Better me than the players, says injured England boss Southgate

For many people, Panama is best known for either the canal linking the Pacific and Atlantic oceans or for their world-famous hats. Fulham wanted me. Arsenal wanted me. Never will, or ever think like that.

“She sat me down one day, and she said, “Look, I love you”. I can’t express enough how thankful I am for that. “I’m well aware of what the standards are and what Gareth wants from his players”.

“At the moment, England are effectively playing with three number 10s, even though none of them are what you would describe as the classic versions of this position”.

Sterling, who started England’s opening World Cup win over Tunisia in Group G on Monday, has received negative media coverage over his allegedly “lavish” spending habits, including when he bought his mother a house in 2016. His passing accuracy is his real strength, which could help his City team-mate Raheem Sterling find better areas to work in than he found against Tunisia.

England are favourites going into the game, but nothing should be ruled out when it comes to this World Cup.

“We got some clips, sat down together and he wanted to give his advice and opinion on these actions”.

Rashford’s pace and running instantly troubled Tunisia but Loftus-Cheek was, if anything, even more impressive. That’s the thing I have learned over the years.

The 31-year-old played in all but the final game of the World Cup qualifiers but was omitted from Gareth Southgate’s squad after a disappointing season on loan at West Ham United.

“I am a lot wiser”, he said, reflecting on 2014.

Panama’s threat is a very obvious one – and one that will revive painful memories for England. It’s hard to say. He was feeling a little bit of an issue just before half-time.

“It was a great experience for me getting two caps out in Miami”.

“You don’t want the opposition finding out who is playing and who’s not until they’re supposed to, essentially”.

“I don’t think it would affect me mentally”, Delph said.

“That bought us more pressure because we were able to get more set plays into their box, so I thought the movement of the front four and the two boys that came on was a real problem for them”. I didn’t fully understand what my mum was doing for us.