Sports
Gareth Southgate: “England boss inherited a shambles but is one win from greatness’
![](https://i1.wp.com/ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/branded_sport/fba2/live/31255a40-412d-11ef-900e-0b9765b55499.jpg?w=1200&resize=1200,0&ssl=1)
England may be second favourites but the past few days have seen the emergence of a “name on the trophy” feeling of destiny, that the time may have finally arrived when a fresh story of success can be told.
As Southgate, relaxed and smiling on his final media appearance before the match, said: “We have a fabulous opportunity that we set out to achieve from the moment we left [the 2022 World Cup in] Qatar a bit earlier than we would have liked to.
“I’m not a believer in fairytales but I believe in dreams and we have big dreams. If we are not afraid of losing it gives us a better chance to win and I want the players to feel that fearlessness.”
Those of us chronicling the years of disappointment have witnessed all manner of reasons why England have had their noses pressed up against the window while other countries, most notably huge underdogs Greece at Euro 2004, have enjoyed success that has agonisingly eluded them.
In major tournament terms, past history makes the Southgate years seem like a golden era, with a World Cup semi-final, the Euro 2020 final, a World Cup quarter-final, and now this final against Spain on his CV.
It is all a far cry from what went before under his predecessors, when high hopes were dashed as England specialised in falling short.
England visibly wilted in the stifling heat of Shizuoka on the south coast of Japan when losing the World Cup quarter-final to Brazil in 2002, not helped by manager Sven-Goran Eriksson continuing to select David Beckham when clearly not fully fit – a pattern he would repeat with similar results.
The Euros in Portugal two years later was a tale of missed opportunity, ill-luck and “Roomania”, as the 18-year-old Everton phenomenon Wayne Rooney took the global stage by storm.
Rooney’s blockbuster display in the opening defeat to France was followed by two-goal performances in wins against Switzerland and Croatia transforming the silent street footballer – no interviews allowed – into a worldwide story.
Hotel bedroom phones would ring in the middle of night with outlets from around the world demanding any piece of precious information about the new young superstar. Having attended the same school as Rooney, De La Salle in Liverpool’s Croxteth district, became both a blessing and a curse for me.
Sadly it ended in more quarter-final disappointment, Rooney’s broken foot early in the game against hosts Portugal with England leading changed the course of their tournament.
England had a team groaning under the weight of world-class talent but the penalty curse struck again, as did Eriksson’s inability to fashion a balanced midfield out of Beckham, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and Paul Scholes.
Sports
Karl Darlow: Leeds United goalkeeper eyes World Cup after making Wales debut at 33
![](https://i0.wp.com/ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/branded_sport/31a1/live/13c89bc0-6f6c-11ef-bb19-a14a36c9c495.jpg?w=1200&resize=1200,0&ssl=1)
“It’s a special moment for them,” Darlow said. “My nan was made up to be back in Cardiff and enjoyed the game.
“I know everything about my grandad’s career and it’s something for the family and myself to be proud of. I hope I did the country proud wearing that shirt and will do in the future.”
Leek, a forward, did not play at the 1958 World Cup, but went on to win 13 caps in the 1960s, scoring five goals.
He played club football for the likes of Northampton Town – where Darlow was born – Leicester City, Newcastle United, Birmingham City and Bradford City.
Darlow has also played for Newcastle, as well as Nottingham Forest, Newport County, Walsall, Hull City and Leeds, who he joined in 2023.
He says a desire to play regularly at club level influenced his decision to turn down Wales, before Bellamy came calling having been appointed head coach in July.
“At different times in my career I’ve had probably different commitments in terms of getting to play games,” Darlow said.
“There have been certain points in my career when I didn’t feel it was right for me to come. I feel now I’m so motivated and determined to help this Welsh squad qualify for the World Cup.
“I had a fantastic Zoom meeting with the manager. Everything he said ticked all my boxes and he was pleased with how I came across as well. It’s a new era and the main goal for me and the squad is to get to the World Cup.”
Having sat on the bench in the Nations League opener against Turkey, Darlow was picked ahead of Danny Ward in Montenegro as Bellamy made five changes to his starting side.
Sports
Jack Draper: Great Britain yet to make decision over his 2024 Davis Cup involvement
![](https://i0.wp.com/ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/branded_sport/8a4d/live/fe1d8d50-6f6e-11ef-8e5b-6d7d7944eb29.jpg?w=1200&resize=1200,0&ssl=1)
The British team, without Andy Murray for the first time since his recent retirement, has a different feel for the Davis Cup Finals group stage event.
Dan Evans and Neal Skupski, who memorably teamed up to secure a “bonkers” doubles victory which put Britain through to the eight-team knockout stage in Manchester last year, remain in the squad alongside Draper and provide experience.
But Billy Harris – a late bloomer who has just moved to a career-high 101st in the world aged 29 – and 28-year-old Wimbledon doubles champion Henry Patten could be handed debuts.
British number two Cameron Norrie is missing through the arm injury which ruled him out of the recent US Open.
Smith praised Draper’s commitment to playing for his nation despite the short turnaround from his exploits in New York.
Draper had strapping applied to his right thigh before hitting with British number 10 Charles Broom for about an hour in Manchester.
“He is really excited to come here but we have to get him on the practice court, see how he’s doing, assess him,” added Smith, speaking on Tuesday before Draper linked up with the squad.
“Ultimately I’ll make the call on that. I have to select the team to do what is best, not just for tomorrow, but also we have really important matches at the weekend as well.
“We just have to weigh up risk versus reward a little bit.
“We have four guys here who are more than capable of going out tomorrow if that’s required and doing a really good job.”
Smith’s squad face Finland, Argentina and Canada in the round-robin event at Manchester’s AO Arena.
The top two teams progress to the eight-nation finals which will be held in Malaga between 19-24 November.
Sports
England drop Dan Lawrence and call up Brydon Carse and Jordan Cox
![](https://i3.wp.com/ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/branded_sport/5ae5/live/56631f30-6f78-11ef-bab9-13130fa2ccba.jpg?w=1200&resize=1200,0&ssl=1)
Jack Leach, who lost his place to Somerset team-mate Shoaib Bashir as England’s first-choice spinner, is in the squad, alongside leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed. Left-armer Tom Hartley misses out despite playing all five Tests on the tour of India earlier this year.
In all, there are six frontline seamers chosen, including 20-year-old left-armer Josh Hull following his debut against Sri Lanka in the third Test at The Oval.
Chris Woakes will go on his first England Test tour since Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum took charge of England in 2022, alongside Gus Atkinson, Olly Stone, Matthew Potts, Carse and Hull.
Mark Wood is not included, having been ruled out for the rest of the year with an elbow injury.
The inflated number of seamers could be down to fitness doubts over Stokes and Atkinson, the latter struggling with a thigh problem.
There is also confusion over the venues, which were due to be Karachi, Rawalpindi and Multan.
However, building work in Karachi is likely to leave that stadium unavailable, and a new schedule is due to be announced this week.
There has been speculation that part of the series could be shifted to the United Arab Emirates, but it is now thought the entire series will take place in Pakistan, possibly with two Tests in Rawalpindi.
Pakistan played both Tests of their 2-0 defeat by Bangladesh in Rawalpindi and did not pick a specialist spinner for the first Test, opting for four seamers.
England won 3-0 on their last visit to Pakistan in 2022, the first time a visiting team had recorded a 3-0 clean sweep in the country.
England squad for Test series against Pakistan: Ben Stokes (capt), Rehan Ahmed, Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, Harry Brook, Bryson Carse, Jordan Cox, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Josh Hull, Jack Leach, Ollie Pope, Matthew Potts, Joe Root, Jamie Smith, Olly Stone, Chris Woakes.
-
African History5 years ago
A Closer Look: Afro-Mexicans 🇲🇽
-
African History8 months ago
Black History Facts I had to Learn on My Own pt.6 📜
-
African History5 years ago
A Closer Look: Afro-Mexicans 🇲🇽
-
African History1 year ago
Major African Tribes taken away during the Atlantic Slave Trade🌍 #slavetrade #africanamericanhistory
-
African History1 year ago
Cameroon 🇨🇲 World Cup History (1962-2022) #football #realmadrid #shorts
-
African History1 year ago
What did Columbus Find in 1493? 🤯🔥🔥 #history #civilization #mesoamerica #africa #kemet
-
African History7 months ago
Black History Inventors: Mary Kenner 🩸
-
African History1 year ago
Origin Of ‘Cameroon’ 🇨🇲😳#africa