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Sky and Channel 4 to share coverage of England’s T20 World Cup final
England manager Gareth Southgate has urged the country’s cricket team to provide ‘excitement’ to the nation ahead of the T20 cricket World Cup final. Jos Buttler will lead the cricketers into battle against Pakistan on Sunday - three years after their remarkable 2019 victory.
Southgate hopes that they can make the nation proud and provide some positive momentum for sports fans ahead of the football World Cup. The Three Lions boss takes his 26-man squad to Qatar later this month, where they are expected to perform well and progress deep into the tournament.
“I am a proud Englishman and whenever I see them playing I want them to do well - whatever the sport. We hope we can provide that same enjoyment and excitement,” Southgate told journalists ahead of the T20 World Cup final.
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“That was great because there are some really impressive guys there - and I enjoy watching them.”
A cricket World Cup win could boost the nation’s spirits before the football team go to Qatar and attempt to win a first major trophy since 1966. Southgate is under pressure to improve results after a tricky year.
The 52-year-old was booed by supporters after a 4-0 thrashing by Hungary at Wolves in the summer. There was also a strong negative reaction to a 1-0 reverse against Italy in September.
But Southgate has insisted that he will block out negativity and says he will not focus on what is said about him. He added: “It’s not important what was or wasn’t aimed at me, personally. My only focus is how do I help this team to have a brilliant tournament.
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Jos Buttler's England cricket team face Pakistan on the World Cup final (Image: GETTY IMAGES)
“We have a great chance but, as we did with Russia, we want to manage expectations at the same time. I know what this group is capable of. They have been to deep reaches of tournaments - they know they can do that again.
“There’s no reason why they can’t. And that’s my sole focus. What people say, think, talk about me is irrelevant.
“My job is to free the players of any of that. I’m excited for the tournament and they should be as well.”
England will face Iran in their first World Cup clash on November 21. Also in Group B are Wales and the USA.