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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
David Hytner

Kyle Walker was talked out of England retirement twice by Southgate

Kyle Walker scores for England to earn a 1-1 draw against Ukraine
Kyle Walker scores his first goal for England to earn a 1-1 draw against Ukraine in European Championship qualifiying. Photograph: Nigel Keene/ProSports/Shutterstock

Gareth Southgate has revealed that he has twice needed to talk Kyle Walker out of international retirement – after the European Championship finals in 2021 and the World Cup last year.

Walker starred in England’s 1-1 Euro 2024 qualifying draw against Ukraine on Saturday in the Polish city of Wroclaw, scoring the equaliser – his first goal for his country at any level – and defending with supreme assurance, particularly against the pace of Mykhailo Mudryk.

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