The result of an opening game can make or break a team’s chances of going on to enjoy a successful tournament, as Adam Lallana can attest.
So England must get it right when they begin their World Cup campaign against Croatia in Arlington today.
Lallana played in two tournament openers with England, failing to win them both. In the humidity of Manaus in the Brazilian jungle in 2014, he and England suffered defeat at the hands of Italy.
Two years later, Lallana was in the starting line-up as England conceded a stoppage-time equaliser to Group B’s rank outsiders Russia to begin their European Championships campaign off with a disappointing 1-1 draw in Marseille.
England were knocked out of the 2014 World Cup after six days. At Euro 2016, they were humiliated by Iceland in the round of 16, knocked out by a country with a population of just 330,000 despite leading in the game after only four minutes.
Lallana is insistent that Thomas Tuchel’s England must begin with victory against Croatia today.
“It’s about getting some momentum,” he tells Standard Sport. “We did in Russia against Tunisia, and then beating Panama after.
“I agree that you need to gain momentum early. You need to get an early goal, get your No9 a goal early in the tournament, get your players playing well.
“It is going to be tough. [Luka] Modric will be out there — the old wizard. It is important to win that opener. Really important.”
Lallana was adept as a No10 or a left or right winger during his five years in the England fold, in which time he amassed a total of 34 caps and scored three goals.
“It’s always handy to be versatile,” he says. “Having 26 players has allowed England to have a couple of players per position. You don’t always need your No10 to play on the left and the right anymore, unlike in a 23-man squad where I think you’ve got to be a bit cuter.”
Asked who his favourites are, he says: “I think Argentina, going back-to-back and playing out in America, after favourites. I think France are going to be there or thereabouts.
“England are underdogs, but that’s not a bad thing to be.”
