SOUTHGATE TELLS SQUAD TO STAND UP TO BULLIES
ENGLAND manager Gareth Southgate ordered his squad not to be bullied by Panama on Sunday. Southgate told his players to expect heavy-handed treatment from their Group G opponents, who were shown five yellow cards during their bad-tempered 3-0 defeat by Belgium in their opening game. And the boss has
instructed his players not to be intimidated, particularly during the opening stages of the match when the Central Americans will be keen to make an impact. But England believe their
superior technical ability will eventually tell. Ruben Loftus-Cheek is set to start in Nizhny Novgorod and the Chelsea midfielder’s powerful frame should help England come to terms with what is expected to be a bruising battle. Manchester City defender John Stones said yesterday: ‘We’re going to stick to our game plan. We’re going to cause them as many threats as we can using our own styles of play.’ In addition, England will have to cope with sweltering conditions during their second Group G game. Temperatures in Nizhny Novgorod could reach 32°C, which has left players and staff concerned about the prospect of tiring during the final stages. Kick-off is at 3pm local time, when it is hottest. Yesterday as England trained at their base in Repino it was a much milder 18°C. Southgate’s side faced similar problems in 25°C heat during the 2-1 win over Tunisia in Volgograd on Monday. England started brilliantly, but faded in the second half.