THE AIR OVER THERE
James Maddison may have got the call from Gareth Southgate last week, but he still hasn’t got the memo. While 110% of footballers go into interviews looking to say as little as possible – at the end of the day, Geoff, that’s the name of the game – Maddison sees them as a blank canvas to have fun and express his personality. Just like he does on the field. Of course, there’s been a lot of talk about air-conditioned stadiums at the egregious farce that is the Human Rights World Cup, but the England squad have benefitted similarly from Maddison’s inclusion. He’s a breath of the fresh stuff in a team who, in the past year, have been criticised for their perceived malodorousness.
As wildcard selections go, Maddison is still more likely to be Theo Walcott 2006 (minutes: 0, goals: 0) than Michael Owen (minutes: plenty, goals: 2). Our exclusive Expected Minutes algorithm keeps spitting out a big, fat, dream-shattering zero for Maddison, despite our best efforts to fix it. But as a self-styled “football man” – a phrase Maddison keeps going out of his way to use, for reasons we can’t quite fathom – he will know that many footballers who were expected to return home with nothing but souvenirs and splinters ended up having the best month of their lives.
Even if he doesn’t play, Maddison has already made an impression with his infectious press conference. He’s a smiling affront to the preposterous culture of media training, a game in which you score points for sounding thick and lose them for offering insight. His life changed a week ago when he realised he had a missed call from G Southgate, Esq. “So the heart starts beating,” chirped Maddison, who won his only cap three years ago. “I had his number saved still. I called him back, he gave me the good news and it was all a bit of a blur. I couldn’t tell you what Gareth said. After the call finished, it was a bit of a head‑on‑the-wall moment, a deep breath and a call to my parents. My dad actually cried and he is not a crier. I don’t think I’ve seen him cry for years.”
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Maddison left England training early on Thursday morning, though it was nothing more than a precaution as he manages the mild knee-knack he sustained at West Ham on Saturday. The other players trained in searing heat, although temperatures are expected to drop to around 26C for England’s opening game against Iran on Monday. Not that Maddison minds – if it means appearing at a World Cup, he’d spend 90 minutes running up and down a sauna.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“It will feature a number of Real Madrid-related attractions, such as a museum, amusement rides and games of footballing skill, and outlets selling memorabilia of our team’s glorious history” – roll up, roll up as the European champions unveil plans to open a theme park in Dubai next year. Is this because they’ve not managed to get a €uropean $uper £eague yet?
SKY-BLUE THINKING
16 November: “This is a fantastic moment for Coventry City FC and the city. I know that Doug has long been an admirer of the [club] and will be a powerful steward of the club moving forward. I am looking forward to a bright new future working with Doug, and all our partners across the city” – Joy Seppala, chief suit at Sisu Capital, reveals a deal has been struck to sell a majority stake to local businessman Doug King.
17 November: Mike Ashley buys the CBS Arena where Coventry City play. Ah.
FOOTBALL DAILY LETTERS
“I recently flew to the motherland from Australia and took the opportunity to see the new Plough Lane and my first Wimbledon game in 10 years or so. A lacklustre spectacle, ending in a 1-0 defeat to Sutton. Haydon the Womble’s antics were the best entertainment. I wouldn’t mind, but the Dons have since been on a seven-game unbeaten run. And my previous attempt a decade ago was also a 1-0 home loss. Have any other readers travelled 15,000km to see a dreary defeat, only to be entertained by a 1970s children’s TV character?” – Alec Brown.
“If you are now rebranded as Football Daily, does that mean we’ll be getting it seven days a week now? I doubt anyone is ready for that and I literally didn’t sign up for it” – Paul Dixon [still weekdays only, you’ll be relieved to hear – Football Daily Ed].
“I note that the letter o’ the day prize has returned in order to sweeten the blow. I have to admit that I am somewhat surprised to find The Man following Fifa’s example of offering rewards for embracing the unacceptable” – Richard O’Hagan.
“I think I might finally have to accept it. We’re never getting the TV section back, are we?” – Matt Atkinson.
Send your letters to the.boss@theguardian.com. And you can always tweet Football Daily via @guardian_sport. Today’s winners of our letter o’ the day is … Alec Brown, who wins a copy of World Cup Nuggets by Richard Foster.
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