Southgate: I’ve been told not to punch air
Manager dislocates right shoulder while running Loftus-cheek surprised at World Cup inclusion
in Repino
England offered one of the most bizarre injury updates in World Cup history yesterday when they announced that manager Gareth Southgate had dislocated his right shoulder during a run.
While the England players and staff were given the day off – with many travelling to St Petersburg to sightsee and meet up with families – Southgate, 47, went for a 10-kilometre run near the squad’s base here on the Gulf of Finland.
Details remain sketchy, but it seems Southgate may have fallen on the patchy terrain in the woods by the England team hotel in the remote village. Barely 36 hours earlier, the manager was pictured jumping for joy – enthusiastically punching the air with his right arm – after Harry Kane’s late goal secured a 2-1 victory over Tunisia in Group G.
“I might not be celebrating any goals as athletically in future!” Southgate said after being treated in a nearby hospital with the assistance of England team doctor Rob Chakraverty. “The doc has made it clear that punching the air is not an option. We have got such a great support team and they were there very quickly. They were supposed to be relaxing because we let the players have a bit of time off and I am causing them work.
“We are lucky we have a topclass medical team around us, so it was fine. I had brilliant help from them, and I am just sorry that I managed to ruin their day off.”
Southgate’s injury evoked memories of “the curse” of 1986 – when Bryan Robson was ruled out of the World Cup after dislocating a shoulder in the World Cup opener against Portugal. Gary Lewin, the team’s physio, dislocated an ankle celebrating England’s goal against Italy in the first match of the campaign in Brazil four years ago.
Southgate was back at the base in time to hold a planned meeting with his players before dinner as they prepare to face Panama on Sunday – albeit with his arm in a sling, as has been shown in photographs released by the Football Association.
“It is better this is me than one of the players,” Southgate said.
“They were a bit surprised in the team meeting and were asking, ‘What have you been doing!?’ – as always, Carrying on: Southgate wears sling as he works they were probably amused. It is good we have had a quiet day, so I had prepared the meeting before and we are on to preparations for Panama. I am a bit gutted because I was on for my record 10k time!”
There are running routes around Repino, deliberately chosen by Southgate because of its seclusion, but it is not an easy area to navigate and visitors are advised to avoid woods because of wild dogs.
As Southgate turns his attention to Sunday’s clash against Panama, Ruben Loftus-cheek, who is tipped to start, has admitted he doubted whether he would be playing any first-team football last season, let alone hoping to make a first World Cup start for England.
Dele Alli’s injury has potentially opened up a place in England’s midfield for the second game, which Loftus-cheek is favourite to take ahead of Fabian Delph after his impressive 10-minute cameo in the stoppage-time victory over Tunisia. “Playing in the World Cup didn’t go through my thoughts once,” said Loftus-cheek. “Because, obviously, not playing for so long, going on loan to Crystal Palace was all about fighting for a position. I wasn’t sure I was going to play regularly, so I didn’t think about the World Cup.” Like so many of Chelsea’s players, Loftus-cheek travelled to the World Cup unsure of his future. But following a season at Palace, he is not prepared to drop back down to being a reserve. “I want to play,” said Loftus-cheek, who has three years remaining on his Chelsea contract. “That’s the key for me regarding where I end up. I want to play. Even this past season, I didn’t play as much as I would have liked because of injuries. So I feel I need a proper season of playing, wherever it is. “I’m confident in my ability that I can do well wherever it is. But I’m just not thinking about whether I’m going to play at Chelsea. I’m focused on the tournament.”