SANCHO’S SUCH A SMART COOKIE
JADON SANCHO has an ice-cool mentality which sets him apart as a special talent. That is the view of England boss Gareth Southgate, who says the 18-year-old’s football brain is the reason he stands out. Borussia Dortmund winger Sancho (left) has eight assists for club and country this season, and Southgate said: “His decision-making is generally very good – such as the timing of the pass for Trent Alexander-Arnold’s goal against the USA.
“People will look at what he can do with the ball and the excitement he brings, but he does make good decisions in attacking areas.
“With some players, the heart races faster and they are not able to pick those passes or see the runs of people ahead of them.” Sancho made his first start in Thursday’s 3-0 win, while Alex McCarthy, Lewis Dunk and Callum Wilson all made their England debuts.
“We took quite a risk against USA,” said Southgate.
“We put a lot of players in for their first games, a team that hadn’t had the chance to play with each other.
“But we were excited about what they might do.”