Twitter, Instagram set players, coaches on World Cup collision course

YEKATERINBURG, Russia: England’s Raheem Sterling branded himself “The Hated One” after becoming the target of online abuse at Euro 2016 -- exposing the dilemma faced by players who try to connect with fans through social media.

Twitter, Instagram and other platforms are a godsend for players cooped up in their hotel rooms at the World Cup but their use represents a modernday juggling act that can quickly overshadow almost anything that happens on the pitch.

In the eyes of many coaches, the use of social media while in Russia is at best a waste of time and at worst can trigger unnecessary controversy.

Players who use social media counter that it is a way to communicate more intimately with fans and boost their profiles.

England manager Gareth Southgate knows that he cannot ban his squad from using social media -- after all, with hours spent at their training bases or travelling, players will inevitably reach for their phones.

But the 47-year-old, an England international before social media was a thing, has made his views clear and would prefer they stay off it.

“It comes back to what creates pressure or what creates misery in your life,” Southgate said in the build-up to the tournament.

“Generally, I think there’s a lot of social media that can be negative, so why would you invite that into your life?”