LICENCE TO ROAM

Kieran Trippier has always idolised David Beckham, and studied the set-piece delivery of Andrea Pirlo, yet it is a defender who spent seven years at Oldham who has had the greatest impact on his career.

Trippier, 27, has emerged as arguably England’s best player at the tournament, and has already been talked of as the best right-back at this World Cup. His ability at corners and free-kicks has largely been hidden by Christian Eriksen’s superiority at Tottenham, but have been England’s most potent outlet out in Russia. Not somuchbenditlikebeckham as Twist It Like Trippier.

While anyone who has hit so much as a half-decent setpiece since the mid 2000s refers to the influence of Beckham or Pirlo, Trippier revealed his older brother, Kelvin Lomax, was the footballer he always wanted to emulate. Beckham spent his childhood kicking a ball around a field near his house alone, but Trippier had his brother, four years his senior, to knock about with.

“I just played with my brother because when I was younger

“The formation is perfect for me – I can get forward and try to get the crosses in and help my team as much as I can”

KIERAN TRIPPIER