One of any player’s finest professional accomplishments is being selected to represent their country. Millions of young boys and girls have booted their footballs against a wall with a chalked-on goal, and they will continue to do so, claiming to be the ones who scored the goal that gave England its first World Cup victory since 1966.
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I know I did that in the past, and maybe the person reading this did as well. And I’d wager that practically every player in Gareth Southgate’s current England lineup did the same. After all, playing for and representing your country is an honor. It’s the difference between you—the great—and the good.
Take Harry Kane, the current captain of England, rather than my word for it. The nation’s all-time leading scorer made clear how important his debut was to him, a game in which he came off the bench to score after just 79 seconds in a 4-0 victory over Lithuania in 2015.
“I knew a few of the players already, but hopefully I’m quite easy to get along with, so I’ve settled in quite well,” Kane added. I’ve been welcomed by all the players, who have all been wonderful, and I can’t wait to get started training and playing.
“Every time I go away with England, it’s a proud moment for me and to make my first training session with the seniors was a very special moment for me and yeah, I’m really proud of it.”
The England squad last week published a video of Chelsea talent Levi Colwill and Arsenal player Eddie Nketiah collecting their caps. First up was Colwill, who was summoned up to the front by Southgate to get his cap. The occasion was sealed with a handshake, and as he sat back down, a small smile could be visible on his face.
Nketiah will thereafter have a turn. He approaches Southgate without smiling and appears fairly reserved. He simply takes his cap and extends his shoulder for Southgate to briefly wrap his arm around before sitting down again. Before calling him up, Southgate even mentions his earlier accomplishments: “Eddie – top scorer with the Under-21s. Congratulations on receiving your first senior cap.
Many people online criticized the odd contact, but he was afterwards photographed smiling and holding his cap in a pose. When asked about it just over a month ago, the star was visibly upset. The star’s emotional outburst may have been a result of his attempt to maintain composure in front of his teammates.
After the roster was revealed, he told the England media team, “It felt strange. “I’m typically a calm guy, but I did temporarily lose my cool. It was a fantastic time.
“My entire family was visibly upset. It’s good to have that acknowledgment because it’s been a long road and I’ve worked hard to get here. I can’t recall exactly what I said. I doubt that I spoke very much. I was simply checking my phone, making sure every thing was accurate.
“I truly liked it. My parents were really upset because they gave up a lot to bring me here. It was great to see the joy and pride on their faces. To be able to experience that moment with them was very precious.
Mikel Arteta, whose star player opened the club’s account in the 2023–24 season in the opening weekend against Nottingham Forest, will undoubtedly be happy with how his star has done thus far this season. The Gunners might maintain their unstoppable form with a victory over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge this weekend now that he is returning from the international break having played for England.
Nketiah, 24, who was left out of England’s team to play Italy in a European Championships qualifier on Tuesday and is now anticipated to return to Arsenal, will be rested for the encounter.
