LONDON: England midfielder Mason Mount is relishing the possibility of another head-to-head battle with Croatia’s Luka Modric in Sunday’s Euro 2020 clash after taking the spoils in his first encounter with his boyhood idol.
Mount’s influential display played a key role in Chelsea’s Champions League semifinal victory against Modric’s Real Madrid this season.
The Chelsea star grew up in awe of Modric’s graceful performances for Tottenham, Real and Croatia so had to pinch himself when Modric asked for his shirt after Chelsea’s 2-0 second-leg triumph at Stamford Bridge.
But his admiration for the 35-year-old will be put on hold at Wembley this weekend when England kicks off their Euro campaign.
“He has always been a player that I have looked up to,” Mount said on Friday. “Ever since he has been in the Premier League with Tottenham, I have watched him quite closely.
“Playing against him, it was weird because I had watched him so much, I kind of knew his moves and what he was going to do.
“It helps being a fan of a player and then playing against him because you know what he likes to do.
“The experience of playing against him helps because you want to be in these big games and learn how to handle the pressure and big moments.”
Mount took home Modric’s shirt after the first leg in Madrid, with the 2018 Ballon d’Or winner then requesting his jersey in the return meeting.
“I spoke to (Mateo) Kovacic before the first game and asked if I could get his shirt at a later date,” he said.
“I managed to do that and he asked for mine in the second game because I didn’t actually give him mine in the first.
“Kovacic said he likes to swap with players so he came up and said he wanted mine, just said ‘good luck in the upcoming games’.”
On current form, Mount is a strong contender for a place in Gareth Southgate’s starting line-up to face Croatia in a rematch of the 2018 World Cup semifinal won by Modric’s men.
Having provided the pinpoint pass that led to Kai Havertz’s winner in Chelsea’s Champions League final victory against Manchester City, Mount’s confidence is high.
The 22-year-old would love to help England achieve their own historic triumph in the Covid-delayed European Championship.
“Obviously knowing the history, we’ve never won a Euros before, so, for us, we’re a team that’s very hungry to want to do that,” Mount said.
“We want to create history that no-one has ever done before and I feel like with this group, with this young group, we can definitely do that and we know what we can do.”
England’s Mount eager to resume duel with idol Modric at Euro 2020
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England’s Mount eager to resume duel with idol Modric at Euro 2020
- Mount's influential display played a key role in Chelsea's Champions League semi-final victory against Modric's Real Madrid
- The Chelsea star grew up in awe of Modric's graceful performances for Tottenham, Real and Croatia
Pakistan will boycott T20 World Cup match against India. ICC says decision will damage cricket
- No reason was given for Pakistan boycotting the game against India, but Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi had criticized governing body ICC for “double standards” by refusing to shift Bangladesh’s games to Sri Lanka
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s government says the national cricket team will be allowed to take part in the upcoming Twenty20 World Cup but must boycott its group game against arch rival India.
India and Sri Lanka are co-hosts for the 20-team tournament, which starts Saturday.
Pakistan will play all its games in Sri Lanka — including any in the knockout stage — because of political tensions with India. The two teams are scheduled to meet in a Group A game in Colombo on Feb. 15 in what is often a tournament highlight for fans, broadcasters and organizers alike.
That’s looking in doubt this time.
“The Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan grants approval to the Pakistan Cricket Team to participate in the ICC World T20 2026,” the government posted Sunday on its official X account. “However, the Pakistan Cricket Team shall not take the field in the match scheduled on 15th February 2026 against India.”
No reason was given for Pakistan boycotting the game against India, but Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi had criticized governing body ICC for “double standards” by refusing to shift Bangladesh’s games to Sri Lanka. Bangladesh was replaced by Scotland for the tournament.
Naqvi was vocal in Pakistan’s support for Bangladesh and left the decision of Pakistan’s participation in the T20 World Cup to the government when he briefed Pakistan’s prime minister, Shehbaz Sharif, on the issue.
ICC criticizes decision
The International Cricket Council said in a statement that it was waiting to receive an official communication from the PCB over the planned boycott, while warning against harming “the spirit and sanctity” of the global events.
“This position of selective participation is difficult to reconcile with the fundamental premise of a global sporting event where all qualified teams are expected to compete on equal terms per the event schedule,” the ICC said.
“While the ICC respects the roles of governments in matters of national policy, this decision is not in the interest of the global game or the welfare of fans worldwide, including millions in Pakistan.”
The ICC said its priority is to successfully organize the T20 World Cup and “expects the PCB to explore a mutually acceptable resolution, which protects the interests of all stakeholders.”
The ICC also said it “hopes that the PCB will consider the significant and long-term implications for cricket in its own country as this is likely to impact the global cricket ecosystem, which it is itself a member and beneficiary of.”
Pakistan’s first match is against the Netherlands on Saturday in the tournament opener in Colombo. It will then take on the US on Feb. 10 and Namibia on Feb. 18.
India would be set to receive two points if Pakistan forfeits their game.
A Pakistan vs. India tournament game attracts huge interest and is a significant source of income, through broadcasters and sponsors, for the ICC.
Pakistan and India have not played a bilateral cricket series for the last 14 years, but both nations have regularly been in the same group at ICC tournaments.
Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha, who led the team to a 3-0 win in the three-match T20 series against Australia on Sunday in Lahore, said he will follow his government’s instructions.
“It’s (boycotting game against India) not our decision, we can’t do anything about it,” Agha said. “We will do whatever our government and the (PCB) chairman say.”
The strained political relations between the two countries spilled onto the cricket field last year when India’s players refused to shake hands with Pakistan’s players during three Asia Cup games, including the final, in the United Arab Emirates.
