'England can win it," says Gary Lineker of this year's World Cup. "We need luck, we need breaks, we need all our players to find their form but we've got a lot of exciting young players. I think we'll be competitive and I think we'll be competitive in every tournament we play now. In fact, I think we're going to have fun with England for the next 10, 12 years."
Lineker remains the ultimate football enthusiast. To talk with the 61-year-old about an event he describes as "the biggest thing going" is to rekindle an unfamiliar feeling, that of excitement for a tournament that has given off more bad vibes than it is possible to count. He uses language stronger than the Guardian will publish to describe the process that ended with Qatar becoming host, says "we are stuck with it" and promises the BBC's opening night of coverage will be akin to "a mini-Panorama". But he is supportive of Gareth Southgate, excited for Lionel Messi and ready to back Brazil.
Lineker is indelibly associated with some of the tournament's most abiding moments. His hattrick in Monterrey against Poland and the odds, the hand of God and the greatest goal of all time (he scored the consolation), the Golden Boot and a reprisal of that form four years later to take England to the edge of a World Cup final; it adds up. Lineker has done as much for the World Cup as it has done for him which, he acknowledges, is a lot.
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der November 15, 2022-Ausgabe von The Guardian.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent ? Anmelden
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der November 15, 2022-Ausgabe von The Guardian.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent? Anmelden
Armstrong's panache condemns Leeds to yet more playoff agony
Southampton's squad ventured to the Isle of Wight for a get-together at the end of the regular season, where the majority owner, Dragan Solak, who dragged his fingernails down his face during the final minutes at Wembley, promised they would have the party of their lives if they sealed promotion.
Unqualified setback for Draper after battling back in vain against De Jong
Briton recovers from two sets down but still goes out in first round to world No 176
Leinster must tear up script to end final pain next year
Third successive Champions Cup defeat exposed a defensive obsession coupled with a lack of imagination
Peaking for Paris Perspective and staying in present are vital to athletes' Olympic planning
I remember friends asking me before the 2004 Athens Games if I was really digging in and putting in extra miles now the Olympics were just round the corner.
"There's hate on all sides' Cracks in Israeli unity as conflict drags on
In a video filmed in what appears to be a burnt-out building in Gaza, with Hebrew graffiti referring to Meir Kahane, an infamous Jewish supremacist, a masked soldier addresses Israel's defence minister.
"They hold all the cards' Purge of Russia's top defence figures shows FSB's growing power
In the weeks since Vladimir Putin sacked his longtime defence minister Sergei Shoigu, Russia's FSB security service has pursued a series of corruption cases against a deputy minister and department heads in what many are calling a purge in the defence ministry.
Relaxation of childcare staffing ratios 'has put toddlers at greater risk'
Toddlers have been \"sold out\" to balance the books of the government's childcare bill, according to nursery providers, who say young children have been put at risk by changes in supervision rules.
Historic role New mayor defies racist threats to serve Derry
Lilian Seenoi-Barr will make history on 3 June when she receives the chain of office at Derry's guildhall and becomes Northern Ireland's first black mayor.
DWP carer scandal 85-year-old is told to pay back £13,000
Sia Kasparis, 85, was in her hospital bed in the living room of her small north London flat when there was a knock at the door.
Deaf people miss out on NHS care because of poor access
NHS England has been accused of \"dragging its feet\" on new accessibility procedures, leaving disabled people struggling to get healthcare.
