BUTCHER’S BOOT CHAMPS
TERRY BUTCHER used to fear the Three Lions shirt was like a straitjacket for some players. But the former England skipper says seeing Gareth Southgate’s players wearing Royal Marine fatigues has put the fight back into them. He feels the team’s bonding session at a Royal Marine boot camp was the perfect preparation for Saturday’s trip to face Scotland at Hampden. He was not confident heading into England’s previous meeting with Scotland last November, even though Southgate’s side won 3-0. “I was a bit apprehensive before Wembley,” said Butcher.
“Gareth was new in the job and I was worried about it. I got a bit of stick for saying that England played like the Three Lions shirts were straitjackets but it had to be said.
“Now I think Gareth has changed the mentality. He’s doing things that are very sensible and clever.
“I would have loved that (training with the marines). I would have stayed with them rather than come back and play football. It seems trivial but he took away their mobile phones and to the modern footballer that’s like removing an arm.
“Doing something different like that gets them together as a group quickly. Putting the players out of their comfort zone is great.
“I’d have loved to have dunked a few of those players after they lost to Iceland at the Euros.
“If I’d been there, I would have held them underwater!”
Terry Butcher was speaking as a guest of Mobilebet. For more information about Mobilebet’s £10 free bet offer please visit www.mobilebet.com. Terms and conditions apply. Deposit required.