Steven Gerrard and Joe Cole were the subjects of a “cruel” joke from Channel 4 host Jules Breach as she made a dig at the pair in the buildup to England’s Euro 2024 qualification game with Italy on Thursday. The trio were joined by Lioness Jill Scott and Breach was quick to point out an achievement that Scott had won as Gerrard and Cole were left wanting.
As Breach was introducing the pundits, she said: “I’m here alongside two members of the England golden generation… and someone who has actually won something in an England shirt, Jill Scott!
The joke prompted laughs from all three, but Cole was sure to point out that the jibe was “cruel” while Gerrard quickly mentioned that the reference was not to Scott’s victory on I’m A Celebrity.
“That’s fine, I’ll just take the Euros that’s fine,” Scott said in response to Gerrard. Breach then made another crack at Cole, this time for his outfit as she claimed he “can still kick a ball in loafers, no socks still,” as the former Chelsea man embraced the lifestyle in Naples with his clothes on the evening.
Gerrard was able to recover from the joke to provide analysis on the England team, as he admitted he was encouraged by Gareth Southgate’s selection as it would allow Liverpool target Jude Bellingham to play in an advanced role. “I like the team,” he added. “I like that Bellingham could possibly play as a 10 because we all know the Italian teams like to have that sitting midfield to control the tempo, so I hope that Bellingham’s gonna jump all over their number six, as we call it.
“It’s positive in terms of the attacking players we’ve got on the pitch, and in terms of Kalvin [Phillips] I think he doesn’t have to play 90 minutes. If he can give us what he’s got in his legs for 50-60 minutes we’ve got enough talent on the bench to replace that. Kalvin Phillips has been brilliant for Gareth Southgate, we can’t just forget that and talk about fitness.”
While Cole claimed that it was a “gamble” for Southgate to start Phillips, as the midfielder is yet to make a Premier League start so far this season for Manchester City.
“It’s a huge gamble from Gareth,” Cole said. “We know Gareth’s measured and Kalvin Phillips hasn’t played a lot of football, we know what kind of footballer he is, we know what he’s done in an England shirt before.
“It’s a big physical midfield he’s got there and I think that’s the area of the pitch that is most crucial because on the opposite side you’ve got Jorginho, [Marco] Veratti and [Nicolo] Barella so Phillips is gonna have to be on it. He’s gonna have to be getting around the pitch. It’s a massive game for him and it’s a huge vote of confidence from the manager to put him in.”
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