Unlikely paths to the top for England trio
ENGLAND have reached the World Cup semi-finals for only the third time in their history – but many of their stars in Russia have had unusual paths to the top. Gone are the academy-raised, household names of the ‘Golden Generation’, and in their place is a squad featuring players who have plied their trade at the likes of Darlington, Alfreton, Halifax, Welling and Aldershot.
Three, in particular, impressed in the 2-0 quarter-final win against Sweden. Harry Maguire scored the first goal, goalkeeper Jordan Pickford was named man of the match and Kieran Trippier was outstanding again.
Those three – not even in the squad when qualifying began, and all uncapped in competitive games until October – topped player ratings for the win in Samara.
Here, we look at their remarkable rise. Right-back Trippier only made his Premier League debut at the age of 23, and did not make his England debut until June last year – in a friendly defeat by France. He came through the Manchester City academy, but never broke into their first team.
After two spells at Barnsley and one at Burnley – all in the Championship – he joined the Clarets for a reported £450000 in January 2012. After 185 appearances for Burnley, he moved to Tottenham for £3.5m in 2015 – but only made six Premier League appearances in his first campaign and 12 in his second.
He benefited from now England teammate Kyle Walker’s move to Manchester City last summer, but even then only started 21 league games in 201718 as he battled with Serge Aurier for a place in the team.
Harry Maguire’s rise is best demonstrated by the fact he was at Euro 2016 as a fan – at which stage he had made a total of three Premier League appearances. Maguire went to Saint-Etienne with his friends and two brothers to watch England draw 0-0 against Slovakia at Euro 2016. Maguire came through the youth set-up at his hometown club, Sheffield United, playing in League One until 2013-14.
He joined Hull that summer, but after 91 minutes of Premier League action, he went on loan to Wigan.
With his header against Sweden, Maguire became the first player to score their first England goal in a World Cup knockout match since Rio Ferdinand in 2002 against Denmark.
It seems strange to put the third most expensive goalkeeper of all time on a list of unlikely heroes – but Jordan Pickford has only had two full seasons in the Premier League, one of which ended in relegation. The 24-year-old has, however, already played in the top five divisions of English football.
Pickford started his career with Sunderland, but had loan spells with Darlington and Alfreton, Burton in League Two, Carlisle and Bradford in League One and Preston in the Championship before breaking into the Black Cats team.
After 35 appearances for Sunderland – where he kept only five clean sheets behind a shambolic defence – Everton paid up to £30m to sign him last season.
He impressed for the Toffees, despite their disappointing season, and made his England debut in November, keeping a clean sheet against Germany in a friendly.
England’s World Cup opener against Tunisia was his competitive debut after seeing off Jack Butland’s challenge.
He saved a penalty as England won the first World Cup penalty shoot-out in their history against Colombia.
After three fantastic saves and a clean sheet against Sweden, boss Gareth Southgate called him “the prototype of what the modern goalkeeper should be”.
BBC One co-commentator Martin Keown said it was “the game of his life”.
Pickford is the youngest England goalkeeper to keep a clean sheet in a World Cup match at 24 years and 122 days.
The game against Croatia tonight is going to be a real tester, but after coming this far in the tournament, they have the belief that they can go all the way. Dare I say that they will win it?