Walker on mission to give Lions pride
KYLE WALKER reckons England owe it to themselves as much as their long-suffering fans to have a wonderful World Cup.
The time has come again for the Three Lions to puff out their chests and go in search of the biggest prize. For the last two decades the lions have performed like pussycats before returning home with their tails between their legs to a barrage of abuse.
But times are changing under boss Gareth Southgate and Walker is convinced this team have the mental strength to cope with the pressure and expectation.
The Manchester City star said: “We are strong in all areas. We have a great bunch of lads with pace to burn and our defensive record has been fantastic, considering the teams we have played. “Facing Germany and Brazil (in friendlies), keeping a clean sheet against them, has been really good.
“We have pace, we can catch people on the counter-attack, and it is going to be a really exciting tournament.
“Hopefully, we can do the country proud and keep playing the same way, with all the confidence. I have to believe in everything we are doing, in the lads around me that we will do pretty well.
“You say ‘we owe the fans a good tournament’, but first and foremost we owe it to ourselves because the last tournament wasn’t good enough – and we all know that. We are definitely stronger mentally now. The whole team is stronger and that’s on and off the field.
“I’m sure everyone’s banging on about it, but the togetherness amongst us all is like a club team.”
Walker was injured for the last World Cup in Brazil in 2014 when England crashed out at the group stage with a game to spare.
“The last World Cup in Brazil, I was away somewhere,” he said.
“I missed it through injury. I watched a few of the games, but it is hard when you’re meant to be on the plane, meant to be there.
Crazy
“It is difficult to watch. I was fully behind the lads. It didn’t work out how we wanted it to. We have to put it right this year.
“It’s massive. I remember as a fan watching England in the past, seeing people hanging out of windows, their flags from the houses and the whole country was going crazy about it.
“My first memory of the World Cup was against Argentina and Michael Owen, the 1998 one where he dribbled through.
“That was a good memory for me. I was a centre-forward then, watching Michael Owen dribble forward and I was thinking, ‘I want to do that.’
“The whole country goes mad. We need to live up to that.
“We’ve got the country on our back but we also need the country behind us, with the support, the positive energy, the fans and you guys give to WE’RE OFF: Walker gives the thumbs-up as he flies out yesterday
us is only going to spur us on.” Walker says his game has matured beyond recognition under City boss Pep Guardiola in a season that saw the defender lift his first Premier League title.
The 28-year-old, who will play on the right side of a back three in Russia, said: “My game has developed tremendously under him.
“Playing in the position I am playing now for my country, the right centrehalf, come two years ago could I have played it? Probably not.
“But he has taught me so much about the game. Just managing the game, understanding the game, and knowing the players around you.
“If you ask me where do I want to play, of course I want to play rightback.
“I’ve worked my whole career to prove to myself that I can be the best in the world in my position.
“I feel like showcasing that at the World Cup would probably get me there but it’s about whatever I need to do for the team.
“If the gaffer feels me playing at right centre-half is beneficial to the team then why not? It’s still a relatively new experience for me, but it’s new tools in my toolbox. As long as I’m on the field that’s the main thing.”