A GARD OF HONOUR! Jesse edges out Lions rival Alli
Man United ..... 2 Spurs ...... 1
A STANDING ovation for Jesse Lingard when he was taken off just eight minutes from time said it all.
The United midfielder had played a blinder for his club – and in doing so probably nailed down his England spot this summer. Potential Three Lions World Cup heroes were all over the Wembley turf.
kicked off in this frantic a n d hotly contestedFA Cup semifinal thriller. Over in the white corner, Harry Kane, Dele Alli, Eric Dier and Kieran Trippier were hoping to fire Tottenham into their first final since 1991.
And in the red corner, Lingard, Phil Jones, Ashley Young and Chris Smalling aimed to keep Jose Mourinho’s Reds in line for a third trophy in two seasons.
Talk about the perfect chance for Gareth Southgate to pore over h i s options for the World Cup in Russia. Which made it an ideal platform for that pair of playmakers both vying to be picked for England’s opener.
Should it be United’s lightning, busy forward Lingard or should it be the more lanky, graceful Spurs ace Alli who gets the nod against Tunisia?
In the most recent England games in March, the former had clearly edged ahead in the pecking order. Lingard starred while Alli got a paltry 20 minutes.
Southgate (below) confirmed the ex-MK Dons starlet, still only 21, is no longer an automatic pick.
During a brilliant first-half yesterday, though Alli did much to make him reconsider. Not only did he engineer many of his side’s better moments, he also timed his far-post run to perfection to put Mauricio Pochettino’s men ahead after 11 minutes. Lingard, 25, a late developer at Old Trafford, and his Red pals were far from down. Lethal pace, sharpness of mind and infectious spirit are all trademarks of the United ace.
And, along with man-of-the-match Alexis Sanchez, that helped haul United back into a contest that seemed to be slipping away.
Even so, Alli probably shaded the opening 45 minutes of their personal duel. Just.
But when he caught Lingard barely 60 seconds into the second half, the pendulum swung towards his opponent.
It was a poor challenge – Alli’s studs raking down the back of his fellow countryman’s ankle – and he was correctly booked.
Fortunately for Southgate and all England fans the replay suggested it was accidental.
Alli offered his hand in apology. Given the previous splits in our national camp because of club rivalries, it was a moment to savour.
As was Lingard’s subtle input to United’s decisive 62nd-minute winner from Ander Herrera.
Many would have let fly from his position on the edge of the Spurs area.
Instead, Lingard dummied the ball leaving it to the Spaniard to put United in the final.
Southgate must have been mighty impressed. Jesse it is, then.