WORLD CUP DEFEAT STILL HURTS
Broken Stones is out for revenge
THE healing process may have begun but for John Stones the memories remain raw and painful.
Stones was the only outfield player to figure in all of England’s games at the World Cup and he returned home from Russia with his stock high and his reputation enhanced.
And yet it is that fateful moment in the 109th minute of an epic semi-final in Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium which stubbornly lingers inside Stones’ mind. The Manchester City man had barely put a foot wrong against Croatia when, in the first period of extra-time, he momentarily switched off, allowing Juventus’ Mario Mandzukic to ghost in and fire a winning goal past Jordan Pickford.
Despite the error that led to the 2-1 defeat, Stones remains, as he was three months ago, a key man in England’s backline.
But inevitably that last meeting will dominate his thoughts leading up to kick-off for tonight’s Nations League game in Rijeka.
“It’s something I’ve reflected on and dwelled on,” he said. “The tournament, in general, didn’t seem real straight after it.
“It was a strange experience, being in such a bubble, then coming home to see how everyone got behind us.
“In the end, it all came down to that game, which was one step away from the final.
“It still plays on our minds and it was difficult to take – no one will lie about that in the squad.”
Even now, after hours of self-analysis, Stones can’t quite fathom how England allowed a winning position to slip.
He added: “Football is so strange at times that you can’t put your finger on why things happen.
“I thought the manner in which we played a semi-final, for such a young squad, how we handled it against a great team, was something we should be really proud of.
“And being in those situations is going to help us, moving forward.” And so, 93 days on, revenge is in the air for a team which will show several changes, most of them enforced, from that lastfour showdown.
“Now there’s a new chapter and a new start for us and it’s one we relish,” said Stones.
Special
“We want to set things straight against Croatia and get back on a winning run.
“Week in, week out, you want to play against the best players, the best teams to prove to yourself you can do it and games like this don’t come around too often.
“To play Croatia so soon... I can’t remember, in my 30-odd caps, playing them before (the World Cup) in either a friendly or competitive game.
“It’s a special moment for us players to go and get that win. That will be a big thing for us.”
Gareth Southgate, who, like Stones, admits he constantly harks back to that night in Moscow, believes Croatia will be just as tough to beat tonight – despite the lack of a home support.
“They’ve had retirements and injuries but their team looks pretty strong to me,” said the England boss.
“And I am looking at their midfield – Modric, Rakitic, Kovacic with Rebic and Perisic – so I think they’re okay!”