Gareth Southgate’s England squad were supposed to be different from the others.
They were largely likeable. They tempered expectations, engaged with the media, tackled racism and put their entire squad up to talk to the press when Raheem Sterling was engulfed in controversy concerning his gun tattoo.
England are 14/1 to win the World Cup – with no less than six teams fancied ahead of them – but that hasn’t stopped the BBC from pumping the Three Lions up to do what no English team has done since 1966, yet what every English team is asked to do every four years – win a World Cup.
The BBC’s promo has Raheem Sterling’s face printed on pound notes, Harry Maguire leading the polls to become the next Prime Minister and Dele Alli having a national bank holiday named after him.
Excited? 🏴
Let your imagination run free…
18:15 BST @BBCOne #bbcworldcup pic.twitter.com/hrwj3idHVV
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) June 18, 2018
The video should be taken in jest but it was still largely dismissed by fans with questions as to why the BBC would release such a promo on the day of the team’s opening game.
delete this immediately ffs
— Joe Bone (@josefbone) June 18, 2018
— Lomaett (@ajirioguh) June 18, 2018
https://twitter.com/pjmgrahammm/status/1008643760262189056
https://twitter.com/adamjrichardson/status/1008642388150161408
@gearoidwalsh Jesus Christ 😳😂
— GavinC (@Carroll1Gavin) June 18, 2018
Delete
— Dave (@dave_leeds) June 18, 2018
https://twitter.com/LewisCowie88/status/1008640554601771008
England kick-off their campaign agaisnt Tunisia in Volgograd from 7pm on Monday evening.
