World Cup England’s Maddison still a fitness doubt
JAMES Maddison was once again absent from England training yesterday as he continues his recovery from a niggling knee issue.
The Leicester midfielder, inset, was unavailable for the opening 6-2 World Cup win over Iran having not trained since the first session the team held on arrival in Qatar last week.
He was forced off in the Foxes’ win at West Ham in the final round of Premier League fixtures before the break for the tournament and is still rehabbing the injury.
“He hasn’t been able to train, so that is a slight concern,” manager Gareth Southgate told talkSPORT before the Iran game.
“The longer that continues, the longer it will take him to be available for the matches - but we’re not expecting him to miss training for much longer and we’ll just have to assess it from there.”
While Maddison remains a doubt for England’s second Group B game against the United States on Friday, everyone else is currently in contention.
Captain Harry Kane took a blow to his foot against Iran and Harry Maguire came off feeling ill but both are expected to be fine.
Meanwhile Callum Wilson did not train in a light session with the rest of the substitutes at England’s Al Wakrah training base but is also not considered a fitness doubt.
England may have made a record-breaking start to the World Cup but boss Southgate says his side must reach “other levels” if they are to succeed in Qatar.
It was England’s biggest ever win in an opening match at a major tournament and just the second time they had hit a side for six on such a stage. That victory puts England in the driving seat in Group B as Wales went on to draw 1-1 with USA, who Southgate believes will give the Three Lions a wake-up call when they meet on Friday night if his side are not careful.
“He said: “We’re going to have to be so on it against the States. Yeah, it is a good start but we’ve got other levels we need to get to.”
Yesterday, Salem Al Dawsari’s stunner sealed a Saudi Arabia comeback win yesterday against
Lionel Messi’s Argentina in an upset that ranks among the greatest in World Cup history.
Saudi Arabia recorded the greatest win in their history as Saleh Al Shehri and Al Dawsari’s quickfire double secured a 2-1 triumph. Messi scored a 10th minute penalty and the 35-year-old became only the fifth player to score at a four World Cups, but this was not his or Argentina’s day as their 36-match unbeaten run came to an end. Lionel Scaloni’s men also saw three first-half goals ruled out for offside.
Poland and Mexico later played out a goalless draw, leaving the Saudis top of Group C.
Denmark were held to a draw by Tunisia in their World Cup opener. Despite fielding many Premier League regulars, the much-fancied Danes - among the pre-tournament favourites were given a tough workout in Group D. Both sides had goals ruled out for offside. » Cristiano Ronaldo is to leave Manchester United with immediate effect, the Premier League club have announced. United issued a statement last night saying they had reached a mutual agreement with the player to terminate his contract. It comes a week after the Portugal star unsettled the club in an outspoken TV interview.
The club statement read: “Cristiano Ronaldo is to leave Manchester United by mutual agreement, with immediate effect. The club thanks him for his immense contribution across two spells at Old Trafford, scoring 145 goals in 346 appearances, and wishes him and his family well for the future. Everyone at Manchester United remains focused on continuing the team’s progress under Erik ten Hag.”
Ronaldo’s statement said: “I love Manchester United and I love the fans that will never ever change. However, it feels like the right time for me to seek a new challenge.”