Jesse Lingard’s form in the second half of the season, following his loan move to West Ham, put him in with a chance of making the England squad for Euro 2020. He wasn’t selected in the end but has been in contact with friends Marcus Rashford and Declan Rice and has told The Lions’ Den that the team is feeling confident ahead of the final against Italy this evening.
I spoke to Marcus a little bit and Dec a little bit, they’re confident, that’s the only word I can use, everyone is thriving off the challenge and they’re more than ready to go. That’s the thing with late kick-offs, you have to wait for the game. Preparation is key, you have to fuel your body up, it will be a tough game, there will be a lot of running involved so diet and nutrition is key today.
The boys have stuck together throughout the tournament, they’ve got their own principles of play, they’ve stuck by that and believed in it and that’s what’s got them to the final. t’s difficult because I know the players inside and out, I know the qualities they bring, when they play like they’ve been playing, full of confidence and winning games, I well and truly believe they will win the final.
Everyone has played a part, England is like family, we all stick together, whether you’re playing or not, for us as players who got left out we still support the boys, we’re fans, throughout the tournament I’ve been supporting them.
Lingard is due to return to Carrington tomorrow to start pre-season training with Manchester United now that his quarantine period after going abroad has ended. But reports suggest that David Moyes hasn’t given up hope on signing the player on a permanent deal this summer.
The Warrington man says he enjoyed his well deserved rest and is looking forward to getting back to football, following watching the final at home tonight.
It’s much needed, they’re long seasons. I played quite a few games at the back end of the season. I’d love to be at the Euros, but the rest is important so I’ve been training at Mykonos to get myself prepared to go back to Manchester United. I got back on Monday, I’ve been quarantining, but it’s day five today, I got the negative test result. I’ll watch the game tonight and then go in training tomorrow.
I’ll stay at home, soak it up, maybe get a few people around, I’ll be screaming the house down when that full-time whistle goes and we win. I can feel it.
