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England team players celebrate (Reuters)
After opening the World Cup on the right foot with a crushing 2:6 over Iran, the England team will try to complete their qualification for the round of 16 this evening (Friday), when they face the United States at 21:00. Coach Gareth Southgate will continue with the XI that started in the first game, with John Stones and Harry Maguire in defence, while Jude Bellingham and Bokayo Saka who excelled against Iran will continue to get credit.
England squad: Jordan Pickford, Kieran Trippier, John Stones, Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw, Declan Rice, Jude Bellingham, Bokayo Saka, Mason Mount, Raheem Sterling and Harry Kane.
The positive news came from the direction of Harry Kane, who completed training after concerns over injury in recent days. The Tottenham striker and captain of the national team is supposed to start in the lineup and after settling for two goals in six against Iran, he will try to score this time. It is important to note that the previous top scorer of the World Cup is only two goals away from Wayne Rooney (53), and tonight’s double will give him the crown of the team’s all-time scorers.
“The national team is returning our honor to the world stage,” he said Southgate. “Also in the junior team, the women’s team and of course the senior team, there are many positive things happening. We feel that we can be competitive for many years to come, of course our goal is to reach the later stages of the World Cup, these players are putting the country on the map and restoring our respect, we need to keep doing it.”
Regarding the upcoming game, the coach added: “We have three games to do it, we have to be ready for everything. Have we ever beaten the USA in a major tournament? No, that’s why we should try to make history. We know their players and the quality they have, so we need to be at our best and not underestimate the United States.”
Manchester United defender Harry Maguire, said: “I have great faith in myself, I work as hard as possible and give it my all.” No one likes to be criticized, but it’s part and parcel of the game. I played with Cristiano Ronaldo for the last two years, one of the greatest players and he also gets criticized every day. So if it happens to him, it will happen to any of us. I have to keep working hard and do my best.”
