Liverpool legend Robbie Fowler says World Cup is "good timing" for England

Alex Broun 19:28 18/06/2018
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    • Liverpool legend Robbie Fowler says England are in the right frame of mind for World Cup

    Liverpool legend Robbie Fowler says the lack of expectation for England going into the 2018 World Cup gives them their best chance in years of progressing deep into the tournament.

    Speaking from Abu Dhabi Golf Club where he is appearing at the Global Football Fan Zone during the World Cup, Fowler said: “Ironically there’s probably less pressure on the players this time, because people aren’t saying – as they have in the past – ‘We’ve got a great chance, we can do this, we can do that.’

    “I think people are aware that on paper England are not a bad side but they also know there’s many many good nations out there who can perform a little bit better.”

    The striker, who scored 128 goals for the Reds in 266 appearances, is full of praise for young manager Gareth Southgate’s “relaxed” management style in stark contrast to previous England managers.

    “The fact that Gareth Southgate has played himself,” said Fowler, “he’s played to a good level, he’s played under good managers and he’s treating the players like adults opposed to keeping them locked away.”

    “I think he’s letting the players thrive so I think the players go into this competition a lot more confident and feel a bit more free than they were in other tournaments.”

    Fowler is not picking England to win the tournament but in a World Cup with no “standout teams” so far he believes they can make it to the last eight.

    “Being an England fan, I fully expect them to get out of the group,” he said, “I actually don’t think they’ll win the tournament, if I’m being totally honest, but from all the games we’ve seen so far I don’t think there’s been many standout teams.

    “I know it’s very very early days in the tournament but I think they can go past the group stages and into the quarter finals.

    “That is when teams come into their own and start to perform a little bit better and get by with a little bit of confidence.”

    The popular 43-year-old said Southgate’s final message to his players before they open their campaign against Tunisia in Volgograd at 22:00 (UAE time) Monday night should be just to be themselves.

    “As any manager will tell you, going into the tournament it’s important you get off to a good start, try and get that win,” he said.

    “If you get that win early in the tournament it gives you that little bit more confidence and you’re not pressurized into performing better the second and third game because of what’s happened.

    “He’ll tell the players go out there, be who you are, play the way you can and no dis-respect to Tunisia but if the England team turn up, and play the way they can play, then they should win the game.

    “I think his team talk is to get as much confidence out of his players as he can.”

    Fowler, who scored seven goals for England in 26 caps from 1996-2002, said the World Cup may have come at the right time for England.

    “The build-up has been very good from an England point of view as well,” finished Fowler.

    “Gareth has said all the right things. The players have all been good, the players have been relaxed, Gareth looks relaxed as well – I think its good timing for England.”

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