Harry Kane leads England’s southern stars to victory over northern team-mates in Three Lions training
Jesse Lingard is Manchester born and bred but was poached by the eventual winners
HARRY KANE led England’s southern side to a training-ground win over the northern players in the squad.
Tottenham team-mates Eric Dier and Dele Alli joined their captain alongside Adam Lallana, Man City star Raheem Sterling and Ashley Young.
Chelsea owned Ruben Loftus-Cheek was in the winning side with goalkeeper Nick Pope, Jake Livermore, Jack Butland and Nathaniel Chalobah who is training with the squad but not going to Russia.
And Manchester native Jesse Lingard was added to the team despite his roots and accent.
The Tottenham hitman will lead the Three Lions in Russia next month after being given the armband by boss Gareth Southgate.
And bullish Kane told the nation: “I believe we can win it. Anything else is not good enough, really.
“Maybe we’re a bit afraid to say we want to win stuff because we’re afraid of the fans’ or media’s reaction.
“I don’t want us to be afraid to say we want to win it. We have to be brave.”
Kane, 24, is England's youngest World Cup skipper in history, but he is full of confidence ahead of the tournament.
The Three Lions have not reached a semi-final since Italia 90, but Kane is already dreaming of lifting the trophy in Moscow on July 15.
Kane added: “Whether we go out at the group stage or the semi-final, it’s the same - we won’t win the World Cup if we lose those games.
“We discuss as players and say we shouldn’t have any fear. We want to win it, we’ll go there and do our best to achieve that.”
Kane spoke passionately about his role, but he was caught up in the hysteria that always begins when a squad gets together before a major tournament.
The Tottenham forward, who held off the challenge of Jordan Henderson and Eric Dier for the privilege of captaining England, clearly has a World Cup win in his sights.
Southgate told him in private TWO MONTHS AGO he would lead the country to the World Cup and then announced it to the squad at dinner on Monday evening.
Kane’s positive attitude was a remarkable approach considering he was in the England that came home in disgrace after losing to Iceland at Euros 2016.
The England forward is convinced that his approach can rub off on the rest of the squad as 23 men selected by Southgate prepare for the tournament.
To win it, they will have to emerge from the group of Tunisia, Panama and Belgium, before going on to play a possible quarter-final with Brazil or Germany.
BABY FEET England captain Harry Kane wears personalised boots in honour of daughter
To get knocked out on penalties -
To win ALL group games -
To NOT win a group game -
To Reach quarter-final -
To reach semi-final -
To reach final -
Full list of candidates -
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