England boss Gareth Southgate believes it is vital not to stifle his players from celebrating their ties to other countries and wants to foster a brand of patriotism more relevant to modern Britain. Terry Venables handed Southgate his debut in 1995 and the central defender went on to win 57 caps for his country, featuring in two World Cups and two European Championships. Since his 2016 appointment, Southgate, 52, has found himself in charge of many men who were also eligible to play elsewhere but chose to represent England. “In the last few years I’ve learned a lot from leading these boys,” said Southgate, speaking at Football Beyond Borders’ annual showcase. “It’s always struck me that we talk a lot about what it means to play for England and being proud to play for England, but our country is in a different time now and everybody is also proud of where their family roots might be. “We’ve obviously got players who have family from Nigeria, from the Caribbean, from Ireland. The world is really fluid now, people are moving to different countries. They’re proud of the country they represent, but they’re also proud of their heritage. “I think for a long time we didn’t recognise that. So when I’m talking about what it means to play for England I’m really conscious that it’s different for everybody. When I started playing it was Stuart Pearce and Tony Adams knocking the door off, screaming and shouting. “We’ve changed. They were proud to play for England, our boys are proud to play for England, but it’s a different sort of approach.” When I started playing it was Stuart Pearce and Tony Adams knocking the door off, screaming and shouting Gareth Southgate Among Southgate’s players eligible for other countries are midfielder Declan Rice, who switched allegiances from Ireland – a team for which captain Harry Kane is also among the eligible – while Bukayo Saka could have represented Nigeria and Raheem Sterling Jamaica. Embracing multiculturalism, for Southgate, even extends to team mealtimes centred around cuisines from different cultures and countries. The former Crystal Palace, Aston Villa and Middlesbrough defender admitted he sometimes felt “frightened about going down to eat” when he played for England, “because it was with people I wasn’t comfortable with, because I didn’t know them. “And then when you go out onto the pitch you don’t feel that you can be yourself. And if you can’t be yourself off the pitch, you can’t be yourself on the pitch.” Southgate has actively involved himself in conversations about racism, particularly after Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Saka were subjected to abuse after missing penalties in England’s Euro 2020 final shoot-out to Italy. In a letter he penned for the Players’ Tribune before that tournament, Southgate called out abusers and those who would suggest he and his players simply “stick to football” and refrain from weighing in on “matters such as equality, inclusivity and racial injustice”. Instead Southgate insisted that he has ” a responsibility to the wider community to use my voice, and so do the players.” Nearly two years later, Southgate’s stance has not changed. Reflecting on his playing career, he added: “I don’t know what it was like for our young lads. I always think of Danny Rose and Fabian Delph. They grew up in Yorkshire. “To be them at a younger age, playing Sunday football, being abused on the football pitch, I have no idea what that feels like. “And all I’ve tried to do is better understand what that journey is like for my players, and to make sure that when they’re with our team nobody can do that to them, that everybody is treated well and with respect and I think they’re important things. “I know I’ll be criticised for supporting them by some people, but I’m comfortable that I’m on the right side of the argument and I’m on the right side. That doesn’t bother me.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Oak Hill offering stern test as early starters chase leader Bryson DeChambeau Stuart Lancaster will be missed at Leinster after making ‘massive impact’ Leinster head coach Leo Cullen ready to embrace pressure of Champions Cup final

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Watch live as fans gear up to watch Japan and Norway's World Cup clash as the last-16 begins on Saturday, 5 August in Wellington, New Zealand. Japan have emerged as one of the tournament favourites after finishing top of Group C and becoming the top scorers in the group stage. They scored 11 goals in the group stage without conceding. Norway finished second in Group A despite playing most of the first round without Ada Hegerberg. The star striker took part in training in the New Zealand capital on Friday but has not played in more than two weeks. Hegerberg has not been named in Norway's starting XI, which is: Emilie Haavi, Sophie Roman Haug, Caroline Graham Hansen, Guro Reiten, Ingrid Syrstad Engen, Vilde Boe Risa, Tuva Hansen, Mathilde Hauge Harviken, Maren Naevdal Mjelde, Thea Bjelde, and Aurora Mikalsen. Follow our live coverage here. Read More Staking a claim for the World Cup – Ireland versus Italy talking points Danny Care will not hold back in bid to secure spot in England’s World Cup squad Ireland out to change World Cup story after 2019 disappointment – Tadhg Beirne

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England forward Lauren James will miss the Women’s Nations League double-header against Belgium because of concussion. The Lionesses play the first of their two-parter at Leicester on Friday but the Chelsea player will not be involved as she goes through the relevant protocols after suffering a head injury. Lotte Wubben-Moy trained on Thursday and could be involved in the squad at the King Power Stadium. “We have 25 players, but they are not all fit,” boss Sarina Wiegman said. “Unfortunately, Lauren James is not ready, she won’t be ready for Tuesday also. “Nothing to worry about, she picked up a concussion and she knows we have to be careful of the protocols that we always do, so that is just too short to be ready for the two games. “Lotte is on the pitch and we will assess her today, everyone else is good.” Belgium currently top Group A1 of the Women’s Nations League with four points from their opening two games while England suffered a last-gasp defeat against the Netherlands in September. That loss places an importance on the two games against the Belgians and Wiegman, who celebrated her 54th birthday on Thursday, wants a response. “We always want to win, and expectations are high but we have our own expectations too,” she said. “Of course we lost the last game, we were not happy with that and we want to bounce back. What we are working on is improving our game, doing things right and playing very well against Belgium and getting a result. “They are really competing for something in the Nations League. They are in a very different situation at the moment, they play with different shape, with different players and are in transition. “They are very competitive, very well organised and as they showed in September they are very hard to beat.” Goalkeeper Mary Earps will get the chance to play at Leicester, where she began her youth career. Her profile has raised exponentially on the back of the Lionesses’ success in recent years, culminating in replica goalkeeper’s shirts selling out after her World Cup exploits in the summer. The Lionesses have always been accessible to fans but Earps thinks there is now a tipping point given their elevated status. “Expectation of the team is obviously a huge compliment in terms of the way teams expect us to win and things like that,” the Manchester United keeper said. “The accessibility people get to us as players is a hot topic of discussion, it’s something we as players are experiencing in a very different way in terms of the way the profile is changing. They are very competitive, very well organised and as they showed in September they are very hard to beat Sarina Wiegman on Belgium “We love to interact with the fans, but it is becoming difficult to keep everyone happy and to interact with as many people as possible. “We are so grateful that thousands and thousands of people want to come and meet us and talk to us but the reality is that if that is the expectation then we are always going to fall short. “I think the emphasis on it needs to switch. We love that we can be so connected but we are subject to a lot of comments and at times it is an addition to the game we don’t need. We love it but it is becoming difficult to maintain that.” Read More Matty Ashton and Ben Currie added to England squad for second Tonga clash Newcastle determined to bounce back from Champions League setback – Joe Willock Manuel Akanji: Manchester City are ready to win the derby at Old Trafford RFU ‘deeply disappointed’ as World Rugby closes case against Mbongeni Mbonambi World Rugby finds insufficient evidence to pursue Tom Curry racism allegation Dallas Mavericks spoil top draft pick Victor Wembanyama’s NBA debut

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