These appear to be a likeable bunch of England players.
Where certain members of our neighbours’ Rugby team often give off an arrogant, brash and rude vibe, the majority of England’s footballers are the complete opposite.
Let’s not beat around the bush. Here in Ireland, many of us love to hate England and any reason we’re given to dislike them will be gleefully snatched with both of our hands. That’s just the way it is. They’re our neighbours and our rivals and that grudge will always be there.
The England team that defeated Colombia in a penalty shootout on Tuesday night are a relatively young bunch of players. A young bunch of players who don’t give us any real reason to dislike them and deep down, many of us have a connection with them.
Gareth Southgate is the leader and the England manager leads by example. A man of real substance, the former Middlesbrough captain always represents himself with class and with dignity.
This photo pretty much sums Gareth Southgate up. Great pic. pic.twitter.com/DSA24Vu06L
— Julian Bennetts (@julian_bennetts) July 3, 2018
Harry Kane is a representative of these England players. As honest as the day is long, there’s no cockiness about the Tottenham front man and his desperation to succeed must commands respect.
The image of him beating the ground after England had won the shootout shows just how much this means to him.
In Ireland, anybody interested enough in soccer generally follows the Premier League. Every single one of England’s players on Tuesday night plays for a Premier League team and that’s one of the reasons we didn’t want to see them miss a crucial penalty last night and then be scarred with it for the rest of their careers.
Raheem Sterling was undoubtedly England’s liveliest player on the night. The Manchester City winger was a constant threat in that first half when England were on top and though he tired slightly in the second half, he kept plugging away and never once shirked the physical Colombia challenge.
His willingness to sacrifice himself for the good of the team deserves admiration and the way he ran himself into the ground shows just how far he’s come from the player who was often classed as flaky in his younger days..
It’s well known at this stage that certain sections of the England press hold a bizarre obsession with the youngster. The Sun have demonised him and even claimed he should have been dropped from the World Cup squad a few weeks ago due to some ink on his skin.
On the night of only England’s third knockout victory in a World Cup since 1990, their first in a game that stretched beyond 90 minutes, The Daily Mail felt the time was right to focus on the negative parts of his performance.
“It was up to England’s penalty heroes to make sure Sterling gets another chance,” they wrote.
Oh fuck off you dirty cunts. pic.twitter.com/ugv9TqBAPy
— Nooruddean (@BeardedGenius) July 3, 2018
.@Matt_Lawton_DM doing his best to prove he has nothing against Raheem Sterling. You’d think that once people had rallied in his defence he’d learn that this agenda isn’t popular. pic.twitter.com/kDr0VOkZgr
— El Siz (@mikeyd105) July 4, 2018
That’s just a little bit weird to vilify Sterling when he ran himself into the ground for the England cause every minute he was on the pitch.
Yerry Mina won't get off Raheem Sterling's back – a job at the Daily Mail awaits pic.twitter.com/4LSHQLYN4K
— JOE (@JOE_co_uk) July 3, 2018
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