Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
VOLGOGRAD STADIUM
THE importance of a good start cannot be overstated, with England managing just one opening win in their last four World Cups.
It is a statistic which should serve as a warning as the Three
Lions prepare to take on
Tunisia on Monday – and one not lost on
Ashley Young.
The Manchester United veteran admitted a positive opening is critical.
“We started brightly in our two recent friendly games and that can put teams on the back foot. It is what we are looking to do come the first game,” said Young. “It is always important to make a good start to a tournament. You want to get off to winning ways.
“Each game is tough but we are fully prepared.”
Tunisia, ranked 21st in the world, lost only narrowly to Spain last Saturday after conceding a late goal and looked physically strong and organised. “They were good,” said 32-year-old Young. “But every team at a World Cup is a good team. It is going to be a tough task but we are prepared.”
England boss Gareth Southgate (below) has pretty much set his mind on his starting line-up, with Dele Alli (left) likely to be included. But, if there is one position still open, then it might just be at left-wingback where Young is fighting Danny Rose for a starting nod.
There is no lack of confidence in England’s prospects from the Old Trafford player.
“It is a World Cup – the biggest competition in world football – and to be able to play on that stage you want to go and impress.
We are all looking to do that,” he said.
“Everyone knows there are pressures but as a kid you want to play in the biggest tournaments and I am as excited as anyone out there. We have to show we can handle that. It is a young squad but an experienced one.”
England threw open the doors to their training base in Repino for the locals for their first training session yesterday. The hotel is set deep in the woods with no distractions but is in darkness for only three hours a day, the sun setting around midnight. It makes the sleepy French town of Chantilly – where England were based in Euro 2016 – look like Las Vegas by comparison. The FA have laid on table tennis, pool and English TV channels to entertain the squad. They even secretly put family pictures in the players’ rooms to make them feel at home.
Young added: “A lot has been said about players getting bored but there has been none of that at all. The boys won’t be getting bored. There are plenty of things to do. “The facilities will make everyone feel at home. It is a fantastic environment with lots of things to do. It’s very relaxed, the FA have done a magnificent job for us so everyone feels at home.
“The togetherness and team spirit is fantastic. If you have that off the pitch and take it on to the pitch it can only stand you in good stead.”