CZECH THIS OUT
CITY’S Raheem Sterling fired home a hat-trick for England, then paid an emotional tribute to a 13-year-old who died from leukaemia last week.
The Blues ace helped Gareth Southgate’s men to an impressive 5-0 win over the Czech Republic in their opening Euro 2020 qualifier at Wembley.
And he marked the treble by lifting his shirt to reveal a tribute to Crystal Palace fan Damary Dawkins, who passed away last Sunday. Under a picture of the two together, the message read: “May your soul rest in peace.”
RAHEEM Sterling’s hat-trick helped England swat aside the Czech Republic as Gareth Southgate’s men made a dream start to their European Championship qualification campaign.
After reaching the World Cup semi-finals and the inaugural Nations League Finals during an unforgettable 2018, the Three Lions kicked off their Euro 2020 journey at the ground where the trophy will be lifted in 478 days’ time.
City ace Sterling netted three and won the first-half penalty converted by captain Harry Kane, with 18-yearold debutant Callum Hudson-Odoi getting away the shot that led Czech Republic defender Tomas Kalas to rather comically turn into his own goal as the match finished 5-0.
It was an impressive performance that provided yet another exciting glimpse of the future at a sold-out Wembley.
Former City forward Jadon Sancho was handed his first competitive start at the age of 18 and the forward flourished in the spotlight, providing the final ball of a 25-pass move that Sterling tapped home at the far post.
Sterling won a first-half stoppagetime spot-kick, smashed home by Kane and the first competitive meeting of these countries was soon out of the Czechs’ reach.
Sterling displayed a T-shirt paying tribute to 13-year-old Damary Dawkins, who died on Sunday after a battle with leukaemia, after netting the third, before completing his hattrick as his strike went in off Ondrej Celustka.
Hudson-Odoi helped wrap things up, with his shot leading to Kalas’ own goal on the night he replaced United legend Duncan Edwards as England’s youngest ever debutant in a competitive game.
“It was a beautiful team performance and I was happy to help the team,” said Sterling. “Most importantly we got the win. “I’m just being confident with myself. Being there and trying to get in areas and trying to take shots and not worry about anything, just go with it. That’s it.
“The first goal actually (was the most satisfying). Just to get another goal up and running again, that was the most pleasing one.”
On his tribute to Damary, Sterling added: “Damary was a kid that I was trying to help and we thought that we found a donor and sadly it didn’t match and he passed away.
“I thought I had to do something to try to give his family something to smile about.”
And Southgate was full of praise for the Blues ace.
“I thought he was electric all night. He’s looked that way all week in training, involved in four of the goals. I’m really pleased for him, it’s a special night for him,” said the England boss. “I just think he’s really matured as a person and a footballer. He’s hungry for those goals now.
“He’s determined to get in the right areas of the pitch and the quality of his finishing, he’s just hitting things instinctively without thinking too much.”