GUIMARAES (Portugal) • Raheem Sterling is set to lead England out for the first time at today's Nations League semi-final against the Netherlands.
The Manchester City forward will be handed the honour as a reward for a half-century of appearances, casting doubt over whether Champions League finalists Harry Kane, who is the regular skipper, and Jordan Henderson will start.
The pair are among seven players in Gareth Southgate's 23-man team who reported for duty only this week after their involvement in Madrid last Saturday.
While the England manager may be tempted to select players with whom he has trained more extensively over the past few weeks for the encounter with Ronald Koeman's men, Sterling is considered to be one of the first names on his team sheet.
The former Middlesbrough boss has elevated him into his core "leadership group" in recent times and has spoken of his qualities.
He said of the 24-year-old in March: "When you speak to other young players, he's one of the first they speak about making them feel really comfortable in the environment.
"We've had three or four players captaining the team, and Raheem is developing lots of the qualities those guys have."
Although Southgate has stipulated he would have no qualms about throwing Kane into the fray, the Tottenham striker still lacks match fitness. He started in their 2-0 Champions League final loss to Liverpool after not playing since early April following ankle ligament damage.
There are alternative options, however, with a prospective front three of Jadon Sancho, Marcus Rashford and Sterling, and a midfield trio of Fabian Delph, Declan Rice and Ross Barkley.
Calling Sterling "an amazing young man", Delph feels the recognition his City teammate is getting is fully deserved and there is more to come.
He added: "I still believe he's operating at about 80 per cent. So if he can push himself a bit more, which I know he will because his mindset is very good, the sky's the limit in the next couple of years."
This Nations League tournament in Portugal presents England a real chance of silverware for the first time since Le Tournoi in 1997, but in their way stand a resurgent Dutch side.
HIGH PRAISE
When you speak to other young players, he's one of the first they speak about making them feel really comfortable in the environment. We've had three or four players captaining the team, and Raheem is developing lots of the qualities those guys have.
GARETH SOUTHGATE, England coach, on Raheem Sterling's qualities.
The Oranje have had a lean few years after failing to make it to last year's World Cup and Euro 2016, but with a golden crop of young players, there are few fears they will miss out for a third consecutive major tournament.
The Netherlands have already shown their promise in knocking out world champions France and Germany to make the last four of the Nations League.
There were also as many Dutch players as English players (two) in Liverpool's starting XI as they lifted their sixth European Cup and Koeman is confident he can keep Southgate's men at bay as "we have the best centre defenders with Matthijs de Ligt and Virgil van Dijk".
The former Everton boss said: "In the last few years, yes, it is the best generation, but they are just starting. We are on a good way back to where we would like to stay as a country."
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, THE GUARDIAN
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has expressed sympathy with Thierry Henry after he was suspended by Monaco. The Ligue 1 strugglers announced on Thursday that Henry has been stood down as head
Suspended Henry set to lose Monaco job - uk.sports.yahoo.com
SINGAPORE, 15 MAY 2019 - The Merlion Cup will return to the Singapore football calendar this June after a decade-long hiatus. The Football Association of Singapore (FAS) announced today afternoon that the invitational tournament will be staged for the eighth time in a new quadrangular format, which will feature the national Under-22 teams of Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines.
Singapore Slingers Set for Pre Season Merlion Cup Action
Two recent viral videos, including one where a woman wrongfully accused a 9-year-old black boy of sexually assaulting her at a deli, have become the latest focus of outrage of alleged racism and highlight a trend of white people being held accountable for their actions after recordings show the black person has done nothing wrong, reports NBC News.
Amid blackface outrage, parents rip racism at Forest Hills
Football: Man City title hopes hit by shock defeat at Newcastle
Man Utd fans split on blaming De Gea or Herrera for Mustafi's Arsenal goal. and Manchester United fans didn't know whether to blame David De Gea or Ander Herrera. (@The_One_Bissaka
EPL: Tottenham blame De Gea for 1-0 defeat to Manchester
Jurgen Klopp plays down Liverpool fatigue concerns ahead of season run-in The Merseyside club, who clinched a Champions League semi-final spot after beating Porto on Wednesday, continue their tussle with Manchester City for the top-flight title when they travel to Cardiff City on Sunday.
Klopp plays down Liverpool fatigue concerns ahead of season
Shopping made easy and fun. Shop our online assortment of exclusive products and top brand names from the comfort of your home. See what's new at HSN!
SportsKenya: Sports Betting Landscape in Kenya
Son Heung-min is one of the most popular footballers in the world. A superstar in Asia and beloved in Europe, the 26-year-old Tottenham forward is at the top of his game right now with 16 goals on
No more tears for Son Heung-min as Spurs star eyes Champions
Gianni Infantino says he has wide support for 48-team World Cup in Qatar Gianni Infantino said a decision would be made by March, although it was still not clear whether an enlarged tournament would be feasible as it would be "difficult" to stage in Qatar alone.
Football - Gianni Infantino says he has wide support for 48
Valencia president Chan Lay Hoon will step down in July, the club said on Monday, after employing five different coaches in little more than two years in charge. Valencia appoint Anil Murthy
Valencia at 100: President Anil Murthy on plans to compete
Andre Gray came off the bench to fire Watford into the FA Cup semi-finals with the late winner in their 2-1 victory over Crystal Football ; Super-sub Andre Gray sends Watford into FA Cup semis .
Super-sub Gray sends Watford into FA Cup semis -football- my
watch soccer online free streaming live youtube
watch coppa america live streaming world
watch coppa america live streaming quality
watch champions league online free live streaming hd
watch coppa america live streaming india
watch soccer live streaming kenya vs ethiopia
watch coppa america live streaming direct
watch soccer game live now
watch coppa america live streaming putlockers
watch uefa champions league live streaming youtube
watch live soccer streaming free android
watch uefa champions league final live streaming free online
watch coppa america live streaming vivo
watch premier league darts live stream
watch hd soccer live streaming free
watch soccer live live football streaming cr7
watch coppa america live streaming hd free
watch iceland soccer live stream
watch coppa america live streaming uk
watch the premier league live stream
watch coppa america live streaming mexico
watch coppa america live streaming jamaica
live ipl live streaming- watch indian premier league 2013 online
watch champions league live streaming pakistan
watch champions league live streaming bola
watch champions league live streaming zee tv
watch indian premier league live streaming
watch champions league live streaming putlockers
watch premier league live streaming zimbabwe
watch coppa america live streaming live
watch live streaming soccer manchester united
watch live streaming soccer online espn3
watch coppa america live streaming vf
watch coppa america live streaming online
watch soccer online free streaming live canada
watch coppa america live streaming gratis
watch soccer online free streaming live arabic
how to watch uefa champions league live streaming
watch champions league live streaming manchester united
watch uefa champions league quarter final draw live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming hd
watch coppa america live streaming canada
watch coppa america live streaming india vs england
free watch soccer live streaming
watch soccer online free streaming live south africa
watch soccer online free streaming live batman
watch coppa america live streaming xbox
watch everton vs tottenham live soccer streaming
watch barclays premier league live streaming online free
watch uefa champions league live streaming free online reddit
watch soccer online free streaming live
watch coppa america live streaming usa
watch soccer live streaming mobile
live tv soccer live stream - live3s.com
watch coppa america live streaming dailymotion
watch soccer aid live stream
watch soccer games live stream free app
watch premier league net live stream channel
watch soccer online free streaming live without registration
watch soccer live streaming xbox
watch coppa america live streaming zip
watch soccer live streaming kenya
watch champions league live streaming zee5
watch soccer online free streaming live manchester united
watch champions league live streaming live free
watch real madrid vs juventus live streaming of champions league
watch soccer online free streaming live no registration
watch soccer live streaming xfinity
watch champions league live streaming canada
watch live premier league football streaming online for free iraqgoals
free live football streams watch live streaming tv premier league
watch afghanistan premier league live stream
watch soccer online free streaming live uk
where to watch premier league live streaming
watch champions league draw live stream total sportek
watch english premier league live streaming free
watch soccer online free streaming live espn
watch uefa champions league live streaming free online india
watch coppa america live streaming kenya
watch bangladesh premier league live streaming
#manchestercity #comico #klopp #liverpoolcity #lfc #uefanationsleague #championsleague #bayern #henderson #lionelmessi #footballdubai #leomessi #calciatoribrutti #trollfootball #liverpoolfans #villarealcf #gym #mensnightout #copaamerica #knuckleball #commento #vandijk #oasisandbeatles #barcelona #oasisengland #coutinho #visubal #livesports #oasisofficial #salah #leicestercity #england #goodday #romania #kopisusu #midnight #GarageCafeDxb #Fcb #valcea #watchlive #sunderlandafc #Liverpool #hoffenhiem #acmilan #ballondor #manchestercity #pagani #bestshishacafedubai #football #gunners #footballfans #premierleague #footballmeme #tokyo #goal #petercrouch #arsenalnews #league2 #golazo #chocolate #frasirap #oudmehta #ucl #lovefootball #messi #Barcelona #liverpool #beatifulgame #zinedinezidane #adidasslipon #hotcoffee #conference #cappucino #mancity #fcbarcelona #Sunday #Vip45 #liverpoolfc #americanfootball #4Series #winner #premierleague #soccermemes #seriea #bayernmunich #arsenal #mancityvsliverpool
0 Comments