Deserving or not, England still alive
Three Lions squad coach says team is ‘progressing well’
MOSCOW England has yet to prove it’s a top side in the world, according to coach Gareth Southgate.
Despite being in the Final 4 of a World Cup, the Three Lions’ path to get to this point still leaves plenty up for debate when you consider they’ve yet to face a World Cupwinner on this journey.
“Well, we’re in a World Cup semifinal. Whether we’re in the Top 4 in the world is something we still have to prove, I think,” Southgate said. “But we’re progressing really well. We do have some good players and they need opportunities to play.”
There’s also a suggestion that English football is in the midst of an upward trend just two years after many questioned if the Premier League is developing enough domestic talent.
“Hopefully, with what our junior teams have been doing at the international level, it will be a sign to all clubs that English players can play,” Southgate continued. “We have players with super technique.
“I don’t think we would have seen the likes of (John) Stones or (Harry) Maguire playing the way they did tonight in the past. That, for me, is quite symbolic.
“It’s why I joined the FA five years ago. I believed it was possible.” This is, um, awkward. French legend Thierry Henry will be on Belgium’s bench when the Red Devils meet France Tuesday in their semifinal matchup at Saint Petersburg.
The ex-New York Red Bulls striker is an assistant coach under Roberto Martinez, meaning his allegiances could be skewed this week.
“My job’s to be good on the pitch, to help my team,” French striker Olivier Giroud said, according to the UK Sun. “But I’d be proud to show (Henry) that he chose the wrong side.”
Giroud added: “He’s a living legend of French football and we have a lot of respect for him. We have a lot of respect for what he’s done, but we’re not going to think about very much.
“I’d have preferred him to be with us and to be giving his advice to me.”
Henry appeared 123 times for France between 1997 and 2010, scoring 51 times for Les Bleus while being a part of the 1998 World Cup-winning squad. He played alongside current France coach Didier Deschamps.
Brazilian star Neymar says it will be “difficult” for him to return to soccer following Brazil’s quarterfinal exit.
“I can say that it is the saddest moment of my career,” Neymar said. “The pain is very great because we knew we could get there, we knew we had the conditions to go further, to make history.”
“Difficult to find the strength to want to play football again, but I’m sure God will give me enough strength to face anything. So I’ll never stop thanking God, even in defeat because I know that your way is much better than mine.”
Neymar, 26, added his dream of winning a World Cup is still alive after a tumultuous tournament filled with criticism for his tendency to embellish.
The Selecao were the best team at this World Cup — something that often doesn’t matter when teams enter the knockout phase of this tournament.
It would seem hard to beat Big Sam Allardyce’s recent days in charge mark.
The ex-England bench boss was sacked just 67 days after taking over for Roy Hodgson following the European Championship.
Enter Spain’s Fernando Hierro, who took charge of La Furia Roja just two days before this World Cup after it was revealed then head coach Julen Lopetegui had a precontract with Real Madrid.
Hierro resigned Sunday after guiding the 2010 champs to a disappointing Round of 16 loss to Russia.
Hierro received criticism for leaving Andres Iniesta on the bench to begin the knockout phase.
Additionally, Spain struggled to see off Iran before they nearly found themselves out of the tournament amid a 2-2 draw with Morocco. For those counting, Hierro lasted 27 days, fewer days than I’ve been in Russia.
Russian defender Sergei Ignashevich deserves mentioning.
The 38-year-old, hard-as-nails centreback retired Sunday following Russia’s quarter-final loss.
Ignashevich is his country’s alltime leader in appearances, and started all five of the host nation’s fixtures at this tournament.
After conceding an own goal in a 1-1 draw with Spain, Ignashevich converted penalty kicks in backto-back shootouts.
A player who stuck around for a chance to feature in a home World Cup said he couldn’t have imagined his career would end on such a “high note.”
Ignashevich had been with CSKA Moscow for an incredible 15 seasons.
I don’t like beating a dead horse, but Sweden sure could have used an offensive presence upon going down a goal to England. If only the Swedes had someone with a history of scoring big goals … Cheers to the reporter who has consistently asked England’s players if it’s “coming home” following every win … Some have described England’s path at this World Cup as “easy.” My response: Please stop looking for something to criticize … I’m ready to declare this tournament as the best international football competition in history.