‘We’re so proud of our Jesse’
THE FA believes it has a blueprint for the future and is confident England manager Gareth Southgate will remain a key part of that.
The game’s governing body in England privately insists progress is being made with the national teams across all ages. And the fact the senior men’s team were involved in a World Cup quarter-final yesterday is viewed as evidence of that. Southgate is under contract until the completion of Euro 2020 and the FA are confident he is so committed to the role that he would not walk out if a big club came calling. Clearly there could also be a new contract on the agenda at some stage. Southgate, 47, and his technical director Dan Ashworth will conduct a post-Russia review, involving the coaches in charge of England teams at other levels who have been at the World Cup – Aidy Boothroyd, Keith Downing and Steve Cooper.
Phil Neville, in charge of the England women’s team, has also been in Russia, spending time with Ashworth and, to a lesser extent, Southgate. All views will be used in ‘brains trust’ meetings at the FA’s headquarters at St George’s Park. Southgate has held meetings during the World Cup with people like Under-17s coach Cooper, on how the Young Lions prepared for and handled penalty shootouts.
Ashworth, meanwhile, will produce a report on this World Cup and the lessons to be learned.
He conducted a similar review after England’s flop at Euro 2016 in France, concentrating on what went wrong and why.
The FA believes that document helped lay the foundations for the progress England have made since that unsuccessful tournament.
Their Under-19s are the next national side in action, when they take part in the European Championships in Finland, immediately after the World Cup.
Coach Paul Simpson, who has been absent from Russia preparing for that competition, will be fed information from the World Cup to help his latest tournament strategy. Factors such as training, nutrition and style of play are all taken into account as part of what is now meticulous planning by the FA. JESSE LINGARD’S school football coach is delighted he has been a big star in Russia – after fearing he was too small to make the grade.
Craig Milburn, from Beamont Collegiate Academy, in Warrington, was in no doubt Lingard had the X Factor.
But he worried Jesse’s small size would hold him back – before he later grew in stature as a first-team star at Manchester United.
Now Lingard, 25, has made a bigger name for himself with the Three Lions, making history by becoming the first Warrington-born player to feature at a World Cup since Roger Hunt in 1966.
Milburn said: “When he was with us he was quite a slight lad. Some teams may have found his size to be a potential issue for him.
“You could tell his skill level was so advanced though.”
Milburn is still pinching himself that he has been watching his former pupil play for England in the World Cup – and will roll out the red carpet for a VIP return to the school once he is home.
He added: “It is really surreal. He was a really quiet, unassuming lad but now he’s been expressing himself.
“Watching him in Russia has been an inspiration for the kids.
“You can see they are buzzing to play on the same pitches as he did. We’re all so proud of him.”