On Saturday night, the Singapore Sports Hub will be packed. Singaporeans will gather for a genuine rarity. For some, they’ll be witnessing an event for the first time in their lives.
England will play Sweden in a quarter-final. Kids and teenagers, raised almost exclusively on a steady diet of English Premier League and Champions League football, probably thought they had more chance of seeing Santa Claus at the Singapore Sports Hub. Instead, they’ll watch the Three Lions face the Swedes, just 90 minutes (and the rest) from their first semi-final since Italia ‘90.
Gareth Southgate isn’t blessed with the best footballers at this tournament (apart from housewife’s favourite Harry Kane of course.) He isn’t even blessed with a particularly starry England squad. But the Three Lions coach has three winning factors in his favour.
First, he has the kindest World Cup draw of recent history, perhaps a bit of karma for the horror fixtures of Brazil 2014.
Second, he has a limited squad in terms of talent, which has given them a superior temperament. There’s no ego, no sense of entitlement, just a willingness to work for the collective.
And third, thanks to the above point, these are the most likeable England players in a generation. There’s a humility that’s most enduring, which seems to make them level-headed on the pitch. Oh and they also have a goalkeeper who likes saving penalties.
OK, that’s four things. It really does seem as if everything is going in the Three Lions’ favour.
Neil Humphreys
Singapore’s best selling author and Football columnist
