An interesting sight was beheld during the English national football team’s practice session ahead of its semifinal against Croatia in this year’s World Cup. On Tuesday morning, the valiant English players were seen joyfully tossing around a rubber chicken.
By
Yulvianus Harjono
·4 minutes read
AFP PHOTO/PAUL ELLIS
England’s forward, Raheem Sterling, takes part in a training session in Repino on July 10, 2018 ahead of the team’s semifinal match against Croatia during the Russia 2018 World Cup soccer tournament.
An interesting sight was beheld during the English national football team’s practice session ahead of its semifinal against Croatia in this year’s World Cup. On Tuesday morning (10/7/2018), the valiant English players were seen joyfully tossing around a rubber chicken at Spartak Zelenogorsk Stadium in Saint Petersburg.
The “rubber chicken game” was held during the warm-ups ahead of the morning’s practice. The Three Lions squad was split into two groups and were given two rubber chickens. The defending team was told to attack the opposing team with the rubber toy.
None of the English players could hold back their laughter. Team captain and midfielder Jordan Henderson laughed the loudest. There had been concerns that the Liverpool player would not be able to join the match against Croatia because of an injury. However, he was seen running around cheerfully with his teammates at the practice.
The rubber chicken practice drew the curiosity of international journalists. The technique was unusual, especially by a semifinalist on the brink of clinching its ticket to the finals. Usually, practices at this stage comprise light jogging or running on the pitch.
AP PHOTO/FRANCISCO SECO
England\'s Jordan Henderson listens to a question during England\'s official news conference on the eve of the semifinal match between England and Croatia at the 2018 soccer World Cup in the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, July 10, 2018.
“What is the meaning of training with the rubber chicken, Gareth?” a reporter from Germany’s Bild magazine asked England coach Gareth Southgate on Tuesday afternoon, during a press conference at Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium.
“That’s what I asked our fitness coach! What’s that all about?!” Southgate responded to laughter from reporters.
“It’s just a bit of fun to get them moving. We make our warm-up sessions as comfortable and fun as possible,” he said.
Joy, camaraderie and solidarity are the three main weapons the Three Lions have carried throughout the 2018 World Cup. They will depend on each other in the match against Croatia’s experienced players. Despite their reputation as “children” due to their minimal international experience and their players’ average age of 26, England is facing Croatia with a healthy dose of self-confidence.
AP PHOTO/FRANCISCO SECO
England head coach Gareth Southgate listens to a question during England\'s official news conference on the eve of the semifinal match between England and Croatia at the 2018 soccer World Cup in the Luzhniki stadium in Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, July 10, 2018.
“You can see just how solid we are. Honestly, this is the most solid and fun English team I have ever been in. We’ve enjoyed massive changes [since Southgate joined],” Henderson told the press conference. “Croatia has great players like [Luka] Modric. However, here we are in the semifinals. We want to keep on winning.”
Along with France, England has one of the youngest and most dangerous teams at Russia. They have scored 11 goals in five matches. Only Belgium, the other semifinalist, with its roster of football stars like Kevin de Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku and Eden Hazard, has scored more goals with 14. Croatia has scored 10 goals.
Healing old wounds
Interestingly, the last time England scored 11 goals at a World Cup was when it won the Cup for the first and (thus far) last time in 1966. Understandably, the squad’s large number of goals this year has boosted the English public’s confidence that the Three Lions will bring the trophy home this time around. It will be the perfect way to heal old wounds and decades of disappointment.
GETTY IMAGES/CLIVE ROSE
Dejan Lovren of Croatia speaks during the Croatia Press Conference at the Luzhniki Stadium on July 10, 2018 in Moscow, Russia.
“‘Football’s Coming Home’ is a song I couldn’t listen to for 20 years. For me, it has a slightly different feel, but it’s nice for me to hear people enjoying it,” said Southgate.
The Times says that more English people would come to Luzhniki Stadium to watch the semifinal against Croatia on Thursday (12/7/2018) at 1 a.m. Jakarta time.
England might rely on dead balls in the match. Of the 11 goals the team has scored, 73 percent of their goals – eight goals – were made from dead ball situations. In comparison, Croatia is highly prone to creating dead balls. Of the four goals scored against the team, three were from dead ball situations.
Nevertheless, Croatia remains optimistic. “This is a chance of a lifetime. Nobody is tired. Everyone is waiting for the match,” said Croatian striker Andrej Kramaric.
