LIKE LIONS FORTUNE FAVOURS GARETH’S BRAVES AIDY CUBS ROAR ON
Brazil 0 England 2
June 10, 1984
Just before half-time, John Barnes weaved his way past half of Brazil’s team to slot in his first England goal. Mark Hateley headed a second to seal victory. Spain 2 England 4
February 18, 1987
England fell behind only for Gary Lineker to score a hat-trick of classic poacher’s goals and add a fourth. Italy 0 England 0
October 11, 1997
Three Lions needed a draw to make the World
Cup. Ian Wright almost won it, hitting a post.
Germany 1 England 5
September 1, 2001
England fell behind, but ran riot with goals from Liverpool trio Steven Gerrard, Emile Heskey and a brilliant Michael Owen treble.
Germany 2 England 3 March 26, 2016 THEY returned to the dressing room expecting a hero’s welcome from Gareth Southgate.
Instead the England boss merely congratulated his players with a gentle pat on the back before talking about the next game.
Southgate does not want wins over big nations to feel particularly special.
It was typical of the Three Lions coach, who rarely does the expected in his quest to drive England forward.
We all questioned his sanity when he claimed England had the players to play attractive, possession-based football like Spain. The questioners have fallen silent now, though. Southgate insists upon making brave calls, like drafting in 18-year-old Jadon Sancho, changing the formation to a back four, or thrusting Harry Winks into England’s midfield in Spain. But he says he has to be fearless if he is going to ask his players to do the same. “We’re asking the players to be fearless and, if we’re asking that, you’ve got to embody that as a leader,” he said. “But I
Scotland U-21
wouldn’t pick them if I didn’t think they could play. Then you’ve got to give them belief, and I think that belief is starting to come. I think for the young players it’s a really comfortable environment in that other players make them feel so welcome.
“After the game the other night (in Croatia), Raheem Sterling went straight over to Jadon in the dressing room to congratulate him on his first cap. It would be very easy for him to think ‘actually he’s competition for me’ but in training on Sunday he was passing advice onto him and that embodies the spirit of the group.”
Even after Monday’s impressive win in Seville (above) – the first time Spain had conceded three at home – Southgate believes his team can play better. “We won’t get carried away because we weren’t perfect,” he said. “We let in two really poor goals so there are areas we could improve. And we could have scored more if our decision-making had been crisper.
“We wanted to play out (from the back) and they were brave enough to keep doing it, To play out of the press that Spain put on you. We know the technical ability of some of the young players coming through our system so it is possible to play that way.
“If you don’t have the players with that technique, then you can’t. But we believe we have and then it is about the mentality to go out and do it – and they really showed that mentality.”
THE GREAT AWAY DAYS
England U-21
REISS NELSON’S superb free-kick helped England complete an unbeaten qualifying campaign.
After a goalless first half saw Harvey Barnes, Tammy Abraham, Jake Clarke-salter, Dominic Solanke and Josh Onomah all go close, Nelson (below, with Jay Dasilva) scored on the hour from 30 yards.
But it was not until injury-time that Kieran Dowell’s thunderous drive made it 2-0.
“Two moments of absolute quality sealed it for us,” said boss Aidy Boothroyd.