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England EXCLUSIVE: John Barnes reveals World Cup worry ahead of Colombia clash
ENGLAND must not think past their World Cup clash with Colombia this evening, Three Lions hero John Barnes claims.
Gareth Southgate’s side have impressed in Russia this summer, with the Three Lions playing free-flowing football.
England secured a place in the more favourable route to the final following their 1-0 loss to Belgium in their final Group G clash.
ENGLAND vs COLOMBIA: LIVE WORLD CUP UPDATES!
Should Southgate’s men beat Colombia in the Round of 16 tonight, they will set up a quarter-final clash against Switzerland or Sweden, with Croatia or Russia waiting in the semi-finals.
And Barnes, who won 79 England caps, has warned the Three Lions, claiming Southgate’s side must take it one game at a time in Russia.
“In Colombia they’re quite happy they’re playing us as well! They’d rather play us than Belgium,” Bonus Code Bets ambassador Barnes exclusively told Express Sport.
“The danger is thinking past the next game and thinking we’ve got an easy run in.
The danger is thinking past the next game and thinking we’ve got an easy run in
“As much as we think it’s better to be in this half of the draw, it’d be easier to have played Japan than Colombia.
“But I’d still rather be in this group to get to the final.”
Many England fans are delighted with the performances in Russia, with the favourable draw leading to supporters concluding the Three Lions can win the World Cup.
However, Liverpool hero Barnes has urged England’s stars to remain focused, insisting they’ve only done what’s expected of them so far.
“They’ve done what’s expected of them. We’re getting very excited because of the half of the draw we’re in,” he added.
“If you analyse the games, we got a last minute winner against Tunisia, beat Panama as we should and then lost to Belgium.
World Cup: England’s weakness exposed ahead of Colombia clash
“We can’t be getting carried away that we’ll win the World Cup because of that.
“The exciting thing I suppose is that we’re in the good half of the draw.
“I don’t think England can put together a three-game winning streak against top teams. If they had to play three big teams in a row, I don’t think they could do that.
“The good thing is they don’t have to do that. If they get to the final, that would be their hardest game.
“Until the final, they would be playing teams they can beat. In a one-off, in the final, they can beat anyone. That’s the pleasing thing.
“We still have to play against a very good Colombia team but we’ve done exactly what we should have done.”