Delph lets slip: ‘We know the starting line-up’
England’s players know the starting line- up for tomorrow’s World Cup opener against Tunisia after manager Gareth Southgate showed his hand in training.
Anticipation and speculation is building as the Group G clash in Volgograd edges closer, with talk over the starting line- up sure to only heighten after Fabian Delph confirmed the team had been all but named.
England did their first fully- closed training session at Spartak Zelenogorsk yesterday morning, when Southgate focused on tweaking the side for Monday’s match against the North Africans.
“Obviously none of you guys in the media were there today,” England midfielder Delph said.
“I do know the team, but he says I’m not allowed to tell you.
“But, yeah, we were working on specific things and the lads are ready to go.”
It was a slightly surprising opening gambit from Delph and one that naturally led to follow-up questions.
“We have an idea of the team,” the Manchester City title winner said.
“We have worked on various different systems with different personnel.
“The team is not guaranteed to be the 11 players that we think it might be.
“It could be changed, but from the set-up we’ve done it’s pretty clear to see who is probably going to be starting.”
Asked when Southgate told the players, Delph claimed he was “not sure” before saying with a smile and a laugh: “I did remember, but I’ve just forgotten now! Sorry.”
However, Delph also revealed that he is willing to miss aWorld Cup match to be at the birth of his third child.
The midfielder’s partner is due to give birth on June 30 – just two days after the final Group G match against Belgium.
“I don’t think it would affect me mentally,” Delph said.
“I’m about to have my third child and I’m not going to miss it if I can help it, but I want to get back as fast as I can, so we’ll have to see.”
Asked if he was prepared to miss a game if it came to it, Delph said: “Yeah, absolutely.
“We’ve got a fantastic squad, great players, and if I am selected to play but have to make my way back to see my family, there are players more than capable of doing the job I can do, if not a lot better.”
Delph joked he would have a private jet waiting “with lots of champagne” on it.