James Maddison knows England manager Gareth Southgate is not going to hand out “token gesture caps” to the Leicester City midfielder as he hopes for his first World Cup minutes this weekend. He knows there are more experienced international players in the squad, and that they are performing well. He’s not about to knock on Southgate’s door.
James Maddison said: “I haven’t had any minutes yet, but if I start sulking and moaning and not being a good person around the camp, it feeds into the spirit of the team. Nobody wants to look themselves in the mirror and be that guy. There’s a bigger picture. I wanted to be in the squad so bad that not playing yet is not getting me down. It’s a pleasure to be here. I’m happy to be here but I want to play as well. That’s why you train hard, that’s why you try to catch the manager’s eye so he looks at the bench, sees you, and thinks: ‘He’s an option.’ We won 3-0 (against Senegal) and all the attacking players scored, so I can’t go knock on his door. There are lads here who have a lot of experience in international games and we’re not at the stage where there are token gesture caps. Every substitution is measured. I’m sure there will be a time in a game where he might need me and the quality I have to come on and impact the game. That hasn’t been yet, but I’m staying hungry.”
France are the toughest opponent by far that England have faced at the World Cup, but being in the last eight and just three games from glory, Maddison is dreaming. The togetherness in the group can help those dreams come true.
James Maddison said: “It’d be unbelievable if we go and win it. That would be what dreams are made of. When you’re a little kid, when you’re watching the games at school, playing at a World Cup for England is the pinnacle. It is literally what you dream of. To be here is an honour and a privilege. It’s a great set of lads. It’s almost like a group of brothers, that’s the feeling it’s got. That’s with the staff as well, it’s not just the players. The group is so tight and that’s one of our strengths.”
