As the 2025 Championships kick off, Pacific island nations continue to defy the odds — proving that population size is no barrier to producing world-class sport, writes JAMES NALTON
‘Jones gives England what they're missing’
JAMES NALTON writes how the Liverpudlian carried himself like a seasoned international against Greece in his senior debut for the Three Lions
England's Curtis Jones (left) and Anthony Gordon celebrate the win after the Uefa Nations League Group B2 match at the Athens Olympic Stadium in Greece, November 14, 2024
In a town shaped by hardship and history, a grassroots boxing club led by Andrew McFarlane gives purpose to the next generation — including a rising champion, writes JOHN WIGHT
IT WAS difficult to believe that England’s game against Greece on Thursday night was Curtis Jones’s senior debut for the national team.
The 23-year-old Liverpudlian carried himself like a seasoned international and rounded off a familiar hard-working, team-focused display with a moment of individual class to add England’s third goal with an inventive flick.
Seeing Jones in an England shirt is already reasonably familiar. He was a regular in the youth teams and was part of the team that won the U21 European Championship in 2023.
He even got his name on the scoresheet for the only goal in the final against Spain after deflecting a Cole Palmer free-kick goalward.
It was a slightly fortunate goal, but there was nothing fortunate about Jones’s success at that level.
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