World Cup 2018: Cahill always comes back for more, Rose and Young in fight for left-back spot… and Alexander-Arnold or Trippier?
Gareth Southgate still has plenty of big decisions to make as Three Lions prepare to take on Costa Rica on Thursday
THE great thing about Gary Cahill is that he always comes back for more.
A month ago he did not have a prayer of making the World Cup squad after losing his place in the Chelsea team.
Cahill kept his cool, forcing his way back into Antonio Conte’s thoughts before he finally returned to the starting line up towards the end of the season.
He is an England player again now, scoring the opening goal in the 2-1 victory over Nigeria on Saturday.
After a difficult season, Cahill deserves a break.
DAN THE MAN?
DANNY ROSE is now in a straight shootout with Ashley Young for the spot out on the left for England’s opening group game.
Rose, working on his fitness during the week, is pencilled in to play Costa Rica at Elland Road on Thursday.
But Rose’s lack of playing time in a Tottenham shirt this season has given Young the chance to nip in ahead of him ahead of the World Cup opener against Tunisia.
Young, who was decent enough against Nigeria on Saturday, is now a 50:50 chance to start the opening game out on the left.
TRENT TO TRIPP KIERAN?
GARETH SOUTHGATE is eager to give Trent Alexander-Arnold a shot at a World Cup starting place when he joins up with the squad.
Kieran Trippier’s experience - along with his set-pieces - give him the edge over the Liverpool youngster at the moment.
But the speed of Alexander-Arnold’s development has surprised Southgate and he will get some minutes against Costa Rica on Thursday if he trains well this week.
POTTER'S SWANS-SONG
GRAHAM POTTER’S first job at the Liberty Stadium is to bring back the Swanselona Way.
That unique playing style, established by Roberto Martinez and continued under a succession of Swansea managers, was one of the reasons they were welcomed into the Premier League.
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Potter has earned his chance to win promotion to the top flight, but the fans want their sweeping style of football back before all that can happen.
Now that Potter is in control, Swans fans can expect a return to that liberating style.
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LOW EXPECTATIONS
JOACHIM LOW has been experimenting with the world champions ever since Germany qualified for Russia last October.
Since then, they have not won a game.
Germany have drawn with England, France and Spain, and lost against Brazil and Austria in successive friendlies.
Low has one of the best squads in the history of the game and somehow you just know that they will get it right when they get to Russia.
They have one more friendly to go - at home to Saudi Arabia - before the opener in the group against Mexico.
When they get there, they should be worried about facing Juan Carlos Osorio’s side - because Mexico’s head coach is convinced they will qualify from the group.