Rico and Rice... and all things nice! Young guns relish England away day
Gareth Southgate will hope for a more serene evening than England’s first trip to North Macedonia in 2003.
It is 20 years since Wayne Rooney scored his first international goal here in Skopje, on a night when David Beckham claimed he was subjected to death threats and spat at.
Emile Heskey, Ashley Cole and Sol Campbell were racially abused that night, too.
With qualification and top seeding for Euro 2024 already assured, England arrived in the North Macedonian capital safe in the knowledge that the result will have no consequence for their chances of glory in Germany next summer.
Not that Southgate is feeling in any way relaxed or blase.
‘This is absolutely an opportunity for the players to experience something a little bit different,’ said the national team boss.
‘We won’t have the comfort of Wembley next summer, tournaments are a little bit different because you have got that neutrality and a lot of our fans are always there.
‘But away games are always a good test of individual and team character.
‘When you come to these sort of stadiums… they will be hurting from the result in June (England beat them 7-0 at Old Trafford).
‘They will be disappointed they haven’t qualified so their big opportunity is to beat us. We have to be prepared for that.’
Declan Rice, who will return to the starting XI on Monday night, was three-years-old on that chaotic night. ‘I actually love playing in these types of environments,’ Rice explained.
‘I love playing away from home. I don’t know why, playing in front of a different set of fans — just that feeling of if you win on an away day that feeling you get is really special.’
While nothing as monumental or controversial is likely to happen two decades on, there is plenty Southgate can learn about his
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