“England have already won the tournament, according to these lads down here.”
Like the England team at the World Cup, Roy Keane and the ITV pundits were on form on Sunday. Gareth Southgate’s side booked their place in the last-16 with a convincing 6-1 win over hapless Panama. Harry Kane netted a hat-trick, John Stones got two goals and Jesse Lingard scored a stunner before half-time.
It may have only been Panama, but England impressed and go into Thursday’s match against Belgium to decide who finishes top of Group G.
This time four years ago, England had been knocked out of the World Cup after two games – when they lost to Italy and Uruguay. So, the mood in the country is understandably optimistic after their displays in Russia this summer.
Former England internationals Gary Neville and Ian Wright are among those beginning to feel positive about the team’s chances at the tournament. However, Keane did his best to try to reign in their expectations on ITV on Sunday night.
Keane told them to stop thinking too far ahead, to just focus on the next game against Belgium and go from there.
Wright and Neville couldn’t help but laugh at Keane’s bluntness.
Keane wasn’t negative about England’s chances though.
Earlier in the night, he said he been “very impressed” with their performance against Panama.
