England's capital gains and cage debts
Eight of England's World Cup outfield could have London roots
London is home to 15% of the population, has only 8% of the country’s playing fields but could supply 80% of England’s outfield at the World Cup, including the entire back-four, a key midfielder and the front three. I’m not completely sure of the relevance of this postcode revelation. Quirky, yes. A question for a pub quiz, why not? Material for Visit London marketing department? It certainly ticks a box to box. But this capital takeover did strike me when tuning in to England’s 5-0 thrashing of Serbia.
London’s contribution to the England national team in recent years has partly been framed as supplying flair players – “ballers” - who hone their skills in the capital’s cages. Radio documentaries and plenty of columns have been devoted to the journeys of Bukayo Saka (in west London) and Eberechi Eze, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Jadon Sancho (south London). “That’s where I played my football, on the street, in the cages every day,” Loftus-Cheek told me at St George’s Park last week. “Even though I’m a big guy, I developed technically a lot in those cages. The boys that come from London did the same thing in the cages every day after school. It helped me develop so much technically. So when you step on a big pitch it becomes easier.”
What also needs highlighting is that all four members of England’s defence against Serbia were raised in London. Two of them, Marc Guehi and Ezri Konsa, goalscorers in Belgrade, played in cages, sharpening their ability to keep the ball under pressure and reactions to a loose ball.