17/10/2025

SPORTS FRIDAY | OCT 17, 2025

30

Bellingham and ‘non-negotiable’ standards Ű BY MIGUEL DELANEY

SHORTS Maresca banned for wild celebration

them or I speak to them everyone is eager to come back. This is how it has to be and I have trust in more players than just those here. “We always speak about the same names but we have Conor Gallagher, we have Trevoh Chalobah, we have Cole Palmer injured and a lot of other

“really wanted to get it over the line”, but is now all the more assured that England will produce their best level at the World Cup. “We will get there,”explained the German. “I cannot promise that we will win it but I feel that we will get there with a strong team, and a strong cohesion and the right spirit. It’s building, you can see it on the pitch and this is the basis for all of it.” When asked about the best international teams right now, and his those who will be favourites, Tuchel didn’t actually name his own homeland – Germany. “We will start analysing the favourites very early, of course, because we think they will qualify. That’s normal,” he added. “There’s a huge amount of support in the FA, everybody is on that, there’s a machine running behind it. “Of course we will analyse right now Brazil, Argentina, Spain, France, and Portugal.” – The Independent

a good feeling around the last two camps” – has only amplified the noise around Bellingham’s omission. The manager has already spoken about how Bellingham can “intimidate” teammates but nevertheless claimed there is a chance for everyone to come back in, and confirmed he will speak to the Real Madrid star before the next camp. “Of course, he’s an important player, he’s a big player,” Tuchel explained. “I will speak to a lot of players, also to the guys who were not in camp –they will get texts from me – especially them because these guys who are here, they have feel the reward. Now it’s also necessary that I stay in touch with the other guys. “No one has done anything wrong, it’s not a punishment or whatever, and I feel when I text

THOMAS TUCHEL (pic) will speak to dropped stars like Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden ahead of the November international break, as he confirmed his selection policy was “not a punishment” but that anyone called up will have to buy into “non-negotiable standards.” The England manager was visibly thrilled after securing World Cup qualification with a 5-0 win away to Latvia and admitted he now has to decide on whether to use the remaining qualifiers at home to Serbia and away to Albania in the same way or allow some experimentation. Tuchel did insist he wants to maintain the competitive edge to selection in this campaign and “keep the thing going”, as he asserted England will go to the World Cup “in the right spirit.” Constant talk of squad chemistry – Tuchel said there’s“such

“Just the manner we’ve done it in, I’ve only been here fully this camp, but was partially here last camp, and could see where it was going,” he said. “Six clean sheets, numerous goals, the fashion that we’ve done it in and the professionalism that’s been set. “How we have treated every game, and how we’ve performed in every game, it’s been getting better and better. “We’ve got to keep building. We’re not trying to make a statement. We’re trying to try to build and get better. “It’s a pleasure to be a part of, I’m extremely proud of the guys that have contributed over this period, it’s been really special.” – The Independent “I like scoring goals, but I try to do my best for the team,“ he told TyC Sports after his brace against Puerto Rico. “I tried last time, but it didn’t work out. “Scoring goals helps; it gives you confidence. Especially at a time when, personally, the season hasn’t started in the best way. This helps to continue building confidence.” CHELSEA coach Enzo Maresca was given a one match touchline ban yesterday for dissent and over celebrating a last-gasp goal in a 2-1 Premier League win over Liverpool on Oct 4. The Italian will now be banned from the touchline for Chelsea’s match away to Nottingham Forest in the Premier League tomorrow (7.30pm Malaysian time). He has also been fined £8,000 (RM46.000) and the Football Association said Maresca openly admitted the misconduct charge. He was given a yellow card for railing against a penalty decision and picked up a second one in the sixth minute of stoppage time for wildly celebrating Estevao Willian’s angled winner during a desperate onslaught. Chelsea had lost their previous two matches before tackling Liverpool at home, and the win lifted them to sixth place at that time as under-fire Maresca avoided a third successive league defeat. Maresca is reported to have told the Italian media that running down the touchline and celebrating with the players had been “an instinctive reaction” and added that it had been worth it even if he got sent off. Mac Allister ready to strike LIVERPOOL midfielder Alexis Mac Allister has confessed his dissatisfaction with the start of his season, but is optimistic that a successful international break with Argentina can reignite his campaign. The 26-year-old netted twice in the first half for the world champions as they hit six against Puerto Rico on Tuesday. Mac Allister played the entire match in the international friendly, marking his first full 90-minute game since Liverpool’s win over Leicester City in April. Mac Allister acknowledges his campaign has not begun in the most promising fashion, but he is hopeful of building momentum from his recent displays for Argentina.

guys out there who deserve to be with us. They are hungry and determined to be with us and it has to be like that.” Tuchel did add, however, that there are certain standards he expects from any player he

calls up. “If we invite them, we are sure they will buy in or we will not invite them,” declared the Three Lions boss.“This is, how do you say, a non negotiable.” Tuchel admitted he was a bit more nervous than usual on the day of the Latvia game because he

Three Lions building something: Tuchel

England’s Elliot Anderson (left), Declan Rice (centre) and Anthony Gordon during warm up. – REUTERSPIC

No chance England will take it easy in final World Cup qualifiers

Ű BY JONATHAN VEAL

squad will look. Asked how early qualification will affect his thinking, he replied: “To be very honest, I don’t know. I’m not so sure if this changes anything in the nomination process. “Maybe it does, but I need to get my head around it next week. “Now is a moment to enjoy it. You can feel it in the dressing room. “I can feel it with myself, but in the dressing room is all smiles. It’s a very special moment. It’s not daily business that you qualify for a World Cup. “So we did this. We will then think about how this affects our next camp. “Harry (Kane) just gave a speech that said everyone will be ready to keep this thing going in November. “No one will step back and lean

back and take anything for granted. “So they feel that they’re building something. Maybe it will give us the chance to try some stuff. “Maybe it will give us the chance to manage minutes. “But I can assure you, we will stay competitive no matter how we decide and how we organise these two matches. “We want to win both matches because we owe it to ourselves. We need to keep the thing going and what we build is very precious.” John Stones added that England’s World Cup qualification was sweet reward for getting through the tough times which left him contemplating retirement. The Manchester City defender recently revealed he thought about

hanging up his boots after last season was decimated by injury. But he is through the other side of that nightmare and is targeting “something special.” Asked whether it helps get over his struggles, he said: “It definitely does. It’s hard for me to express it. “The personal satisfaction, joy, happiness of being here, of going through that tough period, I suppose that’s why you do it. “I have proved to myself that I can overcome anything, in tough times. “It makes it more satisfying and I’ll hopefully be on the plane to go next year and hopefully we can do something special.” The last three games have seen Tuchel’s men click and Stones wants the upward trajectory to continue.

T HOMAS TUCHEL says England will continue to go full throttle in November’s final two World Cup qualifi ers, despite having already booked their place at the tournament. Wednesday’s 5-0 win in Latvia clinched qualification for next year’s finals as England made it six wins from six in a flawless Group K campaign. That means there is nothing riding on next month’s matches against Serbia and Albania. Also Tuchel could take the chance to experiment. But the German says his side are “building something” and will not let up, even if he is unsure of how the