Even if it doesn’t go to plan against Iran and the USA, Gary won’t be too worried
Stuttering starts to World Cup Finals campaigns were fraught, but not fatal, for Gary Stevens during his time with England.
The former Rangers favourite and three other Ibrox colleagues – Terry Butcher, Trevor Steven and Chris Woods – were in Bobby Robson’s squad that drew first with the Republic of Ireland, then Holland, at Italia 90.
However, Stevens ended up playing in a third-place play-off against the hosts in Bari four weeks later to close out a thrilling journey.
Four years earlier, he recalls the squad refusing to speak to the English newspapers in Mexico after their scathing response to losing to Portugal then drawing against Morocco in their group openers.
Only Diego Maradona’s Hand of God, and stunning second strike could get the better of them in the quarter-finals against the eventual winners, Argentina.
Stevens cannot foresee any early slip-ups from Gareth Southgate’s squad in Qatar, despite shaky form building up to the tournament from the Euro 2020 runners-up.
The man who won 46 caps said: “England have a good squad in Qatar. You’d hope playing Iran tomorrow is a nice, comfortable ‘something to nil’ to ease your way into the competition.
“They should also sail past the United States. Then it’s Wales. They obviously have a couple of outstanding players in Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey, but not enough to hold up England.
“So you expect England to get full points, and a good goal difference, to take them through easily.
“After that, it would be a disaster not making a quarter-final. It’s the least this squad of talent should get. “Anything above that, great. “There’s been a dip in form since the Euros, particularly in the Nations League. But don’t be kidded by recent results. Expectations are just as high.
“My experiences in Mexico and Italy were of terrible starts. There are so many banana skins in the first phase.
“But if you get rolling and have a goalscorer – like we did in Gary Lineker – then you can go deep in any competition.”
Stevens, who won six league titles at Rangers, says England’s greatest strength is at striker.
Harry Kane won the Golden Boot with six goals in Russia four years ago, and followed up with four knock-out round strikes at Euro 2020.
“Kane is obviously the mostimportant player in the squad,” Steven noted. “If he’s firing and scoring goals, then that reflects on the rest of the team.
“He’s genuinely world-class. But I actually like the defence more than many others.
“I’m a fan of Kyle Walker. He’s got a great engine. I was a bit like that – although I wanted a bit for technique! “And I feel for Harry Maguire (right), who’s been vilified and dragged over the coals. He’s done well to hold his head up high to play for his country.”
Stevens, now 59 and a physiotherapist in Perth, Australia, will watch the Iran match in a bar in Sydney with England fans.
It’s one of several promotional appearances for the Goodison great, who’s spent the weekend as Everton’s ambassador at their Sydney Super Cup tie against Celtic.
His experiences of Battle of Britain clashes were already sour after Merseyside rivals, Liverpool, did a Champions League double over Rangers.
“I’m hoping the break turns out positive for Everton, who have not been in a good vein of form,” said Stevens, whose former club are 17th in the Premier League.
“At Goodison, there has been too much chopping and changing of players and managers in recent years.
“So I hope Frank Lampard stays, and is successful. I don’t know him, but believe he’s highly thought of at the club.”