ENGLAND have been dealt a scare as James Maddison has missed training.England are scheduled to play Iran on Monday and Maddison faces a race against time to be fit for the clash after missing England training on Thursday.
The midfielder picked up a slight injury in Leicester’s last match and will hope to get back to full fitness before England’s opener against Iran.
While the rest of Gareth Southgate’s squad trained, they were pictured struggling in the heat in Qatar – having to take on plenty of fluids as they adjust to their surroundings.
Elsewhere, Wales and Burnley defender Connor Roberts has opened up on a time where he feared for his life after contracting pneumonia last year.
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Barnes on England tactics
England legend John Barnes explained how manager Gareth Southgate could use Trent Alexander-Arnold, Kieran Trippier and James Maddison.
Barnes told BonusCodeBets: “If you’re going to play three at the back you play Trent. If you play four at the back you play Kieran Trippier because three at the back means your wing back is going to be more of an attacking threat and getting forward.
“Four at the back means you probably don’t want the full-back to attack as much, defend deep and be better defensively with Kieran Trippier.
“If you look at Maddison for example, if you’re going to play three up front you’d probably look to play [Phil] Foden and [Raheem] Sterling wide with Kane down the middle. Would you play Maddison in behind? That’s very attacking.
“Which would mean you wouldn’t be as strong defensively. If you play one up front, with three midfield players then you can play Maddison because that’s the way Leicester play. Leicester play with him off the front man in a free role”
Giroud eyes Henry record
AC Milan star and former Arsenal ace Olivier Giroud is hunting down Gunners legend Thierry Henry’s France record but insists this World Cup will not be make or break for him.
Giroud is now just two goals behind Henry’s 51-goal international landmark as he prepares for his sixth major tournament.
The striker said: “I am amazingly proud to be at this World Cup. To still be able to play like this at 36-years-old is a gift. The main goal is for the team to go as far as we can in the competition and hopefully bring the World Cup home again.
“But I also have this bonus target in my head which is to beat Titi’s record. And if I get the chance to get closer I will do my best for sure because maybe this could be my last competition with France.
“But I am not even thinking about retirement at the moment. As long as my body will allow it, I won’t fix any limits on how long I can continue.
“I know I am closer to the end of my career than the beginning but I am still very motivated and that is why I am here at this level. To play at the World Cup was my childhood dream and it’s a kind of blessing to play for my country at a third”
Sheringham’s England advice
Teddy Sheringham believes Gareth Southgate must ease the pressure on his England squad by getting on the front foot against Iran.
Sheringham told SunSport’s Jack Rosser: “You don’t want to draw the first game against Iran and put pressure on yourselves.
“You need to be confident and optimistic that you can go out there and open a team up and then we go from there with our confidence and our heads held up high.”
Sheringham also wants his former England team-mate to move away from the favoured back three used to reach the semi-finals in Russia four years ago at the final at Euro 2020 and play three attacking players behind captain Harry Kane.
He said: “I’d like to see Phil Foden on the right, James Maddison in the middle behind Kane and Jack Grealish on the left. The more players you have who can retain possession in the final third and see a pass to open teams up, the better.
“We always have our resilience and structure, it is the flair that has let us down over tournaments in the last 25 years. The more players we have on the pitch that have that flair and can open up a defence the better”
Bale at it
Wales star Gareth Bale BALE has been getting into the swing of things at his first ever World Cup, writes SunSport’s Martin Blackburn.
Sunsport revealed how a round of golf is off the menu for his Wales squad for the first few days in Qatar.
However a golf simulator has been set up in their team hotel in the West Bay area of Doha – and Bale has wasted no time in showing everyone else how it’s done.
Cardiff striker Mark Harris said: “I think most of us have had a swing and we had a go after training as we will have some spare time.
“It’s great fun and I am sure we will enjoy it. Team spirit is great anyway but games like that help you. We also have pool, table tennis. It is a bit of a laugh but you want to win. Is Gareth the best? Yes, I think so”
Credit: Getty
Infantino to be re-elected
Gianni Infantino is likely to be re-elected “by acclamation” as FIFA President after world chiefs confirmed he was the only candidate for next year’s vote, as per SunSport’s Martin Lipton in Doha.
Swiss Infantino has received the public backing of the South American, African and Asian confederations for a second full four-year term.
Former Uefa general secretary Infantino filled the void left by the forced resignation of Sepp Blatter in 2016 and was unopposed three years later.
With no potential rivals having received the required backing of five national federations by Thursday’s nomination deadline, Infantino will be confirmed at the annual Congress in Kigali, Rwanda, in March.
It is expected he will be put in place by acclamation rather than a formal vote of the 211 member associations.
While there is a 12-year maximum term of office, the first three years of Infantino’s reign do not count as it was an extraordinary election, meaning he can stay in post until 2031 if re-elected again in 2027
Allen’s fitness challenge
Joe Allen is running out of time to prove his fitness ahead of Monday’s World Cup opener against USA. as per SunSport’s Martin Blackburn.
The veteran Swansea midfielder – who is such a key man for his country – has not played any football since September 17 due to a hamstring injury.
He appeared with the rest of the squad for the opening training session at their Al Sadd HQ on Thursday afternoon.
However after a few initial warm ups he went off to do some light training on his own – away from the rest of the squad.
Rob Page’s men will have just three more days before their opening group game but he wants to give Allen every chance to be ready.
Premier League risks
Prem stars are seriously at risk from the ravages of the first Winter World Cup, writes SunSport’s Martin Lipton from Doha.
The English top flight is the most-represented League in Qatar, with 134 players selected for the tournament.
PFA bosses have significant concerns over the impact of the Boxing Day restart on both those attending the World Cup and the players who are not involved.
Players’ chiefs believe there is a major likelihood of both groups of players succumbing to injury as a result of the return to full-bore action just a week after the tournament ends.
And those concerns have been backed up by a major study by the international players’ union Fifpro, which featured the workloads of England skipper Harry Kane and his Spurs team-mate Heung-min Son to explain their fears.
The survey found that Kane has played a staggering 84 matches for club and country since July 2021, adding up to 7494 minutes on the pitch
Wales in training
Wales were in high spirits during training at the Al Sadd Sports Club in Doha.
The likes of Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey joined the Dragons in their latest session.
Bale and Ramsey, who currently play for Los Angeles FC and Nice respectively, will be crucial for Rob Page in the 2022 World Cup.
Wales will take on England, Iran and USA in the group stage
Capello backs England
Former England boss Fabio Capello has backed the Three Lions to make a major push for the World Cup – insisting Gareth Southgate’s men will be in peak mid-season form, writes Steve Goodman.
Capello had five years in charge of the national team, leading them to the 2010 finals in South Africa before resigning in 2012.
England’s stars have often struggled at major finals, played in the wake of gruelling Premier League seasons.
But with their Qatar quest kicking off against Iran next Monday, veteran coach Capello believes his former team can go far.
The Italian said: “I think England will be one of the most important teams at the tournament , because the players will arrive at it fresh.
“The tournament is not happening at the end of the season, which is the normal period, when you play in the summer months of June and July.
“It is happening in the middle of the season, and the players are in the middle of the campaign. So they are physically now at their best”
No time wasting
FIFA will blow the whistle on World Cup time-wasting this Friday with Pierluigi Collina, FIFA’s head of refereeing, confirming the world body’s “objectives for refereeing” at Qatar 2022, writes SunSport’s Martin Lipton in Doha.
The tournament will see the first use of chip-in-ball technology for assessing offsides using “semi-automated” technology.
But equally key to the success of the World Cup will be the promises to stop blatant time-wasting by instructing to add on more stoppage time to ensure the cheats do not prosper.
The issue of time-wasting took a central part in the most recent meeting of the game’s Law-making body, the International FA Board. Ifab expressed its concerns over time “wasted unnaturally” in games.
And it was agreed by Ifab that new standards should be set at the World Cup, with referees ordered to apply the Laws more strictly and ensure a proper amount of added time was allowed.
A senior source told Sun Sport: “The focus will be on reducing the amount of time wasted and delaying the game on purpose and you will see at the World Cup that it is being addressed”
Ronaldo statement shocked Man City
Manchester City were surprised to hear Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo claim he came ‘close’ to moving to the Etihad in the summer of 2021, writes SunSport’s Martin Blackburn.
Pep Guardiola’s men briefly explored a move for the Portuguese legend after their move for Harry Kane fell through.
However the champions felt Ronaldo’s account of events – in his explosive interview with Piers Morgan this week – was not reflective of what really happened.
He claimed Alex Ferguson talked him down from joining the blue half of town and turned him back towards the reds during a dramatic week in August 2021.
While City are not denying they showed an interest but the suggestion they pushed hard to sign him from Juventus raised a few eyebrows.
It was unlikely they would have made a formal offer even if their neighbours had not made an eleventh hour move.
In the end, Guardiola decided to go with the players he had and keep their powder dry for a move for Erling Haaland
Credit: Reuters
Harris on World Cup dream
Wales forward Mark Harris revealed how a slip by ham-fisted boss Rob Page left him fearing his World Cup dream was over, SunSport’s Martin Blackburn writes.
Harris said; “Basically I was in training with Cardiff, I went up to the canteen, we’re not allowed phones in the canteen so I came back downstairs. I had a missed call off Rob Page.
“Instantly I was just thinking the worst and I thought I hadn’t made it.I rung him back straight away, he didn’t answer so then we had a meeting and I was sat there gutted thinking I hadn’t made it.
“Straight after the meeting I ran back downstairs and I had a WhatsApp from him saying ‘sorry mate, didn’t mean to ring you, see you soon’.
“So I still didn’t actually know from the ‘see you soon’. I was thinking ‘maybe, maybe not’. I officially found out just a few hours before it came out on TV. I was relieved. I can’t put into words how I felt then”
More from Coady
Everton loanee and England ace Conor Coady has hit back at recent criticism.
Coady insists those criticising the Three Lions’ backline are wrong.
The defender said when asked if he is offended by the criticism England’s defence has received: “Massively.
“I am a defender and you don’t like that. We read, hear and watch everything.
“We know how we want to defend and our defensive record has been fantastic . We need to keep looking at ourselves”
Coady on the heat
Everton ace Conor Coady admitted today’s training under Qatar’s scorching heat was “tough”
Coady told SunSport’s Charlie Wyett in Qatar: “It was hard this morning. It was a long session and it was something we needed to get a feel for it and understand it.
“It is tough, of course it is tough. I am not going to sit here and say it is not tough but we are professional players.
“Training this morning was fantastic. It’s a different environment. We want to enjoy it – it’s a World Cup. We are here in 30C heat but we must not think about the heat or worry about it.
“Let’s enjoy playing in the sun – we do not get it too much at home so we must enjoy it”
Credit: Getty
Roberts opens up
Burnley and Wales ace Connor Roberts revealed he feared for his life after a scare with deadly pneumonia.
Roberts was taken to hospital after contracting the severe illness last December following his Premier League debut.
The 27-year-old says doctors could not give his wife Georgina any assurances that he would survive the potentially fatal lung-infection, never mind make a comeback and now play at a World Cup.
Roberts said: “I had pneumonia and I was in hospital for a few days. I was really, really struggling. My wife was at home and she was asking the doctors, ‘Is he going to be okay?’
“He couldn’t actually give her the answer that I was going to be alright because a high percentage of people who have what I had, don’t actually make it.
“So, the fact that I am still playing, and can still do what I do, is a good thing. Everyone knows I like to get up and down when I play and I’ll run all day so my lungs are a massive part of the ability to do that.
“I was worried because it affects the lungs and I had to have numerous scans. I was told from the people who read those scans that what I had was severe. It wasn’t a small thing”
Marcus Rashford’s comeback
Marcus Rashford had probably given up hope last summer of being in Qatar as his miserable last season came to a close, writes SunSport’s Neil Custis.
Indeed it was questionable whether he should be playing for Manchester United never mind England.
He was used as a sub nearly as many times as he started games in the league – 12 to 13.
His form and confidence was shot and there were even thoughts in his camp as to whether a move abroad was needed to revive his career.
Fast forward and just over four months of the Erik Ten Hag reign has revived the 25-year-old and got him back in Gareth Southgate’s squad.
Rashford said: “He’s had a big impact, with a lot of changes. It takes some time to adapt for him and the players as well. But so far, it’s been good. We’re enjoying working under him and we’re just looking forward to what the future holds”
Hjulmand takes swipe
Kasper Hjulmand has blasted Qatar’s ‘ridiculous’ stunt using fake fans to whip up World Cup fever, writes SunSport’s Andrew Dillon in Doha.
A series of ads portray supposed supporters of competing nations – among them England and Argentina – waving banners and chanting for their teams.
But there are claims it is nothing more than a gimmick using paid local actors in a bid to drum up some atmosphere ahead of the most controversial World Cup ever.
Hjulmand said: “It is ridiculous if it is as it appears to be. It’s theatre. I remember something similar from the World Cup in South Korea, where the locals were divided and had to be fans of different teams.
“I think it’s talking down to us if they think that you can imagine people are fans who are galloping happily for Denmark, England and so on, if you’re not that too in a year’s time.
“It’s talking down to people, it’s theatre, repeats the national coach”
Bold Wales prediction
Former Manchester United and Wales ace Clayton Blackmore is confident his country will make it to the quarter-finals as long as Gareth Bale remains fit.
Blackmore told BETDAQ: “I think they’ll get to the quarter-finals. The first two games are really important against USA and Iran, they’ve got to get something out of both of them.
“I think they’ll get through the group stage and turn somebody over, but then they’ll come up against somebody really big, and it might be a bridge too far. But it wouldn’t surprise me if they got to the semi-final, because we’ve got the talent in the team, with both the young lads and the senior lads.”
“But Bale needs to be in form, and he will be in form. He’s very experienced now – he put the ball in for the own goal against Ukraine to help us get through to the finals. He just needs to be fit so he’s on the pitch, then he can produce something special at any time. You need players like that in your team.
“He’s got plenty of young lads who can run for fun around him, so you don’t need him to be able to run. As long as he’s fit and on the pitch, he can do something at any time. You could even have him on the bench and bring him on when it’s 0-0 against tired teams”
Credit: Getty
Cole on Saka
Joe Cole claims Arsenal star Bukayo Saka should start ahead of Chelsea ace Raheem Sterling against Iran.
Cole told William Hill’s Stripped Podcast: “As much as I love Raheem [Sterling], he’s not in form. Saka’s playing for the team at the top of the league, and the same could be said with [James] Maddison.
“It will evolve as the tournament goes on. Five substitutions as well – it’s a game of 16 players effectively.
“I’ll go [Jordan] Pickford in goal, centre halves I’ll go [John] Stones and [Ben] White in the group stage. [Kieran] Trippier right back, [Luke] Shaw left back. Then I’d play a midfield of Declan [Rice], [Jude] Bellingham and Mason [Mount] – Declan holding then the two 10s given licence to go forward.
“Then I’d play Harry Kane up top obviously, then probably start with Phil Foden on the right, then Saka or Sterling on the left. There are four players who are going to play regularly – Pickford, Stones, Declan Rice, then Harry Kane.
“You only take Kane off when the game’s done. That will be a problem for the other strikers because they know they’re going there to play second fiddle. Everywhere else is up for grabs.
“I hate it when people say Gareth [Southgate] doesn’t know what he’s doing – he’s the most successful England manager since Alf Ramsey, that’s a fact. He’s got all the information and he can see how they’re training. So, let’s all get behind Gareth”
Cole on Maddison
Joe Cole believes Leicester star James’Maddison’s personality could play a key role for England in the 2022 World Cup.
Cole told William Hill’s Stripped Podcast: “The big one for me was Maddison.
“Form wise and quality wise he should be playing, but also because of his personality – he’s an England player. He won’t shirk the responsibilities; he’ll get on the ball.
“There will be times later in the tournament when the game might be in the balance and you need to be brave and accept the ball as a midfield player and he will do that.
“You can play number 10s deeper now and we need to set the tempo of our games. I’m so happy he’s in”
Qatar wall advert
SunSport’s Andrew Dillon found a wall advert on the underground in Doha.
A reminder that this is a winter World Cup, it seems – but who are they trying to kid?
It’s over 30C in Qatar and England players are truly feeling the heat.
The players are all training with vests instead of shirts
Winterburn on Maguire
Harry Maguire will play for England despite his Manchester United struggles, claims Nigel Winterburn.
Winterburn told FreeSuperTips: “I wouldn’t think he’s very happy at the moment not playing, I don’t know any player who would be.
“If you want a move away you have to weigh up how long you have left on your contract, do you believe in yourself to force your way back into the team, do you fit into the managers plans and it doesn’t seem that way at the moment.
“I wonder if it’s solely down to form or the way that the manager wants to play. ou’ve got to make sure that your own form is right, and Maguire is going through a hugely difficult period.
“It’s difficult to then go and play for England when you’re under the spotlight for Manchester United. coming into this World Cup every single performance is going to be judged because he’s going to play.
“I don’t see any way that he doesn’t play for Gareth Southgate, but everything he does is going to be analysed. Southgate has put himself under huge pressure with certain comments on why certain players haven’t gone and others have.
“The thing that we get at the end of it all, Southgate trusts certain players and Harry Maguire is clearly one of those players”
England feel the burn
England are training under sweltering heat in Qatar ahead of their World Cup opener.
Gareth Southgate’s men felt the burn – literally – during today’s training session.
The Three Lions arrived in the Middle Eastern country yesterday.
And they are set to take on Iran in their first match of the tournament
Credit: PA
Credit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
Credit: Reuters
Credit: PA
More on training
Ben Rosenblatt led the early fitness and football drills in the blazing heat, with assistant boss Steve Holland adding the off command, reports SunSport’s Dan King in Al Wakrah.
Rosenblatt is the FA’s lead men’s physical performance coach.
It will be interesting to find out later why England are training in these conditions when none of their group games will be played at this time of day.
The parent in you worries whether the paler-skinned players like Declan Rice have enough sun cream on
England feel the heat
England are currently training under sweltering heat in Qatar ahead of their World Cup opener, reports SunSport’s Charlie Wyett from Qatar.
The temperature has reached a whopping 33C as the Three Lions prepare for the tournament.
Tottenham ace Eric Dier is the first player out for training here the Al Wakrah Sports Club.
It is absolutely baking and although there is a slight sea breeze the heat is still tough.
The players are wearing vests rather than shirts
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