BURTON-UPON-TRENT, England: Midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek said on Wednesday he can play many positions on the pitch for Thomas Tuchel as he makes his return to the national team for the first time in seven years.
Loftus-Cheek, who played under Tuchel at Chelsea from 2021-22, was a late addition to the squad for this month’s World Cup qualifiers against Andorra and Serbia, being called up after Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton withdrew due to injury.
“It’s been a long time,” the AC Milan player said at England’s training base at St. George’s Park on Wednesday. “I was part of the 2018 (World Cup) squad and even the season after I was called up — and then of course, I ruptured my Achilles.
“Being away from the squad for so long I kind of got used to not going,” he added. “You still want to push in club football with the hope of maybe getting a sniff. But I just completely forgot about it and was being a fan for the team instead.”
Loftus-Cheek came through the Chelsea academy as a central midfielder, but credits Tuchel with helping him become more versatile.
“When he came into Chelsea, he spoke to me about playing wing back. I said ‘No way.’ I ended up playing there anyway,” the 29-year-old said with a laugh. “Tuchel suggested that I am a powerful runner and have the pace to play there.
“I played many positions under Tuchel and he values my physicality... With things that can happen in a tournament, being versatile is a good thing.”
Loftus-Cheek’s career has been blighted by injury, but he is intent on helping England finally win their first trophy since the 1966 World Cup.
“We were so close in 2018 (fourth at the World Cup) and the boys have been incredibly close in the years after. It was nerve-wracking watching those games,” he said. “You hope for the future that we can go all the way.”
England play Andorra on Saturday at Villa Park and then Serbia in Belgrade three days later.
Loftus-Cheek ready to make long-awaited England return in any position
https://arab.news/9t4kw
Loftus-Cheek ready to make long-awaited England return in any position
- Loftus-Cheek was a late addition to the squad for this month’s World Cup qualifiers against Andorra and Serbia
- “It’s been a long time,” the AC Milan player said at England’s training base at St. George’s Park
Desert Vipers hold nerve to edge Abu Dhabi Knight Riders in ILT20 thriller
- Key contributions from Shimron Hetmyer and Khuzaima Tanveer prove decisive as the Vipers weather tense finish to overhaul target of 171
- Knight Riders start well, reaching 87 in 10 overs, but momentum shifts in second half of their inning as the Vipers’ spinners struck back
SHARJAH: Desert Vipers made it two wins out of two in the DP World International League T20, as they held their nerve to secure a dramatic two-wicket victory over Abu Dhabi Knight Riders at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Friday.
Shimron Hetmyer’s counterattacking 48 off 25 balls, and a late-order cameo from Khuzaima Tanveer, who hit 31 off just 12 deliveries, proved decisive as the Vipers weathered a tense finish to overhaul a target of 171.
Sent in to bat, the Knight Riders made a confident start through Phil Salt and Alex Hales, with the latter anchoring the inning to top-score with 53 off 37 balls.
Despite reaching 87 in 10 overs, however, the momentum shifted in the second half of the inning as the Vipers’ spinners began to strike regularly. Qais Ahmad and Noor Ahmad led the middle-overs fightback, dismissing Hales and triggering a collapse as the Knight Riders lost five wickets.
Andre Russell’s unbeaten 36, and useful contributions from Alishan Sharafu and Unmukt Chand, at least helped Abu Dhabi reach a competitive total, but they were unable to fully capitalize on the side’s strong opening.
The Vipers began explosively in reply, smashing a tournament-record 19 runs from the first over. However, early wickets then left them wobbling on 44/3. Sam Curran and Dan Lawrence rebuilt the attack before the latter combined with Hetmyer for a crucial 68-run stand that swung the contest back in the their favor.
Late strikes from Ajay Kumar and Russell, the latter dismissing Hetmyer for his 500th T20 wicket, set up a tense finish, but Tanveer delivered under pressure. Needing eight runs off the final over, he sealed victory with a six and a boundary.
“It was, in many ways, a fortunate escape but an outstanding result for us,” said Curran, the Vipers’ stand-in captain.
“ADKR possess a very powerful batting lineup, and I believe our bowlers performed exceptionally well throughout the innings. The dismissals of Hetmyer and Dan introduced an unexpected twist but the team showed commendable composure in the crucial moments.”
Knight Riders’ stand-in skipper Sunil Narine felt his side had been lacking with the bat: “We were 15-20 runs short. We began well in the powerplay and that phase was crucial for us.
“The conditions eventually worked in their favor and the dew made it challenging for our spinners. But at the end of the day that’s part of the game.”
The result leaves the Vipers well placed at this early stage of the tournament, while the Knight Riders were left to reflect on missed opportunities after such a strong start.
