ENGLAND’S hopes of topping Group G have been left on a knife edge by group rivals Belgium’s red-hot start to the tournament. The young Three Lions team can’t afford any slip-up when they take on Panama in the first game of Sunday night from 10pm (AEST). Japan and Senegal then face-off for a surprise chance to go top of Group H from 1am. Then the drama really cranks up when Poland and Colombia meet in a do-or-die clash from 4am that will likely see one of the highly-rated teams eliminated from the tournament.
3 HOURS AGO6.45pm
England’s ‘double bluff’ in World Cup treachery
Playing mindgames.
Playing mindgames.Source:AP
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England coach Gareth Southgate has revealed the “leaked” England team spotted in training this week is NOT the one which will start against Panama.
Pictures of team planning were published which appeared to suggest the side who will line up for the Three Lions in their Group G clash with the Central Americans on Sunday, The Sun reports.
Southgate has played down the storm on social media about the way the English media used the snaps of coach Steve Holland’s notes, which had Marcus Rashford partnering Harry Kane with Raheem Sterling dropped.
The English press may have in fact aided England’s preparation by leaving Panama completely clueless as to who will actually start for England.
Reports on Sunday night (AEST) claimed Southgate was telling the truth the entire time with Sterling set top keep his spot in the starting 11.
He had claimed that it will “probably” not be the team he names for the game, where a win will be enough to guarantee a place in the knock-out stages.
So either this was a brilliant double bluff by Southgate or it was a meaningless storm in a teacup anyway... https://t.co/FLrd9kn5Zk
— Martyn Ziegler (@martynziegler) June 24, 2018
Southgate said: “I made quite a balanced observation yesterday which, I’m told, has gathered quite a bit of momentum. I should explain.
“My view is I totally understand the media have a role to report the news.
“My only observation is that it’s definitely an advantage for us or the opposition if you know the tactics of the other team. That was the only question I was asking.
“From our point of view, I don’t expect the media to be supporters of us in terms of the way they work. They’re here to work.
“I know they want us to do well. That’s been clear through the tournament. I’m really relaxed. Last week the team came out three days before the game, and I said nothing.
“It’s not something we can control, and I understand it’s something that happens and is part of being a big team. The picture the other day wasn’t even the team, so even less of a team.
“The front sheet is always the runners and riders in training, and behind that all the changes we’ll make in the session. I’m totally relaxed.
“I understand some of the guys have had a bashing on social media, for which I apologise, but nothing that happens or is released changes the way we want to work with the media.”
Southgate added: “We’re open because we feel it’s a better experience for everybody. The players are getting their messages to the supporters, and the environment has been really positive.
“Everyone is away from weeks. For all of us, players, staff, journalists, that’s a difficult environment to be in.
“The guys have to find stories and produce content. We have to produce results. It’s like we are all away with our families and, after a while, you’re sick of some people and happier with others.
“If the opposition have your team in any sport, that’s a competitive advantage, but it’s not the job of the media to protect that.
“The other day was a list of 23 players and people have taken something from it which probably isn’t correct. But no drama.”
Asked about Panama, Southgate said: “Every team in the tournament we’ve seen already the difficulty big countries, in terms of rankings, have had in terms of breaking down lower ranked teams
