All the latest news and reaction as quarter-finals are setThe Fiver: sign up and get our free daily
Football emailYou can contact Luke by email, on
Twitter or comment BTL 9.17am BST
It’s 1 July, and we all know what that means: Five years to the day since Hal Robson-Kanu’s belter against Belgium:A very happy @RobsonKanu day, to all those celebrating. pic.twitter.com/rudnNrirp8 9.12am BST
“It really aggravated me when Jack Grealish was interviewed after the
Germany game and the ITV interviewer immediately suggested that ‘the draw had opened up for England’,” writes Duncan. “Let’s face it, that basically translates as “Everyone on our side of the draw is rubbish except us.” These subtle comments prove that Modric was right about English arrogance. Englanders - and I am one - if you really want to win it, please, please stop thinking we’ve already won it!”
Agreed. There are definite shades of 2018 here, when
England (media and certain fans, rather than the team) seemed to think a semi-final against Croatia was essentially a bye into the final. As you rightly point out, nothing motivates your opposition more than this type of thing, even if it’s never to do with the players and more leading questions from journalists such as the one about the draw ‘opening up’.