England fans dare to dream of lifting Cup
WORLD CUP ENGLAND manager Gareth Southgate says his team has reconnected with the fans, as hopes rise of just a second World Cup final for the perennial underachievers.
Colombia are another nation that’s buckled under the weight of expectation, although they’re sweating on the fitness of one man who hasn’t.
Golden boy James Rodriguez, who has assumed the mantle as Colombia’s new superstar, limped off 30 minutes into their final group game against Senegal with a persistent calf problem.
Juan Quintero, whose career was doomed after accusations of a shoddy work ethic and excess kilos, has shown glimpses of magic in Russia and must step up in the absence of Rogriguez, for whom a bench role appears likely.
Quintero starred against the Young Socceroos at the U20 World Cup in 2013 before he was dumped by Porto and landed in the French fourth division.
Now flying at Argentines River Plate, the old-school playmaker with tricks to burn looms as the chief supplier for Radamel Falcao.
Golden Boot leader Harry Kane headlines a host of inclusions for England after Southgate made wholesale changes for the final group game, as did Belgium’s Roberto Martinez with both teams evidently preferring to finish second with the way the draw panned out.
Southgate copped flak for that, but the Belgium loss has paved a path to the final with no previous World Cup winners for the Three Lions or Colombia – Sweden or Switzerland await in the quarter-finals, and Croatia or Russia in the semis.
Otherwise his demeanour – and dress sense – have been praised, with England’s official suit supplier Marks & Spencer revealing waistcoat sales have increased by 35 per cent thanks to the “Gareth Southgate effect”.
Southgate was keeping a level head leading into the Moscow clash.
“The players have been able to change perceptions of how an England team might play,’’ Southgate said. “Ten months ago people were throwing paper aeroplanes on to the pitch at Wembley. We were driving back to our hotel after beating Malta with some obscene chants thrown at us.
“We’ve started to connect the team with the public again, created excitement like we’ve played in a style that has really shown an expression of what young English players are capable of.” Midfielder, Dele Alli is expected to overcome a thigh injury.
TEN MONTHS AGO PEOPLE WERE THROWING PAPER AEROPLANES ON TO THE PITCH AT WEMBLEY
editorial@cairnspost.com.au facebook.com/TheCairnsPost www.cairnspost.com.au twitter.com/TheCairnsPost