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The Guardian
4 days ago
- Sport
- The Guardian
Thomas Tuchel discards Southgate's blueprint to build England's mettle
When, in April 1965, a month shy of his 30th birthday, Jack Charlton was called up to play for England for the first time, he was baffled. In characteristically blunt fashion, he asked Alf Ramsey why on earth he had picked him. 'I have a pattern of play in mind,' Ramsey replied. 'And I pick the best players to fit the pattern. I don't necessarily always pick the best players.' Or at least that is the printable version of their conversation that has been left to history. 'You're a good tackler and you're good in the air, and I need those things,' Ramsey continued. 'And I know you don't trust Bobby Moore.' There is a fallacy that the winning of major tournaments is about having the best players. It is not; it is, as Ramsey understood, about picking the right players in the right configuration – even if that means leaving out players who have played very well for you, as he did with Peter Thompson, or leaving the goalscoring darling of the media on the bench, as he did with Jimmy Greaves. England now are in a position not unlike that in which they found themselves in 1965. They have a year left before a World Cup for which they will be one of the favourites, and they have a manager who has made clear he is not concerned by such nebulous concepts as developing the culture or blooding players to be ready three or four tournaments down the line. Thomas Tuchel, no less than Ramsey, knows his job is to win. Tuchel does have one complication that Ramsey did not, which is that he still needs to qualify. England would expect to top their group but the two games against Serbia and the trip to Albania cannot be taken for granted. Saturday's fixture against Andorra, meanwhile, probably can. In that regard it represents an opportunity for Tuchel, a chance to foster team spirit and perhaps test out a couple of theories, even if the tougher test may come in training sessions than at the RCDE Stadium in Barcelona. That's why, for instance, Ivan Toney has been called up. When he left Brentford for Al-Ahli in the Saudi Pro League, it made sense that he should lose his place in the England squad. He had voluntarily taken himself to a lower level and it was a reasonable assumption that his sharpness would diminish as a consequence. But he scored 23 goals in 29 starts this season, playing well enough at least to be entered into the conversation for squad places. After all, his role would almost certainly be as one of two back-ups to Harry Kane, and he remains a formidable converter of penalties. For most players the fact that only 11 of their 23 goals this season were from open play would be a negative, but for Toney it almost works in his favour: he scored 12 out of 12 from the spot, taking his career record to 42 penalties converted out of 44. Quite aside from his physicality and movement, which helped turn the Euro 2024 quarter-final against Switzerland, that is a very useful weapon to be able to bring on for a shootout. So it's understandable that Tuchel wants a look at Toney, to see whether he has lost his edge, to work out whether he can fit into his vision for the team. Tuchel has acknowledged that he would have liked to go to Saudi Arabia to watch Toney in action but, having been unable to fit that into his schedule, it makes sense to see him in a squad environment. Whether he plays against Andorra is probably less important than the impression he has made more generally in this camp. Pre-tournament camps, of course, are always the stuff of legend. West Germany were adamant that the 1954 World Cup was won by the Kameradschaft generated at Spiez on the Thunersee before the tournament. The Italy squad of 1982 and the France squad of 1998 talk about how they bonded against the common enemy of a critical media. Pelé led the 1970 Brazil squad in communal prayer sessions. However it is achieved, a sense of togetherness is vital. Sign up to Football Daily Kick off your evenings with the Guardian's take on the world of football after newsletter promotion With time limited, this international break represents a rare chance for Tuchel and his squad to spend time together, to foster that team spirit – which, having been good for three tournaments under Gareth Southgate, seemed lacking at Euro 2024. That's why Tuchel insisted on warm-weather training and took the squad to the Barcelona grand prix last Sunday. Some tactical work may have been done, but this was far more about trying to recreate the inflatable unicorns of 2018, or at least the bonds they represented. And this is the right time to do it. England cannot take Serbia or Albania lightly, and club commitments restrict the time available during the season. But with no English representation in the Champions League final, before a June qualifier against the team ranked 173rd in the world and a friendly on Tuesday against Senegal, there is some leeway in the calendar. Whether it has worked will become apparent only next summer at the tournament. Either way, this week and the two games to come are not about the result or even about the performance; rather they're about what goes on behind the scenes in terms of refining the squad and engendering the right mentality.
Globe and Mail
14-05-2025
- Sport
- Globe and Mail
Keegan Bradley invites LIV golfers to Ryder Cup dinner despite PGA Tour-LIV tensions
Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley hosted a dinner in Philadelphia last week for prospective players high on the points list. Most of them were in the field for the Truist Championship. Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau were not. Both players from Saudi-funded LIV Golf were invited to Philadelphia to join the informal dinner. DeChambeau's flight was delayed by weather, and he joined remotely. But it was another strong indication Bradley cares only about fielding the best team. 'They were in there on points and they played on previous teams. It was great to have them there,' Bradley said Tuesday. 'This Ryder Cup and what comes with this, no one cares about what's going on in this PGA Tour-LIV. We're trying to put the best team together. It could mean there's one LIV guy, two LIV guys, it doesn't matter. We'll see how this year shakes out. 'It was really great to have them together with all the guys,' he said. 'It's been a while since we've been able to do that.' Koepka played in the 2023 matches at Marco Simone, while DeChambeau played in 2021. 'Look, I've got to keep playing good golf and … hopefully I can make it on points alone,' DeChambeau said. He and Koepka can only earn points in the majors. Jon Rahm, meanwhile, can earn points for the European team through the majors and European tour events he chooses to play. Rahm had not yet joined LIV Golf when Europe beat the Americans in Italy with Luke Donald as the captain. He would seem to be a lock for Europe. 'That's a question for Luke,' Rahm said. 'It's his team. Hopefully I can qualify, and we don't have to question it. I would like to think that personally I am, but it's not up to me.' Justin Thomas is back at Quail Hollow, where he won his first PGA Championship. He learned on Tuesday he will be going back to where he won his second Wanamaker Trophy. The PGA Championship is returning to Southern Hills in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in 2032. It will be the sixth time Southern Hills has held the PGA, the most of any course, to go along with three U.S. Opens. The Perry Maxwell design – restored by Gil Hanse for the 2022 PGA Championship – has proven a strong test over the years. Only 45 players in eight major championships at Southern Hills have finished under par. Thomas tied a PGA Championship record in 2022 when he rallied from seven shots behind in the final round – including a shank on the par-3 sixth hole – and drove the par-4 17th green during a three-hole playoff he won over Will Zalatoris. Other PGA champions at Southern Hills were Tiger Woods (2007), Nick Price (1994), Raymond Floyd (1982) and Dave Stockton (1970). All but Stockton are in the World Golf Hall of Fame. While it's a tradition that doesn't get nearly as much attention as the Masters Club dinner at Augusta National, the PGA Championship also has a dinner for past champions. Defending champion Xander Schauffele was in charge of Tuesday night's menu, which was set to include smoked goat cheese dates, pickled watermelon, clams casino shooters and steak and blue cheese crostini as appetizers. The main course was Wagyu New York strip steak, served with blackened jumbo shrimp, whipped sweet potatoes and a bourbon bone marrow reduction. Banana split and strawberry shortcake were for dessert. Schauffele placed full trust in the chefs at Quail Hollow while choosing the menu, saying they haven't let him down in his previous trips to Charlotte. 'The only thing I said was sort of steak,' Schauffele said. 'I saw a lot of blue cheese on there. I think we're kind of tweaking it a little bit, from the last of my knowledge, or making it a little bit more customized; you can have some on or not because it's sort of a really strong, you either like it or you don't thing.' As part of the tradition, Schauffele planned to give his fellow past PGA champions cigars and a humidor. 'The cigars I had input on,' Schauffele said. Jon Rahm would love nothing more than to get a career Grand Slam. He's still two majors away – the PGA Championship and the British Open. Until he gets the third leg, his mind is more occupied with total majors instead of the collection of all four. 'I think obviously it would be a lot more on my mind if I were to win a third different one, kind of like Jordan [Spieth] has been able to do,' Rahm said. 'But right now, if I ever had a thought, I'll focus more on quantity of majors rather than which ones. 'Let's say I never achieve it,' he said. 'I'd rather have a situation like Sir Nick Faldo where he has six of two of them instead of having maybe three different ones, if that makes sense.' Faldo won the Masters and the British Open three times each. He has the most majors of anyone who has two legs of the Grand Slam in the last 100 years. Xander Schauffele, who won the PGA Championship and British Open last year, is on the same page. 'If I win another double major, the Open and the PGA, I'm not going to cry about it,' he said. 'I'm trying to win as many as possible. The Grand Slam is obviously on the list of goals. But I'm not picky.' Scottie Scheffler thought it was 'wild' that Rory McIlroy could win the Grand Slam with five majors. Tiger Woods, however, completed the slam by winning one of each (and then 11 more), as did Gary Player, who finished with nine majors.
Associated Press
13-05-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
Keegan Bradley invites LIV golfers to Ryder Cup dinner despite PGA Tour-LIV tensions
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley hosted a dinner in Philadelphia last week for prospective players high on the points list. Most of them were in the field for the Truist Championship. Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau were not. Both players from Saudi-funded LIV Golf were invited to Philadelphia to join the informal dinner. DeChambeau's flight was delayed by weather, and he joined remotely. But it was another strong indication Bradley cares only about fielding the best team. 'They were in there on points and they played on previous teams. It was great to have them there,' Bradley said Tuesday. 'This Ryder Cup and what comes with this, no one cares about what's going on in this PGA Tour-LIV. We're trying to put the best team together. It could mean there's one LIV guy, two LIV guys, it doesn't matter. We'll see how this year shakes out. 'It was really great to have them together with all the guys,' he said. 'It's been a while since we've been able to do that.' Koepka played in the 2023 matches at Marco Simone, while DeChambeau played in 2021. 'Look, I've got to keep playing good golf and ... hopefully I can make it on points alone,' DeChambeau said. He and Koepka can only earn points in the majors. Jon Rahm, meanwhile, can earn points for the European team through the majors and European tour events he chooses to play. Rahm had not yet joined LIV Golf when Europe beat the Americans in Italy with Luke Donald as the captain. He would seem to be a lock for Europe. 'That's a question for Luke,' Rahm said. 'It's his team. Hopefully I can qualify, and we don't have to question it. I would like to think that personally I am, but it's not up to me.' Southern Hills gets another PGA Justin Thomas is back at Quail Hollow, where he won his first PGA Championship. He learned on Tuesday he will be going back to where he won his second Wanamaker Trophy. The PGA Championship is returning to Southern Hills in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in 2032. It will be the sixth time Southern Hills has held the PGA, the most of any course, to go along with three U.S. Opens. The Perry Maxwell design — restored by Gil Hanse for the 2022 PGA Championship — has proven a strong test over the years. Only 45 players in eight major championships at Southern Hills have finished under par. Thomas tied a PGA Championship record in 2022 when he rallied from seven shots behind in the final round — including a shank on the par-3 sixth hole — and drove the par-4 17th green during a three-hole playoff he won over Will Zalatoris. Other PGA champions at Southern Hills were Tiger Woods (2007), Nick Price (1994), Raymond Floyd (1982) and Dave Stockton (1970). All but Stockton are in the World Golf Hall of Fame. Steak and cigars ready While it's a tradition that doesn't get nearly as much attention as the Masters Club dinner at Augusta National, the PGA Championship also has a dinner for past champions. Defending champion Xander Schauffele was in charge of Tuesday night's menu, which was set to include smoked goat cheese dates, pickled watermelon, clams casino shooters and steak and bleu cheese crostini as appetizers. The main course was Wagyu New York strip steak, served with blackened jumbo shrimp, whipped sweet potatoes and a bourbon bone marrow reduction. Banana split and strawberry shortcake were for dessert. Schauffele placed full trust in the chefs at Quail Hollow while choosing the menu, saying they haven't let him down in his previous trips to Charlotte. 'The only thing I said was sort of steak,' Schauffele said. 'I saw a lot of bleu cheese on there. I think we're kind of tweaking it a little bit, from the last of my knowledge, or making it a little bit more customized; you can have some on or not because it's sort of a really strong, you either like it or you don't thing.' As part of the tradition, Schauffele planned to give his fellow past PGA champions cigars and a humidor. 'The cigars I had input on,' Schauffele said. Rahm and the Grand Slam Jon Rahm would love nothing more than to get a career Grand Slam. He's still two majors away — the PGA Championship and the British Open. Until he gets the third leg, his mind is more occupied with total majors instead of the collection of all four. 'I think obviously it would be a lot more on my mind if I were to win a third different one, kind of like Jordan (Spieth) has been able to do,' Rahm said. 'But right now, if I ever had a thought, I'll focus more on quantity of majors rather than which ones. 'Let's say I never achieve it,' he said. 'I'd rather have a situation like Sir Nick Faldo where he has six of two of them instead of having maybe three different ones, if that makes sense.' Faldo won the Masters and the British Open three times each. He has the most majors of anyone who has two legs of the Grand Slam in the last 100 years. Xander Schauffele, who won the PGA Championship and British Open last year, is on the same page. 'If I win another double major, the Open and the PGA, I'm not going to cry about it,' he said. 'I'm trying to win as many as possible. The Grand Slam is obviously on the list of goals. But I'm not picky.' Scottie Scheffler thought it was 'wild' that Rory McIlroy could win the Grand Slam with five majors. Tiger Woods, however, completed the slam by winning one of each (and then 11 more), as did Gary Player, who finished with nine majors. ___ AP Sports Writer Steve Reed contributed to this report. ___ AP golf:
