JUST 7 MINS AGO — PRINCE HARRY FINALLY SPEAKS OUT ON ENGLAND’S WORLD CUP EXIT… BUT HIS HONEST TAKE ON THE TEAM IS NOW RAISING EYEBROWS
England conceded two goals in the final 10 minutes of their semi-final match against Argentina to crash out of the World Cup
Prince Harry joined former England defender Rio Ferdinand on James Corden’s Fox Sports programme to dissect the Three Lions’ World Cup semi-final exit at the hands of Argentina, arguing that a failure of mentality was ultimately to blame for the defeat.
The Duke of Sussex, who had a pint of lager sitting in front of him during the US broadcast, was asked what prevented England from reaching their first World Cup final in six decades.
His answer was unequivocal: “It’s mindset,” he said, before elaborating that the players appeared stunned by their own success after taking a 1-0 lead against the South Americans.
Rather than pushing forward for a second goal, Harry suggested, the squad instinctively retreated.
Prince Harry joined former England defender Rio Ferdinand on James Corden’s Fox Sports programme to dissect the Three Lions’ World Cup semi-final exit at the hands of Argentina, arguing that a failure of mentality was ultimately to blame for the defeat.
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Describing the moment England took the lead, Harry painted a picture of a team overwhelmed by the occasion. “I think what we saw was a slight shock value for them. ‘S**t, we are 1-0 up against Argentina’ and there was this immediate temptation to fall into defence,” he said.
The Duke was adamant that the players’ retreat into a defensive shell was not something that had been drawn up on the tactics board. “I don’t think it was a tactic. I don’t think that was the plan. It just happened,” he told the programme.
He went on to argue that attempting to sit on a slender advantage against opposition of Argentina’s calibre was simply untenable.
“After 72-73 minutes, whatever it was, you can’t just defend a 1-0 lead against a team like that. You just can’t. The mindset is the belief. The fact that you are 1-0 up, believe that you can be 2-0 up.”
In making those remarks, Harry appeared to shield manager Thomas Tuchel from the firestorm of criticism that has followed the semi-final.
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In making those remarks, Harry appeared to shield manager Thomas Tuchel from the firestorm of criticism that has followed the semi-final.
Tuchel has faced widespread blame for his defensive substitutions and the puzzling decision to leave attacking talents Bukayo Saka and Marcus Rashford unused on the bench throughout the match.
Corden jokingly proposed that Ferdinand should take over as England boss, with Harry installed as his number two.
The conversation took a lighter turn when Corden ribbed the Duke about his time at Eton College, suggesting the school was far too posh for football.
England conceded two goals in the final 10 minutes of their semi-final match against Argentina to crash out of the World Cup.
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Harry countered by revealing he had actually enjoyed a promising start to his playing days. “In prep school I was in the first team. And then I went to the bigger school and I was in the E team, being A team down to E team,” he said, drawing laughter from the studio audience.
Grinning, he singled out one viewer in the crowd: “You found that really funny, didn’t you?”
The pair also sparred over terminology, with Corden asking: “I thought you went to a school that was too posh to play soccer?” Harry fired back: “Too posh to play football? Why are you calling it soccer?”
The banter over “soccer” was particularly pointed given that Harry had been caught using the Americanism himself just weeks earlier.
During a UK visit, This Morning presenter Alison Hammond invited him to her home for ackee and saltfish, to which the Duke enthusiastically replied: “And some soccer as well?” He swiftly corrected himself: “Some football, sorry. Football, not soccer.”
SOURCE: GBNEWS