ENGLAND’S LION CUBS
IF football really is coming home this year for the men, it will be thanks to these wee lions.
England’s stars of 2022 are seen as soccer-loving kids in these old snaps.
As the newly announced national squad prepares to head to Qatar for the World Cup later this month, here is a look at how it all started for today’s superstars.
Midfielders Declan Rice and Mason Mount, both 23, were childhood pals and are pictured together arm in arm while playing for Chelsea’s youth team.
And, in a hopeful sign of things to come, Raheem Sterling, 27, is pictured holding aloft a trophy. The star winger will surely have his eyes on adding another prize this winter.
A fresh-faced Harry Kane, 29, is almost unrecognisable as an eight-year-old player. Not only does England’s captain and star striker have a crew cut hairstyle, but he is wearing the red colours of Arsenal – the arch-rivals of his club side Tottenham Hotspur.
Also seen lining up for one of the Gunners’ youth teams is a proud Bukayo Saka, among England’s youngest stars at 21. A baby-faced Marcus Rashford, 25, is snapped cheering after a goal, with his arms aloft. Fans will hope to see him repeat the pose in Qatar. And Jack Grealish, 27, known for his slicked back undercut and headband, looks very different with his schoolboy bowl cut.
But goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, 28, has kept his long blond locks, seen in a charming childhood snap where he sports dungarees.
There are certainly plenty of smiles in our gallery of hungry young cubs.
Let’s just hope they return as football’s lion kings.
THE World Cup winner’s medal won by Alan Ball, his red No7 shirt and his commemorative cap are being sold for £195,000.
The former Everton and Arsenal midfielder, who died aged 61 in 2007, was only 21 when England beat West Germany 4-2 in 1966. The sale on December 9 is being held by Tennants of Leyburn, North Yorkshire.