Renan Lodi's lunge from behind, for so long revered as an indicator of alpha masculinity, was dangerous and a maiming waiting to happen
EMIRATES STADIUM — With just a fortnight to go before England depart for Qatar and three weeks before their opening World Cup fixture, Gareth Southgate must be watching from behind the sofa., is provisionally added Bukayo Saka. It might be that scans provide a reprieve but that is not how it looked as Saka left the Emirates with an ankle injured in an agricultural tackle that had no prospect of claiming the ball.
These kind of muscular tackles from behind, for so long revered as an indicator of alpha masculinity, are always dangerous, a maiming waiting to happen. The absence through injury of some of the world’s leading players is one of the pernicious elements that escaped the calculation of architects of this. Outside of the English contingent Portugal have lost Diogo Jota and France are without N’Golo Kante, whilst fingers remain crossed that Raphael Varane recovers in time.