usually are every four years.
      They’ll be somewhere far more familiar, where it costs much less for a bevvy and you can drink it pretty much whenever you like.
      They call it home . . . or the pub.
      It’s time to blow the whistle on the Qatar complaints. Enough now. It’s happening.
      Let’s hold our noses and enjoy the party.
      This is what I’ve resolved to do, having frightened myself working out that I’ll probably only experience another six World Cups in my lifetime.
      And I’ll be damned if I’m going to let Fifa or anyone else ruin any one of them for me.
      Sepp Blatter announced Qatar would host the World Cup way back in 2010Credit: AFP
      If I make it to 80, my last major tournament will be the 2046 World Cup, held God knows where. Mars, probably.
      I’ll be making the trip, no matter what the political ­situation is there.
      I feel sorry for the players. Extravagantly paid they might be, living lives of great luxury, but time stops for no man and they’ll be lucky to have the chance of playing in any more than three World Cups.
      If we’re not careful we’ll have them feeling like soldiers sent off to fight in an ­unpopular war, unheralded and uncelebrated.
      They deserve better from us. None of this is their fault.
      And yet they are now the only ones who can change everything about our attitude to this World Cup.
      As the old saying goes, when your team’s winning matches, even the pies taste good.
      Yes, they can turn it all round for us, and we’ve got to start getting right behind them to help them do it.
      A good start for our boys, followed by progress in the knockout stages accompanied perhaps by a few late dramas,, and nigh-on 12 solid years of moaning will all be forgotten.
      When it does, you can bet everyone over there will stop their whining.
      They’ll be popping corks on million pound bottles of ­champagne. Maybe.
      My mind goes back to ­something Gordon Strachan said to me at the World Cup of 2014.
      We were broadcasting from Copacabana Beach.
      Luis Suarez biting Giorgio Chiellini was one of the World Cup’s craziest momentsCredit: Pixel8000
      The story of the day had been Luis Suarez trying to make a snack out of Italy’s Giorgio Chiellini.
      One player actually biting another? ­Disgraceful!
      The Uruguayan was in a world of trouble. A lifetime ban was even mooted.
      I suggested to Gordon that Suarez might never play again.
      “Of course he will,” laughed Gordon. “Because there is no morality in football.”
      He was right. It’s the worst thing about the game, but also the best.
      Yes, terrible transgressions of decent, human behaviour may be forgiven or overlooked, because brilliant football trumps everything.
      The Suarez-Chiellini chompfest is a case in point.
      SOMETHING SPECIAL
      Chiellini himself wrote in his memoir that not only did he forgive Suarez the bite, he actually admired him for it.
      Football will always win out. It’s bigger than all of us, as we’ll see in the coming weeks.
      It’s bigger than Fifa or Qatar or Russia or whichever referee or players offend our sensibilities this time round.
      Once it gets going, I believe we’ll all get going.
      And once England get going, the sky will be the limit.
      Qatar — quite unjustly — will feel like the most normal place on Earth, and back home it’ll be like winter isn’t happening.
      But we, the fans at home, need to do our bit to get England out of the starting blocks.
      Ahead of the women’s Euros this summer I had a hunch our team was going to do something special.
      For once — and I mean once — in my football life, I was right. (I had to be right sooner or later. Even a broken clock is right twice a day.)
      Almost out of superstition, I hereby repeat the words I wrote in The Sun about England’s women before that tournament started.
      I said that it was important to get behind them from the beginning, because it would be no good jumping on the bandwagon when they got to the final and won it.
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      So, in the spirit of that, I pray to you, myself and all other interested parties: Let the moaning stop and the cheering commence as a ­joyous English march to the final begins.
      Bring it on.
      The nation will be backing England to end their long wait for the trophyCredit: AFP More

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      Cristiano Ronaldo arrives in Qatar along with Portugal team-mates with Man Utd career doomed after explosive revelations

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      CRISTIANO RONALDO and his Portuguese team-mates have touched down in Qatar.The Manchester United forward, who has caused shockwaves with his explosive interview with Piers Morgan this week, is heading towards his fifth and probably final World Cup.
      Cristiano Ronaldo and the Portugal squad have touched down in QatarCredit: Reuters
      The star was suited and booted as he hit the tarmac in the Middle EastCredit: AP
      He and his international colleagues were suited and booted as they landed at Hamad International Airport on Friday.
      Ronaldo, 37, missed last night’s 4-0 friendly victory over Nigeria due to a stomach bug.
      However, he showed no ill-effects as he looked a picture of concentration in front of the camera upon arrival in the Middle East.
      It comes amid news that United are preparing to take legal action against the legend over his bombshell interview.
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      SunSport revealed exclusively this week that the club wanted to rip up his contract and now a club statement has now seemed to confirm that.
      United have reportedly instructed Ronaldo not to return to Carrington once he gets back from the World Cup.
      It is also understood the club have begun the legal process to terminate Ronaldo’s £500k-a-week deal without paying him a single penny of the £16million he would have earned until he deal expires at the end of June.
      The statement read: “Manchester United has this morning initiated appropriate steps in response to Cristiano Ronaldo’s recent media interview.
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      “We will not be making further comment until this process reaches its conclusion.”
      He hit out at United for “betraying” him and making him feel like a “black sheep” as well as blaming him for everything going wrong at the club.
      The striker revealed he does not respect manager Erik ten Hag and blasted the club’s lack of progress since Sir Alex Ferguson left in 2013 – the last time they won the title.
      And he also claimed that the club “doubted” him after he informed them that the reason he arrived late of pre-season was because his baby daughter was in hospital through illness.
      On the second part of the incredible interview he shockingly revealed he wants bitter rivals Arsenal to clinch the title if United can’t – that was after stating that he believes his side are three years away from challenging themselves.
      But for at least the nest fortnight the superstar is focussed on trying to land the one crown that has so far evaded him.
      Portugal kick-off their World Cup campaign next Thursday against Ghana.
      They then face Uruguay and South Korea in Group H. More

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      Meet England’s Brainbox WAGs from stunning Lucia Loi to Paige Milian who all have a surprising thing in common

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      THIS year’s World Cup Wags are in a premier league of their own when it comes to brains.Many of the footie wives and girlfriends who have travelled to Qatar to support their partners have earned good degrees and gone on to build top-class careers to rival their famous footballing fellas’ efforts on the pitch.
      England players warm up ahead of the World Cup in QatarCredit: PA
      Many of the England Wags earned good degrees and have gone on to build top-class careersCredit: PA
      Here, Yasmin Harisha reveals the wise Wags who really know the score.
      Katie Kane – Wife of Harry Kane
      Degree in Sports Science
      England Captain Harry Kane’s wife Katie is a fitness instructorCredit: PA:Press Association
      Mum Katie has a sports science degree
      ENGLAND Captain Harry’s wife Katie is a fitness instructor, with a sports science degree.
      The pair, both 29, have gone from childhood sweethearts to happily married and living in Chingford, Essex, where they now even have a team of their own – children Ivy, five, Vivienne Jane, four, and one-year-old Louis.
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      They also have two dogs called Brady and Wilson, named after NFL quarterbacks Tom Brady and Russell Wilson.
      The pair have watched each other grow, and Harry said of Katie: “We went to school together, so she’s seen my whole career.
      “Of course, she’s finding it a little crazy.”
      We’re proud to say she is One Of Our Own.
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      Milly Adams – Fiancée to Ben White
      2:1 degree in Childhood Studies
      IT’S been quite a year for Arsenal defender Ben – in June he proposed to girlfriend Milly, then this month he got the call-up for England’s World Cup squad.
      Milly, from Herts, is now an Instagram model, boasting 14.9k followers, but before that she proved her brain power by graduating in 2019.
      Ben White’s fiancée Milly Adams is an Insta model with 14.9k followers
      Milly has a 2:1 degree in Childhood StudiesCredit: milly_adams/instagram
      The pair, who are both 25, confirmed their relationship in February this year – and since their engagement, it appears they are a really solid team.
      Charlotte Trippier – Wife of Kieran Trippier
      Degree in Interior Design
      AS defender Kieran prepares to play for England in his second World Cup, his wife Charlotte will be cheering him on all the way.
      She and the 32-year-old Newcastle star have been married since 2016, and are parents to Jacob, five, and Esme Rose, two.
      Charlotte Trippier – wife of Kieran has an Interior Design degreeCredit: Instagram / @ktrippier2
      As well as being known for her fashionable outfits, Charlotte, 33, is also a member of The Style Sisters, a super-successful home interior business, and she has more than 270k followers on Instagram.
      She started the brand with her sister Gemma, 32, after obtaining her interior design degree.
      The pair call themselves the “Trinny and Susannah” of home makeovers and charge up to £995 per room, which covers a full renovation.
      Fern Maguire – Wife of Harry Maguire 
      First class honours degree in      Science and  Physiotherapy
      THE couple have gone from lovestruck Sheffield teenagers to husband and wife, and are each other’s rock.
      Not only has Fern, 28, been watching from the sidelines supporting 29-year-old Harry on his World Cup mission, but she has also been making sure she qualifies in her own league.
      Harry Maguire’s wife Fern became a physiotherapist after graduating in 2017Credit: Tim Stewart
      Fern regularly posts endorsed snaps on Instagram to her 100k followers – netting her up to £5,000 per postCredit: Tim Stewart
      After graduating in 2017 she became a physiotherapist.
      The pair, who have a three-year-old daughter, Lillie Saint, live in Manchester, where Fern regularly posts endorsed snaps on Instagram to her 100k followers – netting her up to £5,000 per post.
      Megan Pickford – Wife of Jordan Pickford
      2:1 degree in Childhood Studies
      CHILDHOOD sweetheart Megan proved to be a keeper for Jordan, and they tied the knot at a register office in Crewe in June 2020, having had to postpone their lavish Maldives ceremony due to the pandemic.
      The 28-year-old England goalie met Megan when she was 14 and they were at St Robert of Newminster RC secondary school in Washington, Tyne and Wear.
      Jordana Pickford met his wife Megan when they were at school in Washington, Tyne and WearCredit: INSTAGRAM/MEGAN DAVISON
      Megan graduated in 2017 and gave birth to the couple’s son Arlo George in 2019Credit: meganpickford_/instagram
      She graduated in 2017, and gave birth to the couple’s son Arlo George in 2019.
      Megan appears to work on her blogging, with 93.3k Instagram followers and lots of endorsements from luxury brands such as Hermes and Alexander Wang.
      Paige Milian – Fiancée to Raheem Sterling
      Degree in Property Development
      IT’S all about playing forward for Raheem, and not just on the pitch.
      The Chelsea star and his fiancée Paige, 25, who has a degree in property development, snapped up an entire road of houses in 2019 for £1million after setting up their own property firm.
      Raheem Sterling’s fiancee Paige Milian has a degree in property development
      Paige, who is mum to Thiago, five, and Thai-Cruz, three, with 27-year-old Raheem, announced on Instagram that the couple had bought the homes.
      She wrote: “After months of studying property development, I achieved my qualification to become a property developer in 2018.
      “We then started a search of properties to add to our portfolio and was then successful in purchasing six brand new houses.”
      She added: “We plan to add more projects to our portfolio in the future.”
      Paige, who has 103k followers, has also endorsed posts from high-end fashion designers including Jacquemus and Fendi, which could also bring in a nice bit of extra income.
      Top marks to her.
      Lucia Loi – Girlfriend of Marcus Rashford
      First class honours degree in Advertising and Brand Management
      AFTER three years of study at Manchester Metropolitan University, Lucia’s qualification and her top grade led to a job as an account executive at Manchester PR firm Sugar.
      She and Manchester United forward Marcus, 25, started dating when they were at school.
      Marcus Rashford’s childhood sweetheart Lucia Loi has a First class honours degreeCredit: Getty
      Lucia and Marcus started dating when they were at school
      Lucia, 22, was spotted cheering him on from the stands when he played for England against Colombia at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
      And with that degree, she has shown she can be a first-class supporter this year. More

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      Gundogan reveals first World Cup experience was seeing winking Cristiano Ronaldo helping to get Wayne Rooney sent-off

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      ILKAY GUNDOGAN’S first taste of the World Cup was the famous clash between Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney.The Manchester City skipper was just 15 when he won tickets for the 2006 quarter- final    between   England  and Portugal in Gelsenkirchen.
      England hero Wayne Rooney was red-carded after his clash with Portugal’s Ricardo Carvalho as Cristiano Ronaldo intervenesCredit: Getty
      Ronaldo’s famous gesture made him unpopular when he returned to EnglandCredit: BBC
      Rooney paid dearly for his flare-up as he saw red and England crashed outCredit: Getty
      So he had a close-up view as Ronaldo winked to the bench after playing a part in getting his then Manchester United team-mate sent off before the Three Lions crashed out on penalties.
      It still stands out for the Germany midfielder 16 years on as his own memories of the competition have so far been disappointments.
      He missed out through injury when his country lifted the trophy in Brazil in 2014.
      Four years later, Gundogan was in the squad but, as holders, they flopped badly and were dumped out in the group stage.
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      Yet the biggest prize in football still  fascinates him going into what could be his last chance of glory.
      Gundogan said: “In 2006, we had the World Cup in Germany. I was 15 and at one of those fan festivals in Gelsenkirchen, watching games with my friends.
      “I won two tickets for the England game against Portugal in the quarter-final, Ronaldo and Rooney, when they were fighting.
      “I was at that game, which went to penalties. That was the first World Cup game I went to as a fan — and the only one.
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      “It was amazing. Gelsenkirchen is a small town and the only thing we had was football, the joy of life was football.
      “At that time I was thinking I was quite good at football, but not dreaming of playing in a World Cup. I didn’t think it possible and was just a fan.”
      Yet eight years later, Gundogan was starring for Borussia Dortmund and  in the frame to make Joachim Low’s squad before a back injury ruled him out.
      He could not wait to be part of it in Russia in 2018 — but shock defeats to  Mexico and South Korea saw the holders crash out at the group stage.
      Gundogan said: “It was hard, of course. We had all these expectations, going there as the former champions.
      “To be brutally honest, we failed. We were not good enough and we kind of deserved to get knocked out at the group stage. It was very sad and frustrating for us.
      “The reasons were probably a mix of everything.
      “Maybe just the expectations of being champions from 2014, maybe most players were not prepared well enough, Maybe we were not hungry enough. But we were just lacking in everything a little bit.”
      Ilkay Gundogan believes this year’s World Cup is wide openCredit: AFP
      Much has changed in the German camp since then. Former Bayern Munich coach Hansi Flick has taken over as boss, while  Gundogan is one of just a handful of ­survivors from Russia 2018.
      He told Arab News: “Even with the disappointment, I was hoping back then to play in another World Cup. Fortunately enough I will now and hopefully we can do much better.
      “Too many things have changed since then for that to affect us in Qatar.
      “We have a different coach, 95 per cent of the team has changed.
      “The experience is there and we can still use it. But it’s a completely new challenge, and the development over the past year has been positive even though we have had highs and lows.
      “It’s all a learning process and, if we are able to filter everything we have lived in the last few months and get to our best, we can have a really good tournament.”
      Gundogan says the expectation level is different for Germany this time around — and that could work to their advantage.
      Individually, they (England) have one of the best teams… They have in every position two players who are world-class.
      He added: “Not having the pressure can be good because not everyone is going to put us up there as a main contender.
      “But I always believe it’s what you make out of the situation.“I think there will be a lot of teams on the same level.
      “You will always have a pool of favourites and I guess Germany will be a part of it at least, but there are other teams who have the potential to surprise.
      “Japan are our first game and they have good players with good technical abilities so it will be tough, and we have Spain too in our group.”
      Gundogan has played in the Prem for 6½ years now and believes England cannot be discounted.
      He added: “Individually, they have one of the best teams.
      “They are now a bit unlucky with injuries but they have in every position two players who are on a world-class level.
       “They did well at the Euros, went to the final, and I would not be surprised if they also go very far at the World Cup.
      “Of course they can win it with the  quality they have in the squad.” More

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      SunSport’s World Cup 2022 columnist Wilshere reveals he used to RING UP pundits like Scholes if they criticised him

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      FORMER England star Jack Wilshere knows criticism from ex-players and fans could affect  players at the World Cup.But when he was slagged off by ex-pros he took matters into his own hands — and rang them up!
      Wilshere is one of SunSport’s star columnists for the World Cup in QatarCredit: Louis Wood
      Ex-Arsenal and England midfielder Jack Wilshere phoned up pundits who had given him a hard time – and got some thoughtful feedbackCredit: Getty
      The former Arsenal midfielder said: “I had a few comments from ex-players on TV, once from Jamie Redknapp and then from Paul Scholes, so I called them.
      “With Jamie it was when I’d come back from injury, I said, ‘I think you out of everyone should understand, you went through it too’.
      “He was very respectful and said he hadn’t really thought about it like that.
      “When Paul Scholes had a go at me he was really good  when I contacted him, he ended up helping me.
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      “You go in the dressing room after a game, players are straight on their phones going through Twitter.
      “You can get 2,000 good comments and there can be one negative one, especially if it’s detailed, that can really get into your head. It screws your mind.”
      England boss Gareth Southgate will be hoping for nothing but good reviews after their World Cup opener on Monday.
      But he goes into the game without Kyle Walker for Monday’s World Cup starter against Iran.
      Midfielder Kalvin Phillips is also unlikely to be ready for a starting role.
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      Both players could be in contention for the Three Lions’ second game with the USA on Friday November 25.
      And the duo will certainly be anxious to be at peak fitness in time for the group finale with Wales the following Tuesday. More

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      Aaron Ramsdale reveals England are practising penalties WITHOUT KEEPERS to boost stars’ confidence before World Cup 2022

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      ENGLAND are practising penalties WITHOUT goalkeepers in a bid to avoid more shootout heartache.Gareth Southgate does not want his stars’ confidence plummeting because his keepers are saving too many in training.
      Aaron Ramsdale has revealed England are practising penalties without keepersCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
      The Three Lions suffered shoot-out defeat at the Euros to ItalyCredit: AFP
      So the Three Lions, who agonisingly lost the Euro2020 final on penalties to Italy, are training for spot-kicks using a skill net which forces players to hit corners.
      Keeper Aaron Ramsdale, 24, revealed: “It can become detrimental if they are taking them against goalkeepers because we then start to know where they are going.
      “If I know where you are going seven times out of ten and I start cheating and going early and start saving them, you might start worrying about it.
      “We have something which is called a skills net where the corners are open.
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      “At the moment the lads are just working on technique.
      “Everybody can take penalties, it is just those fine pressure-margins which we can’t recreate out there unfortunately.”
      Southgate’s attention to detail helped the Three Lions beat their spot-kick hoodoo in the last-16 win over Colombia at the last World Cup.
      It was their first penalty shootout triumph in a World Cup — at their fourth attempt.
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      Southgate prepared his players for penalties at Russia 2018 by getting them to replicate the dreaded walk from the halfway line to take them in training.
      But after misses from Jadon Sancho, Marcus Rashford and Bukayo Saka in the Euros final against Italy 16 months ago, England have won just two from nine shootouts at major tournaments — their only other success coming against Spain at Euro 96.
      Ramsdale says players will build up to practicing penalties in front of keepers — but he would never let one in to build their confidence.
      The Arsenal stopper, 24, added: “Start by aiming at where you are going to go in the skills net, take a couple against the goalkeeper and we go from there.
      “There are various things we can do but we are never told to let one in. We would refuse to do that.

      “There are certain things which we do naturally, such as if I know you are going left, but your run-up tells me you are going right, I am going to dive that way.
      “Just because I know you are going that way does not mean I am going to dive that way. I will try to do things properly.
      “Then there are times when they will get us to behave like the opposition goalie.
      “I remember in the last camp when we played Germany and Harry scored his penalty, the day before I was in goal and tried to do what (Marc-Andre) Ter Stegen was going.
      “He dived low and Harry aimed high and that came out in the game.”
      Gareth Southgate suffered his own spot-kick heartbreak in Euro ’96Credit: Getty More