Southgate urges England to make 2019 even better
Team credited for keeping humble approach
LONDON, Nov 19, (AFP): Gareth Southgate has challenged his vibrant young England side to build on a year to remember after they clinched a place in the Nations League semifinals in dramatic style.
Just over a year ago, England’s qualification for the World Cup was greeted with yawns and a barrage of paper aeroplanes from fans disillusioned by decades of underachievement.
But Southgate’s team won back their place in the nation’s hearts over the course of a remarkable 2018 that saw them reach the World Cup semifinals for the first time since 1990.
Although that World Cup run ended with an agonizing extra-time loss to Croatia, Southgate and his players have refused to be defined by failure in the way that their more vaunted predecessors in the Three Lions shirt often
The modest England manager credits his squad for keeping a humble approach amid all the recent plaudits, all the while keeping their focus on the next opponent.
“You can only have that consistency if you work on things every day and have the humility to go back to work,” he said.
“The World Cup was far bigger (than the Nations League) but you have to look at the next challenge. This was a great opportunity to test ourselves against top teams.”
Even that drab Slovenia match foreshadowed the revival stirring beneath the surface as it was a late Kane goal that sealed the points.
Fast forward 13 months and another last-gasp Kane winner produced far more euphoria.
“He is the best goalscorer in the world. You are always loath to take off a player of that ability,” Southgate said.
“His hold-up play, as well as the goals he brings, is critical. He is so hungry to lead the team even further.”
Southgate’s commitment to allowing England’s young talents to express themselves has paid rich dividends with Raheem Sterling, Marcus Rashford, Ross Barkley, Ben Chilwell and Joe Gomez all delivering mature contributions to England’s success.
Having established England as a force to be reckoned with, Southgate’s next task is to maintain their progress, with an eye on ending their wait for a first major trophy since the 1966 World Cup.
He believes the momentum England have established on and off the pitch will prove invaluable as they head into a period that includes the start of the Euro 2020 qualifying campaign and then the Nations League Finals.
“Next year now looks like a really exciting time to be involved with England,” Southgate said.
“That feeling around the team is really powerful and we have to build on that. Everybody who has played for us wants to be part it.”
Displaying the self-depreciating touch that has won him so many admirers, Southgate laughed off suggestions that he has given England their pride back.
“We may be a new England but we scored from a long throw and a freekick, so maybe nothing changes!” he smiled.
Croatia’s Luka Modric (right), vies for the ball with England’s Ross Barkley (left), and Marcus Rashford during the UEFA Nations League soccer match between England and Croatia at Wembley Stadium in London on
Nov 18. (AP)
New Zealand spinner Ish Sodhi (right), delivers the ball as Pakistani batsman Azhar Ali (left), looks on during the fourth day of the first Test cricket match
between Pakistan and New Zealand at the Sheikh Zayed International Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Nov 19. (AFP)
ABU DHABI, Nov 19, (AFP): Debutant spinner Ajaz Patel took five wickets to lead a never-say-die approach from New Zealand bowlers as they pulled off a thrilling four-run win over an indisciplined Pakistan in the first Test in Abu Dhabi on Monday.
Defending a modest 176-run target, New Zealand bowlers led by Patel (5-59), fast bowler Neil Wagner (2-27) and Ish Sodhi (2-37) bowled out Pakistan for 171 on a drama-packed fourth day at Sheikh Zayed Stadium.
It is the fifth smallest win in terms of runs in Test cricket history and gives New Zealand a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
“The attitude, certainly today and throughout the game, was brilliant,” said New Zealand captain Kane Williamson
New Zealand cricketer Ajaz Patel holds the Man of the Match award after New Zealand beat Pakistan in their first Test cricket match at the Sheikh
Zayed International Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Nov 19. (AFP)
caused problems as Pakistan lost three wickets in the first six overs.
Imam-ul-Haq was trapped legbefore for 27 to a full length ball by left-arm spinner Patel in the fifth over. In the sixth, Sodhi had Mohammad Hafeez caught in the covers and then three balls later held on to a return catch low to his left as Haris Sohail drove a full toss back at him.
Pakistani nerves were eased by the sight of Azhar and Asad Shafiq carefully rebuilding the innings with a fourth wicket partnership of 82.
Shafiq made a cultured 45, becoming the 11th Pakistani to reach 4,000 runs in Test cricket, but his dismissal in the last over before lunch, edging Neil Wagner to wicketkeeper B.J. Watling, changed the game as Pakistan lost their final seven wickets for just 41.
After lunch, Babar Azam ran himself out for 13, the guilty party in a mix-up with Azhar and skipper Sarfraz Ahmed fell for a second time sweeping Patel, this time gloving the ball to Watling.
Bilal Asif tried to slog a straight ball from Patel and was bowled leaving Pakistan 154 for seven, still 22 runs short of victory.
The earlier measure at the crease had been replaced by chaos.
In the next over Wagner had Yasir Shah caught in the slips and then Hasan Ali attempted a slog-sweep off Patel, picking out substitute fielder Tim Southee on the mid-wicket boundary.
Azhar then tried to inch Pakistan across the line, farming the strike from Mohammad Abbas.
But with five runs still needed to win Patel found the delivery to win the match for New Zealand.
“We didn’t get a good start to the day,” said Pakistan captain Sarfraz.
“Azhar and Shafiq put in a good stand but then the collapse was really disappointing. You have to give credit to Ajaz as well.” The second Test starts in Dubai from Saturday while the third and final, again in Abu Dhabi from Dec 3.