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The English media have already begun their ritual of being decidedly unhelpful to their country’s national team ahead of a major tournament with their targeting of Raheem Sterling in the past week.
A staggering overreaction to an unfinished and well-explained tattoo led for some ludicrous calls for the man valued at £81m by Transfermarkt to be dropped from Gareth Southgate’s World Cup squad altogether.
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After that, Southgate mentioned in passing that confusion over connecting flights led to Sterling reporting for England duty 12 hours late – missing no training sessions as far as it can be perceived – and voluntarily apologising to his team-mates.
Yet, given the opportunity to get out onto the pitch and silence the doubters, the Manchester City flier flourished in his free role behind Harry Kane as England ran out 2-1 winners over Nigeria.
Sterling is clearly quite central to Southgate’s England, and with four dribbles and three shots, he was able to get on the ball freely, even if his finishing was as wayward as we have sometimes come to expect.
With one key pass, he also showed the selflessness that a number 10 must have and the only blot on his afternoon was a booking when he anticipated contact, going down too early in a way no England fan will mind if it wins a crucial penalty in Russia.
